Kansas State season preview: A loaded offensive line group returns

KSO breaks down what to expect from the Kansas State offensive line this season.

Two Kansas State strengths

The obvious strength is the 119 returning starts that Kansas State returns at the position. That is king in college football. Nearly every team that returns an entire starting offensive line and quarterback from a conference champion is absolutely dangerous the following season.

K-State has that in their arsenal. The group of KT Leveston, Cooper Beebe, Hayden Gillum, Hadley Panzer and Christian Duffie was a pretty good unit last year and should be better this year. It’s not a leap to say that it also includes two NFL players, so it’s not just experience that they are leaning on this season.

In fact, Beebe could make it a first rounder in consecutive NFL Drafts for the Wildcats in April. Not to be outdone, both Carver Willis and Taylor Poitier have a chunk of experience and snaps as well.

Experience isn’t the only weapon. Anyone well versed in offensive line play will stress how important chemistry and cohesion is for a particular unit. Not only is there a ton of starts, there is a ton of snaps together, especially between Leveston, Beebe and Duffie.

Christian Duffie/Getty

Two questions

One hurdle is that Duffie will miss the first part of the schedule due to an offseason injury. How many games it could keep him out for is yet to be determined or specified. However, Kansas State will need at least a temporary answer at right tackle.

While that has not been completely etched in stone, the momentum resides on the side of Willis.

Another item that bears watching is how many guys that assistant Conor Riley elects to play per game. Not only does he have all the starters back and a ton of experience, he has depth as well. Beyond just Willis and Poitier is also a group that consists of Andrew Leingang, John Pastore and Sam Hecht.

Two keys

Experience doesn’t last forever. At some point, most of these guys will be exiting Manhattan and sooner rather than later. All three of Leveston, Gillum and Duffie are in their final year of eligibility and Beebe maybe playing on Sundays instead of Saturdays next season.

In order to prepare for that potential large exodus, K-State will look to provide more opportunities for their younger guys to accelerate their developments. The Wildcats will need Panzer, maybe Poitier, Leingang, Pastore, Willis, Hecht and others as soon as next season.

Don’t forget that they have one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 as well in Will Howard, and protecting him and keeping him upright for the entire season could ensure or at least contribute to another potential conference championship, too.

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