Kansas State Wildcats: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Kansas State Wildcats: Key To The 2022 Offense
Take the running game up a few notches.
The overall numbers from last year were a bit misleading. The 2,111 yards were fine, but the 4.8 yards per carry were great thanks to Deuce Vaughn, one of the nation’s most productive all-around backs. QB Skylar Thompson was a terrific passer, but he wasn’t a runner.
Here comes Adrian Martinez to juice things up.
Granted, it came at the expense of the passing attack over the years, but Kansas State is used to having seasons with 200-yard games the norm. This year’s offense should do that – and push for over five yards per carry – with the two home run hitters in the backfield.
Kansas State Wildcats: Key To The 2022 Defense
Get nastier in the red zone.
How do you lose a lot of good-battle close conference games? You struggle to pinch off drives, and that was Kansas State last year. It was 123rd in the nation in scoring conversions allowed inside the 20, and worse yet were the touchdowns, giving up six 63% of the time.
There were only two times last year when teams didn’t score every time in the red zone – wins over Kansas and TCU – and getting the TD percentage to around 55ish% or lower will make a huge difference.
Kansas State Wildcats: Key Player To The 2022 Season
C Hadley Panzer, Soph.
Or any of the key options on the offensive interior. Panzer worked a little bit at guard last year, but he’ll get one of the first looks at center in place of all-star Noah Johnson.
If it’s not the 6-4, 306-pound Panzer, Hayden Gillum will step in and Panzer will see more work at guard on the other side of Taylor Poitier – he’s returning from a knee injury – and …
As long as the center spot is set, everything else will be fine.
Kansas State Wildcats: Key Transfer
QB Adrian Martinez, Sr.
He was supposed to be the superstar who ushered in a new era of Nebraska football greatness.
A great recruit out of California, he brought all the tools and talent for the Scott Frost offense, and he did what he could for flawed teams that struggled to catch a break – or create their own. However, Martinez hit 64% of his throws, got better as a big play passer, and he was one of the steadiest-running quarterbacks in college football.
Now he gets a chance to close out his career as a good part of the puzzle and not the main man.
Kansas State Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Iowa State, Oct. 8
Will Kansas State be any sort of a factor in the Big 12? This will be the game to find out.
The Big 12 opener is on the road at Oklahoma, followed up by a home date against Texas Tech. Most likely the Wildcats will be 1-1, and then comes the trip to Iowa State against a team that’s been a big problem over the last two years.
Win, and Baylor is the toughest remaining road game. Lose, and realistically that’s all but it for any Big 12 title dreams.
Kansas State Wildcats: 2021 Fun Stats
– 4th Down Conversions: Kansas State 15-of-20 (75%) – Opponents 20-of-33 61%
– 4th Quarter Scoring: Kansas State 112 – Opponents 56
– Fumbles: Opponents 18 (lost 6) – Kansas State 10 (lost 6)
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Kansas State Top 10 Players | Schedule & Analysis