K-State Q&A: Does Skylar Thompson have a NFL future? What bowl is best for Wildcats?
It’s time for another K-State Q&A.
We have tons of great topics on tap this week, so let’s dive right into your questions. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
I rolled my eyes when Chris Klieman called Skylar Thompson a future NFL quarterback last summer.
There wasn’t much evidence to support his hypothesis back then. During his first four seasons at K-State, Thompson was a solid college quarterback who led the Wildcats to some nice wins. But he never looked like a future pro.
Until now that is.
Thompson has made me reconsider my skepticism since he returned from injury and began torching Big 12 defenses for 263.6 yards per game, a number that currently leads the conference.
He has been playing at an impressive level ever since he began focusing more on passing than running.
His arm strength has looked good. His accuracy (71.3%) has been great. His confidence is through the roof. He is reading defenses like he can see the matrix.
If he can keep his hot streak going, he will be a legitimate contender for all-Big 12 honors.
Maybe that will get him a few looks from NFL teams as a late-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent.
The last three quarterbacks that Chris Klieman coached were Carson Wentz, Easton Stick and Trey Lance. They are all in the NFL.
I’m starting to think Thompson has a shot in following in their footsteps.
I wrote about Kansas State’s bowl possibilities yesterday, so you should probably read that if you want a full breakdown.
It’s hard to predict anything for sure with three games remaining, but I will give it a try.
If I am wrong, may my stomach become bloated and my head be plucked of all but three hairs.
With a 9-3 record, I see K-State playing in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Wildcats have never played in a Florida bowl game before, and they could change that by ending the regular season on a winning streak. The only catch: Two Big 12 teams will need to play in major bowls for this to happen.
With an 8-4 record, the Wildcats are most likely looking at the Texas Bowl or the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. I don’t think there’s much interest on either side for the Liberty Bowl.
With a 7-5 record, K-State is almost certainly headed to Phoenix for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
With a 6-6 record, fans will hope for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl but it won’t be a lock. The Armed Forces Bowl and First Responders Bowl would also be in play.
What’s my preference? Houston, Orlando and Phoenix all sound good right now. I will be happy with any of those.
Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks both have a chance to pass him Deuce Vaughn for the team lead in receiving yards.
Knowles is coming off a tremendous game against Kansas in which he caught three passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. With Skylar Thompson throwing the ball at such a high level right now, it’s not hard to imagine him connecting with Knowles plenty of times during the next three games.
Brooks is also capable of breaking loose for long gains and leads K-State receivers in receptions this season.
Right now, Vaughn has 421 receiving yards while Brooks has 370 and Knowles has 341.
Vaughn has gobbled up targets on check downs. But Brooks and Knowles can both pass him with some more catches down the field.
West Virginia has allowed 25 sacks this season, so I will be surprised if Felix Anudike-Uzomah doesn’t break the K-State record for sacks in a season on Saturday.
If K-State can play from ahead, we might see his unique sack dance a whole bunch.
I’m less confident in the forced fumbles stat. Even though he is very good at knocking the ball loose with one hand while tackling quarterbacks with the other, those are fluky plays that don’t happen all that often. Asking for two more, let alone five, is probably a bit much.
Good question.
It seems like his main competition will come from Oklahoma State’s Malcolm Rodriguez, who currently leads the Big 12 with 87 tackles, and Iowa State’s Mike Rose, who is also having a fine year after being picked as the league’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
They have way more tackles than Anudike-Uzomah, but he has the advantage in forced fumbles (five) sacks (11) and tackles for loss (13). All three of those numbers lead the Big 12.
Which stats will carry more weight for coaches and media?
Seniority and familiarity will probably help Rodriguez and Rose. So it would be wise for K-State’s sack master to pad his stats as much as possible down the stretch. Maybe 15 sacks would be enough. We’ll see.
Otherwise he might have to settle for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
This day and age, I suppose fans and coaches have to consider every player as a transfer candidate.
But I am skeptical that Anudike-Uzomah will look to leave K-State for another school.
He will be the face of the team next season along with Deuce Vaughn. He shouldn’t have any problems signing lucrative NIL deals in Manhattan moving forward.
K-State was also the only power-conference team that took a chance on him and offered a scholarship. Is he really going to want to leave now that he’s starring for the Wildcats? Furthermore, he’s from nearby Lee’s Summit.
I guess he could consider transferring to Alabama, but it seems like he’s got it pretty good where he’s at.
E-MAIL QUESTION: Nearly three years under Klieman the football program appears to be making little progress in recruiting. While it says a lot that we just had our first transfer of the season, why do you think this is and what changes could we hope for next year?
Speaking of transfers, with the QB position being of most concern is 2022 will K-State be aggressive and make an offer to a transfer like Jacob Zeno (Baylor) or Chubba Purdy (Florida State)? - Tyler M.
I’m not sure if I agree with your overall assessment of recruiting or not.
On one hand, the recruiting services continue to rank K-State’s recruiting classes near the bottom of the Big 12 the same way they used to under Bill Snyder.
The Wildcats have also found it very difficult to land the best local talent so far under Klieman.
Mudia Reuben choosing Stanford over K-State last week, for example, was a painful miss.
On the other hand, the Wildcats are bringing in more talented players now than they were at the end of Snyder’s tenure. Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike-Uzomah were overlooked recruits and now they are star players for the Wildcats. Jake Rubley had an offer from LSU and chose to play for K-State.
Under Snyder, K-State was rarely beating anyone from a power conference for its recruits. Klieman has at least elevated things to a level where they can compete against most teams in the Big 12 on the recruiting trail, outside of Oklahoma and Texas.
Recruiting has definitely improved under Klieman, especially if you factor in the players he has added via the transfer portal. He has done a great job with transfers.
You can certainly argue that he should have improved recruiting more than he has. But things have gotten better.
Also: my guess is K-State will actively pursue a transfer quarterback during the offseason. It would be foolish not to. The coaching staff really liked Chubba Purdy and recruited him coming out of high school. They almost certainly still have interest.
E-MAIL QUESTION: Can you shed any light on the K-State player who’s number is nine but almost never wears it, based on the number of in-game number change announcements? And why doesn’t he always change to the same number? Is this some attempt at trickery or simply personnel related when special teams are on the field? It seems like this dude must constantly be changing jerseys on the sideline. - Wayne F.
Jacardia Wright and Cincere Mason both wear No. 9 for the Wildcats.
That normally isn’t a problem, because Wright is a running back and Mason is a defensive back. But they can’t wear the same number while they’re both on the field for special teams (just ask Gary Patterson) so they have tear away jerseys ready to go whenever that happens.
Mason is usually the one changing numbers.
I assume he switches to different numbers for different special teams plays based on the personnel that is on the field. It would probably be easier to switch his number to 99, but the K-State equipment crew likes the challenge of switching his number on demand.
E-MAIL QUESTION: Have you been able to try the new Kansas State bourbon? I want to buy a bottle, but it is hard to find in Kansas City. I’m curious what you thought of it. - Andrew B.
If you want to show off a bottle of Wabash Reserve in your home bar whenever friends come over, it’s probably worth the purchase. I get it if you don’t want to spend the $70. That is pricey for any bourbon that wasn’t created in Kentucky.
But the purple label looks good, and having it is an easy way to impress K-State fans. I’m sure it’s a hit at tailgates. I sampled it a few weeks ago with some friends at a buddy’s house. They were all K-State fans and they were all pumped to try it.
Sadly, I have nothing else good to say about Wabash Reserve.
I hated every sip of the stuff.
Granted, I am an amateur bourbon snob. Maybe you have less discriminating taste and will like it just fine.
But it wasn’t for me. The only thing I like to mix bourbon with is ice. And I needed lots of ice to finish that pour. It probably tastes fine as a mixer with Coca-Cola, like Jack Daniels, but it was not enjoyable on its own.
If you’re looking for a souvenir bottle, it’s a good investment. If you’re looking for bourbon that tastes good, choose something else.
I don’t see a new contract in Klieman’s future.
At least not anytime soon.
Klieman signed a lucrative contract extension last year that many readers were bemoaning as recently as three weeks ago.
Winning eight or nine games would be a nice accomplishment, but it’s not worthy of another contract extension.
All of the original assistants Chris Klieman hired when he arrived in Manhattan signed three-year contracts.
They will need new deals to continue coaching for K-State next season.
Here’s guessing the majority of Klieman’s staff remains intact, but the law of averages suggests at least one or two coaches will find employment elsewhere, especially without contracts or buyouts tethering them to Manhattan.
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "K-State Q&A: Does Skylar Thompson have a NFL future? What bowl is best for Wildcats?."