What to expect from Kansas State’s quarterbacks behind Skylar Thompson this season
If Kansas State opened its football season tomorrow instead of next month, the Wildcats know exactly what their depth chart would look like at quarterback.
Skylar Thompson would naturally lead the offense as a senior starter, Nick Ast would serve as his backup and Will Howard would prepare himself to take the field just in case the team needed a third option.
That is how K-State quarterbacks coach Collin Klein handicapped the position when he spoke with reporters Wednesday.
“It’s been a good competition through the fall,” Klein said. “We have still got a few weeks before our first game, so it is going to continue on. We have seen ups and downs from all those guys behind Skylar.”
Though it won’t receive the same level of attention of a starting battle, K-State’s quarterback position is filled with intrigue this season. After making 27 starts and guiding the Wildcats to a pair of bowl games, this will be Skylar Thompson’s final go-round in a purple uniform.
Who will replace the Fort Osage High School product in 2021, after he’s gone? Who will K-State turn to if he is unable to take every snap this season?
Those are two questions that fans will be asking for the next few months.
At the moment, it seems like Ast, a junior from Cimarron, is the top replacement option for 2020, while freshman Will Howard may be emerging as the potential quarterback of the future ... at least until four-star recruit Jake Rubley enters the mix in 2021. Jaren Lewis appears to have some catching up to do.
The most noteworthy tidbit to come out of Klein’s chat with reporters this week is the development of Howard.
Though he arrived on campus with high expectations back in January after throwing for 5,308 yards and 48 touchdowns during his high school career at Downingtown West High School in Pennsylvania, he had lots of ground to make up on the more experienced quarterbacks on K-State’s roster.
No one knew how quickly he would adjust to the college game, but it seems as though he is making an effortless transition.
“The other day we were down in the red zone and me made an out throw from the opposition hash,” K-State defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo said. “I stopped the video and told our guys, ‘Man, this right here is what NFL people look at.’ It was on a line throwing an out route to the other side of the field at the goal line. I’m no quarterbacks coach, but it seems like he does a really good job of managing the offense.”
Klein has also been impressed.
“He has shown great flashes,” Klein said. “Obviously, just having nine practices under his belt, he has really done impressive things with small things from huddle management and play calls to being assignment sound and being able to make plays with his arm from the pocket. He has good size and athleticism.”
It seems the Wildcats like what they see from the 6-foot-4 and 230-pound freshman.
But he still is trying to catch Ast at the position. We didn’t get to see much of Ast in live games last season, as he completed all three of his passes for 28 yards and gained one yard on two rushing attempts, he is known as the hardest-working player in that room. He also rarely makes a mistake.
For a coach like Klein, who used consistency and toughness to become a Heisman Trophy finalist while playing quarterback for the Wildcats, that is important.
“Nick Ast has probably been the most consistent just from the reps that he got last year,” Klein said, “and his maturity and age in the program.”
Klein also said he has liked what he has seen from Lewis, a redshirt freshman from Columbia, Mo., but that he has battled consistency issues. More than anything, that seems to be the reason why he is chasing Thompson, Ast and Howard on the depth chart four weeks before the start of the season.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 3:51 PM with the headline "What to expect from Kansas State’s quarterbacks behind Skylar Thompson this season."