Over or Under: Setting season totals for Kansas State

KSO sets some totals for the Kansas State season with a little over a week of training camp already behind us.

Will Howard passing yards: 3,400

Drew: Under
I lean under here, although I think Will Howard could have a big season. 3,400 yards is a lot and would rank third all-time in a single season for Kansas State. For context, he was on pace for 3,266 yards over a 14-game season last year. K-State should be a very good team on the ground as well.

DY: Under
It’s an easy under for me. Even when clicking last season, Howard would have fallen short of the number, the ground game should be more than solid and the new clock rules could eliminate a few possessions over the course of a season.

Kansas State true freshmen that burn redshirt: 1.5

DG: Over
Over is my answer, though I’m not sure who the two will be just yet. Last year, three freshmen did not redshirt in Jacob Parrish, Jake Clifton and VJ Payne. At least one freshman has not redshirted every year under Chris Klieman. I’m starting to believe Chiddi Obiazor will be one.

DY: Over
Again, it is an easy over for me. Joe Jackson is a potential one, in my opinion. I realize that he is No. 3 on the depth chart at best, but the Kansas State staff loves him and he may be tough to keep off the field. The same could be the case for Obiazor, Asa Newsom, Tre Spivey and Kanijal Thomas.

Klieman doesn’t shy away from playing true freshmen.

Tre Spivey/Kansas State Athletics

Team leader in sacks: 8.5

DG: Under
While I like the pass rushers for K-State this year, 8.5 is just a little too high. It could be very possible Brendan Mott, Khalid Duke and Nate Matlack all have around the same number. Mott is the returning leader in sacks for the Wildcats after having six last season.

DY: Under
Just like Drew, I believe 8.5 is a little too high because they’ll be evenly distributed across the board.

DJ Giddens scrimmage yards: 955.5

DG: Over
It should be close. DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward are going to battle it out for the starting running back spot. I would not be surprised if both are on the field a lot, though.

The reason I lean to the over is because I project Giddens to be on the field more than Ward due to having a running style that is conducive for late-game situations. Giddens received a lot of praise from Klieman at Big 12 Media Days, and I’m expecting a big year from the sophomore.

DY: Under
My answer is similar to the last one. Snaps, touches and production between Giddens and Ward should be pretty split. If Giddens does climb enough to near 1,000, it would be because he’s more involved in the passing game than I expect and/or he racks up the yardage in the fourth quarter.

Kansas State first team All-Big 12 players: 3.5

DG: Over
Kansas State had four players on the preseason All-Big 12 team, and I would not be surprised if they are close to that number on the postseason team. Cooper Beebe, Phillip Brooks, Ben Sinnott, Daniel Green, Kobe Savage, KT Leveston, Duke and Howard could all potentially make a run.

DY: Over
Two are locks, in my opinion, in Brooks (as a returner) and Beebe. Can they find two more? Savage earned preseason honors just like the other two. Green was a preseason pick in 2022. Sinnott, Leveston, Duke, Austin Moore and Keagan Johnson could also be contenders. Howard is in the mix.

Some of it may depend on how the Wildcats fare this season, too. Can they win at least nine games? That is probably the bare minimum that it would take for K-State to secure at least four players on the first team.

I’ll say they just barely get it. And I’d lean towards the other two being Leveston and Moore. However, they could get a freebie if they continue to count Sinnott as a fullback.

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