Tag: kansas state football

SEC Unfiltered breaks down what new Texas A&M OC Collin Klein will bring to the Aggie offense

Check out a quick breakdown of some of the concepts new Texas A&M OC Collin Klein will bring to Aggieland

Texas A&M had a few interesting hires once Mike Elko started to fill out his staff. I believe out of all the core coaches, Collin Klein has the most potential to have a breakout year from a coordinator perspective. The former Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year spent virtually his entire coaching career at his alma mater Kansas State as a quarterbacks coach with a brief stint at Northern Iowa.

In his first year as OC at Kansas State, he won the Big 12 and after losing top talent the following season still led the Wildcats offense to the No. 1 points per drive and yardage rate. He will now get to cut his teeth in the most competitive conference in college football and has a host of talent to utilize.

Blayne Gilmer at SEC Unfiltered breaks down a few concepts Coach Klein used while calling a highly productive offense over the past two seasons.

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Ohio State transfer portal scouting report: Will Howard

Ohio State transfer portal scouting report: Will Howard #GoBucks

The Ohio State football season is over, but the offseason has just begun and the Buckeyes are putting in work in the transfer portal. The first transfer portal addition came from the Mid-American Conference with the addition of Will Kacmarek from the Ohio Bobcats. We dove into what to expect from him earlier this month.

After snagging a proficient blocking tight end, the Buckeyes weren’t done attacking the offensive side of the football and it was not shocking to see Ryan Day finding his quarterback. We expected Ohio State to add another gunslinger after the departure of Kyle McCord, but the question was always who would it be?

The Buckeyes received a commitment from Will Howard who has spent the last two seasons starting for the Kansas State Wildcats and will have just one year of eligibility remaining. He chose Ohio State over Miami and USC, and the All-Big 12 quarterback will have a unique opportunity to elevate the Buckeye offense in 2024.

Name: Will Howard

Former School: Kansas State Wildcats

Height: 6-feet, 5-inches

Weight: 242 pounds

Position: Qaurterback

Strengths

Not many quarterbacks have shown the type of improvement that Howard has shown since he arrived on the scene in 2022. He was the definitive leader of the Wildcat offense and had clearly gained the trust of his coach, which are traits that were missing from the Buckeyes’ offense this past season.

Howard has put together two seasons of high level play, and has the ideal size to put an offense on his back when needed. This past season, Howard passed for 2,643 yards and an impressive 24 touchdowns. He is the type of player that can keep a team in the game by himself.

Weaknesses

I still don’t understand how Will Howard lost the starting gig to Adrian Martinez to start the 2022 season. This may not be a “weakness” and is a tad unfair to still bring up two years later, but Martinez was largely a liability throughout his college career, so knowing at one point he beat out Howard sends chills down my spine. However, Martinez was quite the player for the Wildcats, so there’s that.

Expectations

Here is the deal, Will Howard isn’t going to blow the doors off physically. I think that the difference between him and Kyle McCord physically is very slim, but physical traits were never the issue with McCord, but mentally the gap is huge. Ryan Day didn’t choose Will Howard because of his size and arm, but because he has shown his ability to be calm, cool, and collected in times of crisis. Howard can put the team on his back and elevate the players around him. He is a guy who will make few mistakes and will save his highlight reel potential for when the Buckeyes need it most. Ryan Day needs someone he can trust for such a vital season and Howard is arguably the most intelligent player in the country.

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Texas A&M offensive coordinator and QBs coach Collin Klein formally bids adieu to Kansas State

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’ve been in one place for 14 of the last 16 years, but Klein did exactly that on Friday night.

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’ve been in one place for 14 of the last 16 years.

Texas A&M co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Collin Klein formally bid adieu to Kansas State on Friday night with a post on X.

“Dear Wildcat family,

“The last 14 years have been beyond special. I thank God every day for bringing me to Kansas State. The relationships, memories, lessons, challenges and joys are too many to count. From an 18-year-old not knowing which way was up, to meeting my beautiful wife Shalin, to winning two Big 12 Championships, it has been a heck of a ride. K-State didn’t just give me a job but gave me a mission. That mission of taking care of people, not letting anyone put limitations on what you can accomplish and being the toughest-minded competitor out there is what K-State is all about. I hope I was able to impart this to every player I had the privilege to work with.

“A special thank you to every team and every player I was fortunate enough to coach. Thank you to my fellow coaches and coworkers. It never felt like we worked because we all cared about the mission and each other. Thank you to the administration of John Currie and Gene Taylor for their leadership in setting the standard of excellence for K-State Athletics. I am so fortunate to have worked under two of the best head coaches to ever do it! Thank you to coach Snyder who gave me my first opportunity in coaching and instilled the mental toughness and discipline needed to be excellent every day. Thank you to coach Klieman who gave me an opportunity to stay at K-State and will forever be a dear mentor and friend.

“There is never a perfect time for change and growth but I do feel this is the time. With K-State it is never goodbye, merely see you later! We love you K-State family and we will always bleed purple!

“-CK7”

Head coach Mike Elko hired Holmon Wiggins from Alabama on Jan. 2 to serve as wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator alongside Klein.

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Texas A&M RB Earnest Crownover III named a finalist for Barstool Sports’ Lowman Trophy

RB Earnest Crownover III announced Thursday that he has declared for the NFL Draft and he may be headed to the league with some hardware.

Texas A&M running back Earnest Crownover III announced Thursday that he has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and he may be headed to the league with some hardware.

The Aggies graduate student was named a finalist for the Lowman Trophy, presented by Barstool Sports to the best fullback in college football. While Crownover may not technically be a fullback, he did line up countless times in the backfield between the quarterback and running back during his time in College Station.

The other two finalists for the award are Kansas State redshirt junior tight end Ben Sinnott and SMU redshirt sophomore fullback Stone Eby. The winner will be revealed during the Arizona Bowl between Toledo and Wyoming, which begins Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Before De’Von Achane became a Dolphin and led millions of people to fantasy football glory this year, he starred at Kyle Field. Crownover was the ultimate teammate to Achane, blocking for him on several touchdown runs, including during a 2022 game at South Carolina.

Crownover also displayed his ability to catch passes out of the backfield as a fullback, like during the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium, which was a 34-22 win against Arkansas back in September.

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The non-edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot delivered a brutally funny message before getting toasted

RIP non-edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot lived through some of the most vicarious four quarters a mascot possibly can in a bowl game.

However, when the roll was called up yonder, the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot was there.

Indeed, when it came time for the Kansas State Wildcats to celebrate and eat the edible version of the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot, the non-edible version had to bid the world adieu before entering its toaster-y resting place.

As Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” played over the speakers, the non-edible Pop-Tart mascot danced over its heated grave in front of the team that would soon eat its toasted corpse. It was then lowered into the toaster to cook for a Wildcat feast.

RELATED: The 11 best moments from the Pop-Tarts Bowl that had nothing to do with the game

The last message the non-edible toaster had for us before its sacrificial descent? “Dreams really do come true. [heart emoji]”

He held the message up on a sign like Wile E. Coyote before that Looney Tune went falling off a cliff in his failed attempt to capture the Roadrunner.

We will always remember the non-edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot, but like Frosty the Snowman, it’ll be back again some day… like, next year at the next Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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The 11 best moments from the Pop-Tarts Bowl that had nothing to do with the game

POP-TARTS EVERYWHERE.

Some college football bowl games massively disappoint. Some exceed your wildest expectations. And Thursday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando was definitely the latter.

Yes, Kansas State topped NC State, 28-19, and that’s great for the Wildcats.

But let’s face it: The real winners of the Pop-Tarts Bowl were fans who watched the game and got treated to an abundance of Pop-Tarts-themed fun and mayhem. And the sponsorship and product placement worked because if you watched any part of this game, chances are you ended up craving Pop-Tarts at some point.

RELATED: The Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot menacingly creeping behind a referee became an instant meme

While the matchup itself was exciting, the scene around the Pop-Tarts Bowl was exceptional and seemingly shot this game up to one of the favorite bowls among college football fans (RIP Cheez-It Bowl).

So here are our favorite moments from the bowl that had absolutely nothing to do with the game.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

Former Kansas State CB Will Lee III will reportedly visit Texas A&M this weekend

It has been reported that former Kansas State cornerback Will Lee Jr. will visit Texas A&M on Friday.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko knows that to compete in today’s college football landscape, utilizing the transfer portal is an absolute must, as the Aggies have already lost 11 players to the portal, including multiple starters on defense.

After the news that starting cornerback Tyreek Chappell, who has been with the program for three seasons, had entered his name, a sudden need at the position became imminent, and former Kansas State CB Will Lee Jr. is the No. 1 name that should be on Elko’s list of possible replacements.

Lee, who spent last season with the Wildcats after transferring in from Iowa Western (JUCO), recorded 42 tackles, 32 solo tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions on the year, including nine tackles in KState’s loss to Texas late this season. Standing at 6’3″, Lee has the size and speed to start for the Aggies immediately next season, as the cornerback room is very young and lean.

The feeling is apparently mutual, as AggiesToday reported that Lee is set to visit Elko and his staff in College Station on Friday, Dec. 8, while Oregon, Louisville, and Washington are still in the mix.

New Texas A&M cornerback coach Ishmael Aristide spent a couple of seasons under Elko during his time as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator, bringing a successful development track record at the position, including Duke All-American CB Chandler Rivers, who is also a possible candidate to follow Elko and Aristade to Texas A&M.

For what it’s worth, new Aggies OC Collin Klein, who holds deep ties to Kansas State during his playing and coaching days, could also significantly influence Lee’s visit.

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Former Kansas State CB Will Lee III places Texas A&M in his Top 3 transfer list

Former Kansas State CB William Lee has narrowed down his transfer options, including Texas A&M.

One position on Texas A&M’s roster needing a talent infusion is cornerback, especially after junior CB Tyreek Chappell entered the transfer portal on Wednesday afternoon. While new head football coach Mike Elko’s defensive background should aid his search for depth in the transfer portal, former Kansas State cornerback William “Will” Lee III should be at the top of his list.

On Wednesday, Lee, who played just one season with the Wildcats after transferring in from JUCO Iowa Western, recorded 42 tackles, 32 solo tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions on the year, including nine tackles in KState’s loss to Texas late this season.

Standing at 6-3, Lee is the perfect size for an outside corner, as the Aggies have lacked size in SEC play the last two seasons, being exposed on several occasions against bigger wide receivers who consistently took advantage of one matchup down the sideline.

Even more so, A&M’s cornerback room is razor thin in experience after Chappell’s presumed departure, leaving Deuce Harmon and Tony Grimes as the lone “veterans.” At the same time, Grimes missed the entirety of the 2023 season due to injury after transferring in from North Carolina.

With the Aggies, Lee is also considering Washington and Louisville, as the Huskies are competing for the National Championship next month.

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Source: Texas A&M HC Mike Elko offered Collin Klein to be the Aggies new OC

It has been reported that Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has offered Kansas State OC Colin Klein the open offensive coordinator position.

For the first time since Mike Elko was hired as Texas A&M’s 30th head football coach less than two weeks ago, we now have the first bit of information regarding who could potentially replace Bobby Petrino as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Multiple hires have already been made, including former Duke OL coach Adam Cushing taking the same position and new cornerbacks coach Ishmael Aristide, who returns to Texas A&M after serving under Elko during his four years as the Aggies defensive coordinator.

Late Tuesday, Kansas State Sportscaster Matt Musil reported that Elko had fielded an offer to Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein to become the Aggies’ new OC, who has been at the postion for the last two seasons in Manhattan (KS).

So, if Klein were to be hired, what does he bring as an offensive playcaller? At 34, Klein received OC offers from Notre Dame and Penn State , so let’s say his star is on the rise. After four highly successful years as the starting QB at K State, choosing the headset has already paid in his young coaching career.

Focusing on the 2023 season, Kansas State (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) ranked 23rd in total offense, averaging 445 yards per contest. Even better, the Wildcats averaged nearly 38 points per game, good for 10th nationally.

What is even more important to note is that this was all done with less talent compared to A&M’s five-star factory led by quarterback Conner Weigman, who is poised to take the next step toward his incredible ceiling with the right OC calling plays and designing the offense.

With plenty of names to go around for one of the more coveted coordinator jobs on the market, Collin Klein is undoubtedly the most intriguing.

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10 hysterical snowy moments from the Kansas State-Iowa State game, including ‘snow fans’

SNOW GAME!

Rivalry Saturday on the college football schedule brought forth the annual Farmageddon game between Kansas State and Iowa State, and the weather outside was absolutely frightful (if you hate snow).

The conditions at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, were incredibly brutal as the temperature was below freezing and the football field covered in snow.

Both Wildcats and Cyclones alike had to battle in the elements as snow kept pouring on the football field and all of the fans in the stands throughout the game.

If you loved snow, it was a dream of a Saturday. If you didn’t, well, you probably opted to stay at home.

This looked like one of the most enjoyable atmospheres of the college football season, as the winter weather (in fall) provided plenty of snowy views for everyone at Kansas State and the viewers at home.

Let’s break down some of the best moments from this snow game.