Kansas State Wildcats 2006 Football Preview:

A New Beginning

By Big12-Fans Writer Brandon Reese

When Ron Prince was announced as Kansas State’s new head football coach, there was an odd scratching noise heard throughout Big 12 country. That scratching could only be attributed to the rookie coach’s name and how well it would mix into those not so subtle sports page headlines we all love so much. I even had a few of my own:

Prince of Thieves: K-State D Stops Nebraska on Late Turnover

Crowned Prince: Ron Prince Takes Over the K State Kingdom

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince: Coach Quits K State to Pursue Career as Burlesque Dancer

Putting aside my droll sense of humor, I finally recognized that while the guy has a good resume, it’s not great. While he’s been successful as an assistant, it’s not as if he’s Gene Chizik or Bob Stoops. And while he’s taking a job at a school recognized as recently as 2003 as the Big 12 champions, he’s taking over a program on the slide.

Something that kind of caught my eye in researching this year’s Wildcat squad, was Prince’s chucking of Snyder’s depth chart. He has seventeen starters returning. There’s nine on offense (depending upon Thomas Clayton’s ability to stay out of jail and who starts at quarterback) and eight on defense. In effect Kansas Purple returns more than any other Big 12 squad. The downside to that is their upside. No one really believes that the core of this roster, even on its best day, can keep up with the rest of the conference.

On offense, a new system will be in place and it will be a much slicker offense than what the Kansas State fans are used to seeing — if they can find somebody to make it look slick. Allan Evridge returns along with part-timer Allen Webb, and senior Dylan Meier. Which of these three will start is anybody’s guess. If Prince has freshman Josh Freeman ready to step into the breach, we could get a glimpse, but I wouldn’t expect him to burn the redshirt. Thomas Clayton, legal troubles and all, will scoot the biscuit for the Wildcats. He hasn’t shown anything close to his potential, but as a senior, now’s as good a time as any to see it. Tight End Rashaad Norwood blossomed into a great blocker with sticky hands, and he’ll make a fine second or third option on most progressions. The real star on this squad this year is at receiver. The Wildcats aren’t stacked, but junior Jordy Nelson is an all-out effort type of guy with excellent hands and good speed. He doesn’t necessarily stretch the field, but he’s a threat, and he can get behind an unsuspecting corner. This should be a breakout year, where people outside of Kansas actually know his name. What will eventually sandbag the entire unit is the offensive line. Going into the year it’ll be labeled as the worst in the conference. By midseason, if the offensive line can’t find any consistency, Purple will get eaten up in the North.

Speaking of names, the name of the game in Manhattan has always been defense, and this is where the Wildcats are sincerely improved. The linebacking corps is the epicenter of the talent on the entire squad with seniors Brandon Archer and Zak Diles returning. It’s guys like these two that can change a coordinator’s game plan. The defensive line is a hard-charging, undersized group, which will be a rotation of underclassmen and a couple of seniors. Spearheading the group is Quentin Echols, a fierce presence on the inside and a starter since 2003. His opposite will be Blake Seiler, an academic All Big 12 selection. They’ll be flanked by any number of combinations at end. Sophomore Ian Campbell, redshirt freshman Eric Childs and junior Moses Manu round out the list of possible starters at end. Each can fly to the ball, but may have trouble holding up against any power schemes moving in their direction. The defensive backfield is loaded with people that have played, but missing is a real threat to slow down a passing game. Justin Mckinney returns after leading the team with three interceptions. Free safety and All Big 12 Honorable Mention Marcus Watts will occupy the free safety slot, with Kyle Williams, Bryan Baldwin and juco transfer Devin Anderson competing for time.

What you’ll find with the Kansas State team this year is a bunch of guys who really want to get it done. It appears that the team and the community bought into Prince’s approach roughly thirty seconds after his plane touched down. They’ll start off well with a couple of patsies at home, but that’s followed by visits from Marshall and probable top ten Louisville to open the slate. The southern swing of the conference pairs them at home against Okie Lite and Texas, and road trip to Baylor. It’s not unreasonable to believe they have the talent to go 2-1 over that stretch. All in all, Kansas State is going to a bowl this season. With this much returning it would take a flop of princely proportions to make it a third year without a bowl.