Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

That’s right folks, 100 days from now the Kansas State Wildcats will be facing off against the North Dakota State Bison on August 30 to kick off the 2013 football season. There’s as much excitement as there is trepidation coming into this year. Gone are Arthur Brown and almost all the other defensive starters, Heisman contender Collin Klein, and Chris Harper and Braden Wilson who were both selected in the NFL draft, as well as All-Conference special teams selections kicker Anthony Cantele and punter Ryan Doerr.

However, the team returns every member of the best offensive line in the league, All-American safety Ty Zimmerman, and one of the league’s best backs in John Hubert – not to mention an all-star wide receiver duo highlighted by Tyler Lockett. The linebacking unit is also expected to be stellar and the quarterback situation is merely a problem of picking the better of two excellent players in Daniel Sams and Jake Waters.

So where does K-State stand coming into the season? The majority of media pick the Wildcats to be in the thick of what should be a five-team horserace for the Big 12 crown – five of the conference’s teams are ranked between 10 and 25. And in 100 days everyone should look for a potential upset opening night as K-State has a bad habit of falling asleep at the wheel in home openers against lower division competition, while North Dakota State is one team you don’t want to sleep on.

As such, I’ve included the team’s schedule below and ranked on a scale of 1-5 my degree of confidence in the team’s ability to win.

08/30/13	vs. North Dakota State	Manhattan, Kan.	4
09/07/13	vs. Louisiana-Lafayette	Manhattan, Kan.	5
09/14/13	vs. Massachusetts	Manhattan, Kan.	5
09/21/13	at Texas *	Austin, Texas	2
10/05/13	at Oklahoma State *	Stillwater, Okla.	2
10/12/13	vs. Baylor *	Manhattan, Kan.	3
10/26/13	vs. West Virginia *	Manhattan, Kan.	4
11/02/13	vs. Iowa State *	Manhattan, Kan.	4
11/09/13	at Texas Tech *	Lubbock, Texas	4
11/16/13	vs. TCU *	Manhattan, Kan.	2
11/23/13	vs. Oklahoma *	Manhattan, Kan.	3
11/30/13	at Kansas *	Lawrence, Kan.	5

If I could see one game and one game only this year, I’d go with TCU in Manhattan. However, every game should be a battle this year and I can’t wait to get this show on the row. So how about it, Wildcat fanatics – any games on the schedule that particularly scare you? Am I too worried about some of these match ups?

Drafted

LB Arthur Brown; Baltimore Ravens – Brown was selected in the second round when Baltimore traded up to get its replacement for retiring future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.

WR Chris Harper; Seattle Seahawks – Seattle selected Harper in the fourth round to bring toughness to a unit lacking an identity last year.

FB Braden Wilson; Kansas City Chiefs – Wilson was selected in the sixth round by Kansas City. The Chiefs were without a true fullback last year, and Wilson has an excellent shot at filling this spot on the roster.

Undrafted Free Agents

CB Nigel Malone; Indianapolis Colts: Malone was accused of being burned at times but was also expected to play aggressively against the best quarterback league in the nation the past two years while hauling in interception after interception. You can never have too many cornerbacks in the NFL, and with the Colts looking to upgrade last year’s lackluster defense, this could be an excellent fit.

QB(?) Collin Klein; Houston Texans: Numerous speculations around the league considered the prospect of a team ignoring Klein’s demands to be taken seriously as a quarterback and pick him up in the fourth round as the next breakout tight end. Instead, Klein fell out of the draft and will get his chance to prove himself as the signal caller to back up Matt Schaub.

RB Angelo Pease; Green Bay Packers: Pease was clearly the back up last year in receiving 60 carries while John Hubert ran the ball 180 times and Collin Klein 207 (he also had five receptions to Hubert’s 18). However, he still displayed the strength and speed to warrant a healthy look in the league and could easily land on someone’s practice squad in August.

LB Justin Tuggle; Houston Texans: Joining Klein in Houston will be Tuggle, the converted junior college quarterback to linebacker who became a household name across the state after helping demoralize and demolish Landry Jones and the Oklahoma Sooners’ passing attack last fall. He will be given a look at inside linebacker for the Texans.

CB Allen Chapman; Indianapolis Colts: While teammates on Saturday afternoon, Malone may be one of Chapman’s biggest competitors this summer as both vie for a spot on the Colts’ secondary. Chapman brings the same acumen to the table as Malone (strong, aggressive, risk-taker), indicating the Colts believe their defense was too passive last year and desire at least one of these players to enhance the physicality of the team.

K Anthony Cantele; Indianapolis Colts: Marking the third Wildcat making the drive north to Indiana, Cantele will be given a shot to replace Adam Vinatieri – one of the greatest kickers in NFL over the past 20 years. Vinatieri has been with the Colts since 2006, but at age 40 the team may be looking to acquire a fresher kicking leg.

TE Travis Tannahill; Cleveland Browns: Cleveland maintained four tight ends on the roster last year, which is absurd in its own right. They combined for 79 of the team’s 328 receptions and were led by Ben Watson, who accounted for 49 catches. The 6’4″ Tannahill was a beast over the middle last year and seemed to catch everything Klein threw his way, no matter how hard he was hit by opposing linebackers. It will be difficult to make Cleveland’s roster given the  depth already present, but expect to see his name on someone’s roster this fall.

LB Jarrell Childs; Oakland Raiders: The third piece of the three-headed monster known as K-State’s linebacker corps this year, Childs has been given the opportunity to give Kansas residents one reason to roots for the Raiders. Personally, the Jug will be rooting for Childs to make the team and record 14 sacks – one for every loss the team suffers. Nobody roots for the Raiders.

P Ryan Doerr; Denver Broncos: Doerr will be in Denver this summer to compete against the brother of Chiefs’ punter Dustin Colquitt – Britton Colquitt. Britton ranked third in the NFL last year with a net average of 42.1 yards/punt (although the thin Denver atmosphere gives the ball a slight boost). Denver’s intentions for Colquitt are unknown – they have discussed signing him to a multi-year deal before training camp in July, but also lowballed him with a low right of first refusal that allowed teams to bid on Colquitt without surrendering a draft pick should they make a better offer to him. At the end of the day, Doerr is in a tough spot here and the extremely talented punter will likely be forced to look elsewhere for a spot in the league.

The big name missing from this list of course is DE Meshak Williams. Although his name was not widely circulated following draft workouts, I half-expected him to go in the first seven rounds and certainly didn’t expect 12 Wildcats to be brought in without his name on the list. Obviously my expectations in January have since been tempered, but there’s no way he goes without an invitation from someone before the week is up.

Editor’s note: as of Monday Meshak Williams has joined Brown in Baltimore. More on that story here.

With the 2013 NFL Draft coming up, I decided to look into the crop of Wildcats that were invited to the Scouting Combine and see where they may go.

Arthur Brown – LB

Brown’s stock has seemed to rise after many were disappointed that Brown’s shoulder injury kept him out of the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine.  But a strong Pro Day has pushed Brown anywhere from mid first to early second round.  I have always liked Brown’s pro potential and under the right coaching, think Brown could really excel.  Brown has already met with the Bears, Rams, Jaguars and Bengals.

Prediction: Bears – 1^st Round, 20^th pick.  The Bears add Brown to replace Urlacher.  Sounds easy right?

Chris Harper – WR

Harper possesses great speed and strength that should translate to the NFL level.  The type of possession receiver many teams look for, Harper has been Collin Klein’s safety value and led the team in receiving the past two seasons.  I have seen him going as early as the second round all the way to the fourth.

Prediction: Ravens – 3^rd Round, 94^th pick.  Ozzie Newsome looks to replace Anquan Boldin.

Collin Klein – QB

One of the most decorated Wildcats in recent memory; Klein hurt his stock by not working out as a tight end despite many teams interest.  We all know the knocks on Klein, bad mechanics, and inaccuracy, not an NFL arm.  You can’t knock his leadership and determination.  Most mock drafts and rumors have him going seventh round or undrafted.

Prediction: I think someone will give him a shot in the seventh, due to his work ethic and hopes they can move him to another position.

Nigel Malone – CB

A key contributor for the Wildcats had eleven interceptions in two seasons with the team.  Size will hurt Malone, who is short by NFL standards as a corner at 5’10”.  Good hands and reaction time help his cause.  Mock drafts have him going 6-7 round or undrafted.

Prediction:  It’s a passing league; someone will give him a flyer in the late rounds.  You can never have enough corners.

Braden Wilson – FB

Wilson had a pretty productive career at Kansas State, considering he was very limited in touches.  His production came in the form of blocking for former second rounder Daniel Thomas and Heisman Trophy candidate Collin Klein and teammate John Hubert.  Some see his athletic ability translating better for a tight end.  I think Wilson could be a FB/TE hybrid in the league, or at least a special teams player.

Prediction:  Undrafted.  Fullbacks usually don’t get drafted unless you’re Mike Alstott.  I do think that he will sign with the flurry of undrafted players after the draft and will be a contributor to a team.

Anthony Cantele – K

Cantele was a reliable place kicker during his tenure with Kansas State.  Cantele hit on 82 percent of kicks last year, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors.  Kickers usually don’t get drafted, but I have seen projections of Cantele possibly being taken in the seventh.  I would expect him to be one of the first kickers taken, if one is chosen.

Prediction:  Undrafted.  He should definitely earn a shot somewhere as a training camp leg, with the opportunity to maybe win a job.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Collin Klein cannot catch a break. He was invited to the NFL Combine under the auspices of working out with his quarterbacking peers. As discussed here earlier this week, he has been working with former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer to prepare for the event. Yet according to a report released 30 minutes ago from the League, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt has officially stated that Klein is being asked to work out at the tight end position.

This does not mean Klein won’t participate with the quarterbacks as well if he accepts the invitation - tight ends are showcased on Saturday alongside offensive linemen and special teams players. Quarterbacks throw  and go through their other drills on Sunday. However, accepting the invitation would mean a significant symbolic blow to Klein, who reaffirmed his intentions to play QB in the NFL last week and rejected the notion of engaging in Saturday’s drills. However, his journey is an uphill battle as the record-setter is currently projected to go in the last rounds or go undrafted at the QB position. His stock was further hurt by an East-West Shrine Game in which he completed less than 50 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and an interception.

In total, 19 players will be asked to try out at different positions during the event, including another quarterback – MarQueis Gray of Minnesota, who was also asked to work out with the tight ends group. Although Klein developed some experience as a wide receiver as an underclassman before taking over for Carson Coffman, he’s much more comfortable assuming the role of field general and having the game flow through him. Over at Jug of Snyder we discussed this challenge in early January. We’re in store for learning a lot this weekend, so stay tuned to the Jug for all your combine coverage.

Wildcat kicker Anthony Cantele will be participating in special teams drills on Saturday (for more on Cantele, please visit Jug of Snyder’s assessment of his pro prospects here).

April 2012 only saw one player from K-State find a home through the NFL draft – and even that was a stretch, as Bryce Brown saw little playing time and quit the team his first year after transferring to Manhattan before conference play started. 2013 should be a much more profitable year for departing Wildcat players. Over the next two weeks, Jug of Snyder will be assessing the players entering 2012 with draft hopes and how they finished their careers with K-State. For our eighth and final installment we go to a player that made the most of his opportunities, but continues working to prove himself to a skeptical audience – kicker Anthony Cantele.

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Cantele didn’t make many radars outside of the State of Kansas. That could very well change later this month when Cantele was one of only five kickers invited to the NFL Combine earlier this week, which takes place February 23-26. And while his peers have received grades going into the combine, NFL.com failed to even provide an analysis of K-State’s kicker. Several other players, including those kickers receiving grades, were given evaluations that included strengths, weaknesses, collegiate production, and comparisons to current NFL players. Cantele is the event’s unknown commodity.

It makes sense that the senior from Wichita has so many teams intrigued yet still uncertain about his potential despite a body of work that includes two full years kicking for the Wildcats. K-State was so efficient inside the 20 yard line that Cantele received few field goal opportunities during the year, with a total of 23 attempts. Additionally, little is known about his leg strength. Of his 23 attempts, only six were from 40-49 yards (of which he hit four), and he did not attempt a kick from beyond 50. Overall, Cantele connected on 19 of 23 attempts resulting in an 83 percent success rate. He did not make a kick beyond 42 yards in 2012, and hit 64 of 64 PATs.

Although Cantele was very consistent his senior year, he had slightly less success as a junior. In 2011 he was successful on 17 of 23 attempts (74 percent), and also missed an extra point attempt. That year he only made three of his six kicks of 40-49 yards, and nailed his only attempt from beyond 50 yards (54 yards). His long record was (and still is) 54 yards in 2011.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cantele is the number five ranked kicker in the 2013 draft class according to Frank Cooney’s Sports Xchange, with a projected draft round of seven or as a free agent. He was an All-Big 12 second team selection in both the Media and Coaches polls. Cantele hit a 50 yard field goal as a high school player for Kapun Mt. Carmel and, as with all good kickers, was an excellent soccer player – being named the 2008 Kansas Soccer Player of the Year. The Combine is a make or break opportunity for the Wildcat, who must demonstrate an ability to consistently hit the field goals he’s only attempted on a very limited basis in game situations at this point in his career.
Previous Draft Stock articles:
Arthur Brown
Collin Klein
Chris Harper
Braden Wilson
Nigel Malone
Meshak Williams
Adam Davis

(si.com)

The losing streak must end now! Kansas State returns home from a tough road trip to take on Texas A&M and hopefully get back to winning. While the outcome was tough to swallow, the Oklahoma State game could easily serve as a confidence booster for a team that many didn’t believe could hang with the nation’s best. Kansas State proved beyond any doubt that they are capable of winning every game that remains on their schedule and now its up to them to take care of business. Continue reading to see how hey can get another Wildcat Victory! (more…)