A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: Kansas State Relies on Key Transfers
Josh Frey
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ust like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.
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We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, the ACC. and we just finished up with the Big 10 this past week. Now, we head down south to cover the contenders in the Big 12. Next up on the conference tour are the Kansas State Wildcats.
Overview
The 2021 Kansas State Wildcats had their second 8-5 season in the three-year tenure of head coach Chris Klieman, but once again, they finished with a sub-.500 record in-conference. Because of this, they slid outside of the top-four in the conference for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the last five years.
They had to replace QB Skylar Thompson, who sits behind only Josh Freeman in career passing yards and touchdowns in the program, after he was drafted by the Dolphins this spring. This is a team that needs a few things to break their way in order for 2022 to be a success, but if there are struggles, Kansas State might fall down the Big 12 standings once again.
2022 NFL Draft Prospects
- QB Skylar Thompson, Round 7, No. 247, Miami Dolphins
- DB Russ Yeast, Round 7, No. 253, Los Angeles Rams
Notable Transfers In
- QB Adrian Martinez (Nebraska)
- LB Will Honas (Nebraska)
Notable Transfers Out
- LB Davonte Pritchard (South Dakota)
- S Shawn Robinson (Missouri)
2022 Schedule
- 9/3 vs. South Dakota
- 9/10 vs. Missouri
- 9/17 vs. Tulane
- 9/24 @ Oklahoma
- 10/1 vs. Texas Tech
- 10/8 @ Iowa State
- 10/22 @ TCU
- 10/29 vs. Oklahoma State
- 11/5 vs. Texas
- 11/12 @ Baylor
- 11/19 @ West Virginia
- 11/26 vs. Kansas
Keys to 2022
QB Adrian Martinez
In all likelihood, Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez isn’t going to come into the Big 12 and set the world on fire. After a solid freshman season in 2018, the fifth year QB has held steady, but he hasn’t displayed much growth as a passer. For Kansas State to truly break into the upper tier of the conference, they will need to see real development from Martinez. He’s got the receiving group to do it with Malik Knowles leading the way.
Defensive Front Needs to Create Havoc
Kansas State’s defense is used to carrying the torch, and they may have to do so again this year. The secondary is going to be terrific once again, but it will come down to how much chaos this unit can cause up front. OLB Will Honas is an x-factor after missing the 2021 season with a knee injury and now transferring in from Nebraska. Last time we saw him play, he put up 57 tackles and 6.5 TFLs with the Cornhuskers in seven games during 2020. His health will be vital to Kansas State’s success.
My “Purple Player to Watch”
Similar to his new QB Adrian Martinez, the aforementioned receiver Malik Knowles has all the tools to be a terrific receiver. He’s 6’3 and 200 pounds with great length and decent enough speed, but he just hasn’t put all the pieces together yet. 2021 was his best year to date, with career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
That said, a slash line of 29/441/4 is not exactly impressive in the ranks of college football receivers. Martinez could be the player to finally unlock Knowles after the momentum that he built up last year, and if he does, the Vikings should keep an eye on him. Especially if this year he can prove to be a red zone threat, there’s a chance he could jump into the Adam Thielen role of Minnesota’s offense and allow Justin Jefferson to continue stretching the field.
