Mailbag: Projections for the Kansas State defense

1. Where does the Kansas State defense finish as a whole this year?

DY: I’m not sure where I would say that the Kansas State defense stocks up versus the rest of the Big 12, especially since Joe Klanderman and his unit have a knack for finding answers and overachieving, but I do feel more bullish about the offense this year.

The K-State defense just has more questions, even if I have a feeling that most of them can be solved. Can they receive enough help at safety? Will they overcome the inexperience at cornerback? Will they stay healthy? Are the reinforcements on the defensive line satisfactory?

2. Which Big 12 team will turn out to be a pretender?

DY: The Big 12 questions are going to be fun.

In terms of a pretender, I know that most want to pick Texas. That is especially the case since they are the team that stands in the way of Kansas State capturing another Big 12 championship the most. But I don’t think it’s them.

It’s hard to find a pretender, because not really anyone is being given too much hype. Everyone mostly agrees that there is a lot of parity in the league. I’d lean towards it possibly being Texas Tech just because I’m not 100 percent convinced they’ve figured out the quarterback position.

3. Which K-State players have the most impact on special teams?

DY: Seth Porter and Phillip Brooks are obvious ones, especially considering that Porter will also be on the K-State coverage units. Matthew Maschmeier returns and plays a large role as well. Perhaps a few true freshmen get involved too, such as Austin Romaine, Wesley Fair or Kameron Sallis.

Linebackers Tobi Osunsanmi and Jake Clifton could make sense as well because of their defensive prowess and speed, and they probably aren’t quite yet full-time starters. The same could apply to cornerbacks Jordan Wright and Darell Jones.

Darell Jones/Kansas State Athletics

4. Which Big 12 team is the most likely to exceed expectations?

DY: My assumption is that I will not be making too many friends by leaning towards Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for this answer.

While the Sooners still have much to prove under head coach Brent Venables, there is enough talent there to compete in every game. They also have a reliable quarterback in Dillon Gabriel. Add in a favorable schedule that doesn’t include Kansas State and there’s a lot to like.

Mike Gundy and the Cowboys didn’t have a superb offseason, and there’s some signs of regression as a program, but it’s hard not to consider the imbalanced schedules that exist because of the Big 12 being a 14-team league. There’s an argument to be made that Oklahoma State has the simplest one.

5. Will Hadley Panzer redshirt if he doesn’t win a starting spot?

DY: I almost dismissed the question because I instantly thought no shot. Even if he didn’t land a starting job on the interior of the K-State offensive line, I just assumed that he’d be a top reserve that is also used.

After all, it is plausible that Taylor Poitier could be inserted as the team’s starting right guard. But with Christian Duffie also already set to miss time at the beginning of the 2023 season, I still see the idea of Hadley Panzer redshirting as very doubtful.

6. How many more years can Kansas State hang onto offensive coordinator Collin Klein?

DY: Assuming the right jobs do not come his way, I believe that Collin Klein has zero intention of leaving Kansas State. If he was motivated to do so, the Notre Dame job would have appealed to him. Instead of being in South Bend, though, he is in Manhattan.

However, his mission is to be a head coach. I’d be surprised if the K-State offensive coordinator saw that kind of offer following the 2023 season, but never say never. At the end of the day, he desires to be the next Kansas State head coach.

Will that require him to be a head coach elsewhere first? I don’t have that answer, obviously, but I’m not so sure that will be the case.

Collin Klein/Kansas State Athletics

7. How many sacks do you predict from Khalid Duke?

DY: Pinpointing an exact number is pretty difficult to do. With that being said, I keep being told that Khalid Duke is about to have a monster season. I’m not going to shoot too high, but I am going to respect his talents and the impressions that he is leaving on others.

A cautiously optimistic prediction that I am comfortable with is 7.5

8. Is it more likely for K-State to land Grant Brix or Michael Boganowski?

DY: The answer see-saws often. I feel better about Grant Brix at times. But my confidence sometimes shifts more towards Michael Boganowski, too. It’s pretty tight between them, and I’m not comfortable calling K-State the leader for either prospect.

They have their hands full with Oklahoma for Boganowski and with Nebraska for Brix. At the moment, the pendulum is pointed more towards Brix in terms of my confidence. However, I’d be lying if I said I felt great about either one.

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