Is Kansas State primed to have a championship-caliber year in 2017?
Crabtree: If the Wildcats can fill some holes through recruiting this cycle, then there are a lot of reasons for excitement in Manhattan. With all the returning pieces on offense, K-State still needs to find more playmakers at the receiver position,; that's why you've seen the Wildcats scour the juco ranks for an immediate difference-maker to complement receiver Byron Pringle, running back Alex Barnes and quarterback Jesse Ertz. But perhaps more important is the hunt for additional depth at defensive end and defensive tackle. The Wildcats hope to hit some home runs through the juco ranks at both positions, and if they can find somebody to offset some of the missing numbers Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Willis delivered in 2016, then it's not crazy to be bullish on K-State's chances.
Sherman: The Wildcats last won a league title in 2012, when Collin Klein played like a superstar en route to becoming a Heisman finalist. That's the recipe for Bill Snyder success. And while Ertz returns as a junior at quarterback next season, I don't envision a Klein-like ascension. K-State returns a lot defensively from a good group this year. The schedule is favorable, with Oklahoma, West Virginia and TCU at home. But Kansas State looks more like a third-place team, which is, of course, higher than it was picked this year. And KSU regularly exceeds expectations.
Trotter: Ertz will be an experienced senior in 2017; he improved over the second half of this season, both in his passing accuracy and decision-making. Willis will be gone, but the Wildcats bring back the reigning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (end Reggie Walker), Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (cornerback D.J. Reed), and a two-time All-Big 12 linebacker in Elijah Lee. The receiving trio of Pringle, Dominique Heath and Cal transfer Carlos Strickland, combined with Barnes at running back, should give Snyder enough offensive pop, too. I'm not picking K-State to win the Big 12 in 2017. But I believe the Wildcats will be a factor.
Crabtree: If the Wildcats can fill some holes through recruiting this cycle, then there are a lot of reasons for excitement in Manhattan. With all the returning pieces on offense, K-State still needs to find more playmakers at the receiver position,; that's why you've seen the Wildcats scour the juco ranks for an immediate difference-maker to complement receiver Byron Pringle, running back Alex Barnes and quarterback Jesse Ertz. But perhaps more important is the hunt for additional depth at defensive end and defensive tackle. The Wildcats hope to hit some home runs through the juco ranks at both positions, and if they can find somebody to offset some of the missing numbers Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Willis delivered in 2016, then it's not crazy to be bullish on K-State's chances.
Sherman: The Wildcats last won a league title in 2012, when Collin Klein played like a superstar en route to becoming a Heisman finalist. That's the recipe for Bill Snyder success. And while Ertz returns as a junior at quarterback next season, I don't envision a Klein-like ascension. K-State returns a lot defensively from a good group this year. The schedule is favorable, with Oklahoma, West Virginia and TCU at home. But Kansas State looks more like a third-place team, which is, of course, higher than it was picked this year. And KSU regularly exceeds expectations.
Trotter: Ertz will be an experienced senior in 2017; he improved over the second half of this season, both in his passing accuracy and decision-making. Willis will be gone, but the Wildcats bring back the reigning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (end Reggie Walker), Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (cornerback D.J. Reed), and a two-time All-Big 12 linebacker in Elijah Lee. The receiving trio of Pringle, Dominique Heath and Cal transfer Carlos Strickland, combined with Barnes at running back, should give Snyder enough offensive pop, too. I'm not picking K-State to win the Big 12 in 2017. But I believe the Wildcats will be a factor.
