CFB: Kansas State
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Kansas State returns 14 starters from a team that won eight games and beat UCLA in the Cactus Bowl, including its top quarterback and the entire offensive line, so it stands to reason that few jobs would be available in spring camp.
Thats hardly the case. Especially at quarterback.
Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton shared duties last season when Jesse Ertz was lost to a season-ending injury, each of them shining in their own ways. Thompson was dynamic in a road upset of Oklahoma State and Delton was the star against the Bruins in their bowl game.
Now, their competition figures to continue all offseason, and particularly in the annual purple-white spring game Saturday, and right into the meat of fall practices.
Its very competitive and thats the way we like spring practice to be, said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, who is returning for his 27th season. You dont have an opponent to compete against or prepare for, so the depth chart is fluid. Its open.
The obvious two frontrunners are certainly presenting themselves that way, Snyder said. Our biggest concern at the position is going to be the depth beyond that. I would say right now with the two-deep, two guys we came out of last years season with, really have picked up where they left off and are very competitive. There isnt a number one right now.
Both are dual-threat quarterbacks, though Thompson is the better passer and Delton is the better runner. Thompson completed 61 percent of his passes for 689 yards and five touchdowns last season, while Delton completed 58 percent of his throws for 637 yards and three scores.
Thompson is only a sophomore, while Del-ton is a junior though that hardly matters. Whoever gives Kansas State the best chance to win will be under center.
Any time you can go out and have success, especially cap the year off with a win, and have success as an offensive unit, it brings a lot of confidence to you, Delton said. I feel like building off of that has been surely positive for me.
There will be plenty of talent surrounding whoever wins the starting job.
Start with the offensive line, where Scott Frantz and Dalton Risner provide veteran bookends and guards Abdul Beecham and Tyler Mitchell are joined by Adam Holtorf on the interior. Then drop to the backfield, where Alex Barnes will be pushed by running backs Dalvin Warmack and Mike McCoy.
On the outside, the Wildcats will have to replace Byron Pringle, who left school early for the NFL draft. But veterans Dalton Schoen, Isaiah Zuber and Zach Reuter provide a nice base to start.
We are going to be one of the most efficient offenses that weve had here, as far as Ive been here, Barnes said. Skylar and Delton are both dynamic quarterbacks, we have a running game, and we have a loaded backfield. … We have pretty much all of the weapons coming back.
The voices running the show will be a little different, though.
Offensive coordinator Dana Dimel left to become head coach at UTEP, so wide receiver coach Andre Coleman was promoted to offensive coordinator. Hell be helped by Collin Klein, who will direct most of the passing game, and Charlie Dickey, who will do the same with the running game.
There are more holes to fill on defense, where most of the depth at linebacker graduated and star cornerback and return man D.J. Reed elected to declare for the draft.
