Mailbag: Kansas State pre-game edition Week 8

1. Which Kansas State running back has more touches this weekend?

DY: My answer is Kansas State running back Treshaun Ward. While I understand that it could be time for DJ Giddens to make another splash, I really like what I have seen from Ward the last two times he has been on the field.

In addition to that, it is clear even in media sessions with him that Ward has seen a boost in confidence and has a level of comfort in Manhattan that was not the case before the regular season.

2. Will Jayce Brown take over or under 20 snaps?

DY: It probably mirrors his snap count from last week when Jayce Brown was in there for 17 snaps. I’ll take the over just because K-State seems more comfortable with deploying younger players in the home games.

3. Which K-State quarterback has more snaps this weekend?

DY: Riding with Avery Johnson is the best pick. Until Will Howard regains his form from last season, it is tough to foresee a scenario where he lights it up so much that he can’t be removed from the game at this point.

4. Is Ques Glover the replacement for Desi Sills? The first guard off the bench.

DY: They are different players. I’m not sure that Ques Glover will be the same kind of defender as Desi Sills. I’m not sure it’s a certainty that he will come off the Kansas State bench, either. Heck, Sills was a starter for the last several games, too.

5. How far can the Kansas State basketball defense move up in the rankings?

DY: I would say that there is a lot of room for growth. K-State head coach Jerome Tang said it best to myself, John Kurtz and Cole Manbeck on the 3MAW Podcast on Thursday morning, quite frankly. The Wildcats were No. 27 in the nation on that end of the floor even with terrible rebounding numbers.

6. Which visitor(s) commit this weekend?

DY: From what we have uncovered, at least privately, it would be a surprise if Kansas State didn’t land Nebraska athlete commit Callen Barta, UTSA linebacker commit Boone Morris and North Texas wide receiver commit Jacques Spradley-Demps.

That doesn’t mean things aren’t going well with elite edge rusher Jayshawn Ross, though.

7. Do we see more of the young receivers the more we see of Avery Johnson?

DY: Perhaps Jayce Brown, who saw 17 snaps last week for the Wildcats. I’m not sure anyone else is ready to break through. Wesley Watson and Andre Davis surely aren’t and will be redshirting without playing in a game this season. Maybe Tre Spivey gets spot duty but his later arrival has held him back.

8. Will K-State start Avery Johnson?

DY: The gut instinct of mine continues to be that it will look similar to the Texas Tech game.

That means K-State starts Howard and gives him the first drive or two. Unless it goes touchdown, touchdown, we see Johnson replace him and the rest will be dictated by a combination of rhythm, game flow and performance.

9. What is your bold prediction for Saturday night’s game?

DY: How about that there will be a safety from the Kansas State defense? There hasn’t been one yet, TCU is playing a back-up quarterback with no road experience, the Wildcats will send pressure and punter Jack Blumer can back up the Horned Frogs.

10. Who does Grant Brix pick?

DY: I wish I had the answer. I don’t. What I know is that confidence still remains high on the K-State side, which would mean status quo. With that being said, both Nebraska and Oklahoma have not wavered in being confident about Grant Brix, either.

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