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For our second installment of the 100 day countdown to kickoff against North Dakota State University, the number 99 represents the Scouts.com ranking of K-State’s 2010 recruiting class. That’s right, for a squad that’s been in contention for a BCS bowl the past two years (including a spot in the Fiesta Bowl last year), this year’s class of (mostly) outgoing seniors was worth a sniff from the national media.

This sort of disregard is something K-State fans have become used to, but also vastly overlooks the talent of that class. Among the most prominent members was JUCO transfer Adam Davis, who combined with MeShak Williams to form one of the NCAA’s best defensive end duos. Javonta Boyd and Ray Kibble – a couple of 300 pound DT menaces that kept blockers busy and off of Davis and Williams – were also part of that class. In all, they helped formed one of the more dominant defensive lines Bill Snyder has put together in Manhattan.

In addition to the junior college transfers, this class included multiple high school players looking to shine this year. Ty Zimmerman returns to lead the defense after recording five interceptions and being named an All American last year despite missing the final two games with a lower leg injury. Tre Walker also returns from injury to head the linebacking unit and should help return this group to prominence after being a three start recruit out of high school.
-Note: Ty Zimmerman technically came to K-State’s campus in 2009, but did not officially join the team or take a scholarship until 2010. While part of the 2010 class in terms of joining the team, he was not necessarily considered a part of this recruiting class.

On the offensive side of the ball, Curry Sexton and Kyle Klein will both look to find significant playing time as the #3 and #4 wide receivers. Sexton had 75 yards on seven catches last year and caught one touchdown pass. That throw came from Kyle’s older brother – Collin Klein – who also came to K-State as a wide receiver no one outside of this coaching staff gave much credit. Also catching balls from this class will be new starting tight end Zach Trujillo who had two receptions last year – including a 58 yard pass – and received significant playing time as a blocking tight end.

Several other players from this recruiting class will be looking to step up in 2013 as well, and we’ll have to wait to see precisely how the depth chart shakes out. And although this may not be the most star-studded recruiting class this school has ever seen, several of the players already are or will soon be commonly known names across the state. This school is one of the nation’s best at both identifying and maximizing talent, and the nation’s 99th best recruiting class in the nation is out to prove that fact once more.

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Yesterday we looked briefly at some of the players that have had the biggest impact on K-State since the Big 12 was established in 1994. Today we’d like to open it up to you, the reader, in helping to determine the greatest Wildcat over the past two decades.

While it’s tricky to determine who should and shouldn’t make the cut, we’ve come up with five very solid options. Three of the players were/are coveted by NFL teams (LB Arthur Brown, QB Josh Freeman, and RB Darren Sproles). The other two (QB Michael Bishop and QB Collin Klein) found trouble trying to translate their ability to run the option to perfection into the NFL, but both placed within the top three in Heisman voting their final year and led their teams to top ten BCS rankings.

So here are your options for the top five. And if you don’t like the list, click ‘other’ and say something in the discussion thread below. Additionally, if you’re having trouble deciding, head back over to yesterday’s article for a brief recap of what each player brought to the table when they suited up in the white and purple. (Find that blog post here.)

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?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

David Ubben recently profiled his top ten Big 12 football players of all time, and as most fans expected it was largely a Texas/Oklahoma lovefest (big money athletic departments do, after all, get the big money recruits). I was hopeful that at least one Wildcat would land on the list, but alas K-State was completely overlooked for the list. Which begs the question – what Wildcat in the Big 12 era is the most deserving to be listed among the top ten players in conference history? Here are my candidates:

Darren Sproles

Sproles is among the most accomplished Wildcats in the NFL to-date. After serving as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup and return man for several years in San Diego, he moved to New Orleans and became one of the most explosive weapons in the league while serving the most dangerous offense in the NFL. Sproles was an absolute star in the 2003 Big 12 Championship game, running all over an undefeated Oklahoma team which including a 60-yard reception en route to a 35-7 victory. During his time in Manhattan, Sproles accumulated just under 5,000 yards rushing. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry and punched in 45 touchdowns during his time on campus.

Josh Freeman

In a list of three stellar quarterbacks, Freeman collected the fewest accolades. However, it’s dangerous to believe this is a reflection on his abilities. Freeman came of age during the Ron Prince era when coaching was lacking, and, let’s be honest, Bill Snyder left a pretty barren cabinet in the mid-2000s. However, before he was a starting NFL quarterback for Tampa Bay, Freeman carried the team on his back at times during three seasons before leaving early for the draft. He accumulated a 125 passer rating (136 his junior year) and threw for 34 touchdowns while rushing for another 20 over 35 games. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.

Arthur Brown

Brown has a couple issues working against him, the first of which is he didn’t start his college career as a Wildcat, transferring from Miami to K-State and only serving two years on the team. However, he was once of the most ferocious defenders to ever fill K-State’s linebacker position (who else – Ben Leber? Mark Simoneau?). As a conference defensive player of the year, he enjoyed two incredible seasons on campus. As a junior Brown registered 95 tackles, two sacks and one interception. He followed that performance up with a senior year performance of 91 tackles, two interceptions, six tackles for loss and one sack.

Michael Bishop

Bishop provided fans with a tremendous amount of exciting talent without the decision-making abilities to succeed at the next level. The Blinn Junior College transfer came to Manhattan after Bill Snyder was the only coach to offer him the opportunity to play quarterback (everyone else wanted him at defensive back). He started all 25 games during his two years in Manhattan while compiling a 22-3 record. He finished fourth all-time on the team in passing with 4,401 yards and ranked second all-time behind Lynn Dickey with 5,715 total yards of offense. He finished second in Heisman voting to Texas’s Ricky Williams.

Collin Klein

If you’re reading this blog, I’m going out on a limb and guessing you’re a fan of K-State football. Or you at least have an inkling of what happened in NCAA football this year. Which means you know the magical run he had. And if you think anyone has been more valuable to their Big 12 team save maybe Vince Young or RGIII, you’re insane. The briefest of synopses: third in Heisman voting, led team to Big 12 Championship and berth in the Cotton and Fiesta Bowls, 4,573 yards throwing, 2,455 yards rushing over his career while accounting for 85 touchdowns for K-State.

Honorable mentions

Terence Newman, Daniel Thomas, any Lockett to ever suit up

So, EMAW fanatics, whose your pick for greatest Wildcat in the Big 12? And were they robbed a spot in the list of top 10 best Big 12 players?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Although he continues to receive attention from schools around the area and all the way to California, 2014 DE recruit C.J. Reese reaffirmed his commitment to K-State earlier this week. Reese has recently picked up an offer from the University of Houston and has received attention from Baylor, California, Memphis, and Texas Tech since his announcement (in addition to previous offers from Colorado, Nevada, and SMU). However, speaking on Wednesday in reference to KSU coach Dana Dimel, Reese stated that “Coach Dimel and I have built a strong relationship together and with my family I feel like I made a really good choice and it isn’t going to get any better than this.”

Reese also mentioned a promise to see the field his freshman year, which could play a major factor in retaining his commitment (K-State could be the best program able to provide this offer). And the proposition of Reese seeing at least some playing time as a true freshman is a real possibility. Recently rated the #47 DE in his class by 247 Sports, he promises to bring the physical tools necessary to contribute on the next level. Additionally, K-State’s lack of depth at the position will also assist in getting Reese on the field.

K-State lists seven defensive ends on its 2013 current roster. And while only one is set to exhaust his eligibility this year, it will represent an important loss. Alauna Finau is a former junior college player expected to anchor one half of the defensive end spots after playing in nine games last year while backing up Meshak Williams and Adam Davis. On the other end of the line, soon-to-be junior Ryan Mueller from Leawood, KS is currently at the top of the depth chart.

Reese will not be taking much playing time from Ryan Mueller in 2014, as Mueller has played in 13 games each of the past two years. In 2012 he had three tackles-for-loss while breaking up six passes and recovering two fumbles. However, the other side should be a wide open battle and Reese could easily be part of a rotation assuming he continues to develop over the next year. Hopefully he can be an immediate star, but even if his role is merely to let the first string catch its breath, it’s encouraging to see a steadfast commitment in the face of additional offers – regardless of how early in the process it is for the 2014 recruiting class.

Click here to read Jug of Snyder’s initial reaction to Reese’s commitment announcement.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas State safety Ty Zimmerman – the team’s most important returning defender – is one of seven Big 12 players named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list for the 2013 season. The IMPACT trophy attempts to encapsulate the player that makes the biggest impacts both on and off the field. The letters stand for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

42 players have been announced to the watch list for a trophy that ultimately went to Manti Te’o of Notre Dame last year. The team will need Zimmerman to do everything expected of a finalist for this award as he is one of the only defenders with playing experience returning this year. Zimmerman was also one of K-State’s best last year as the Junction City native recorded five interceptions and 50 tackles. He has 10 interceptions in his career in Manhattan.

Zimmerman will look to further build on the season that landed him on the All American third team last year and skyrocketed his potential NFL stock when he finishes his senior campaign. Zimmerman was a team captain last year and has been awarded the same honor for 2013. He is the second Wildcat to be placed on the Lott watch list, with linebacker Arthur Brown being placed on the same monitor last year.

Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Fighting loaded depth charts and an uphill battle to continue playing football into the NFL, former Wildcat players Collin Klein and Braden Wilson have found themselves in different situations from the two NFL teams most connected to Kansas City. While Wilson was not among the Kansas City Chiefs cut yesterday, Klein was informed the Texans would not be in need of his services this fall.

The Chiefs drafted Wilson in the sixth round, but traded for Arizona fullback Anthony Sherman shortly thereafter in a move that remains a significant obstacle to Wilson making the final roster of 53. However, another FB – Patrick Sherman – was released last month to reduce the competition in the backfield. Yesterday Nate Eachus was also released, solidifying Wilson’s predicament to a two-horse race for the fullback job.

Eachus is not a traditional fullback in any sense of the word, standing at only 5’10″ and 212 lbs. However, on a team that had no defined FB, he often served as a blocker in the backfield with the potential to roll out in the flat for passes.He made the team as a rookie free agent last year and started two games while seeing action in 11 total. He only totaled 18 yards rushing on five carries and had one catch for 19 yards, but was previously kept around for his physical presence and not his yardage production. The move demonstrates Andy Reid and company are definitely committed to having a true fullback on the field this year, and hopefully that man is Braden Wilson.

On the flip side of the coin, Collin Klein will not be suiting up for the Houston Texans this year (I say they have strong ties to Kansas City b/c the Chiefs were originally the Dallas Texans before moving north in 1963). Regardless of Klein’s physical abilities, he was a longshot to make the roster with four other quarterbacks already in Houston: starter Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates, Stephen McGee, and Case Keenum. And due to his continued insistence that he play the quarterback position and not line up as a tight end, Houston made the decision this morning not to retain his services.

As of this writing, no other team has offered Klein a contract to try out. However, he did leave the Texans with a glowing verbal recommendation from his temporary employers. Over the weekend Texans coach Gary Kubiak discussed Klein, commenting:

I tell you what, it was impressive, I’m fixing to go up and have a long talk with him. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but to watch how far the guy came in two and a half days… probably his best day out here today. He’s found a way his whole career, and he’s probably going to find a way this time, too.

He’s got a ton (of talent). For what he did in college and what Jake (Plummer) has been doing with him, he’s come a long way, as far as working under center and stuff. The arm strength is there. The delivery is a little different but you work with that. But his instincts as a football player you can’t coach; the way he just takes off and stuff like that.

Update: FB Ryan D’Imperio was also released after being signed by the Chiefs in March of this year.

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There are a few guarantees K-State fans have grown used to in the Bill Snyder era: the team will exceed its preseason expectations; a junior college transfer few have heard of will become one of the conference’s best at his position; special teams magic; and an FCS school will be featured on the schedule. This year that team is the North Dakota State Bison. The question is whether K-State should apologize for the opponent. The answer is no. Correction: emphatically no.

Playing an FCS school for a season opening game should be a welcome opportunity to the Wildcats. Bill Snyder is working with a team that’s featuring a new quarterback, a completely overhauled defense, and new #1 wide receiver. The game should be an opportunity to get all these issues sorted out. That won’t be the case in 2013 against NDSU.

NDSU was the 2012 FCS National Champion. They didn’t just win the championship game – they completely blew out Sam Houston State 39-13 on their way to 14-1 record. NDSU also featured an FBS school on their schedule last year in Colorado State. They won that game 22-7 while outgaining the Rams 366-243 in yardage, forcing two turnovers, and winning the time of possession battle 40:20 (yes, exactly a 2:1 ratio). If K-State opened up against a Mountain West Conference team this year, no one would say anything. Instead, they’re opening against a team that destroyed a MWC team.

If what I’m saying scares you a little, it should. NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen returns for his senior year after completing over 60 percent of his passes last year. He also threw for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 12 more. He has developed into a dangerous threat to pass or run the ball. The Bison defense gave up more than 20 points in one game – a 33-21 victory over Northern Iowa (Northern Iowa also scored 21 points in a 26-21 loss to Wisconsin last year). This is not a team to be trifled with.

As a general rule, you’re not going to find a solid defense of K-State’s schedule on this site. I love that we had a home-and-home series against Miami in 2011 and 2012 (even if the team had lost both games I’d still support the endeavor). But the 2013 nonconference schedule isn’t exactly filled with heavyweights – NDSU may be the best team of a list that also includes Louisiana Lafayette and UMass. The point is, if you hear any KU fans talking smack on K-State’s noncon schedule, smack them with the fact that the Jayhawks open against South Dakota, and that if they were willing to open against North Dakota State, they’d probably start the season 0-1. Fact.

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

When K-State takes the field against North Dakota State in late August this year, who will assume the starting quarterback spot remains an open question. What is known is that whoever starts under center, they will have a solid chance to earn all-conference honors in what should be a wide open race for quarterback of the year in the Big 12 in 2013.

The Big 12 lost more talent at the QB position than any other league this year: Collin Klein, Landry Jones, Nick Florence, and Geno Smith have all moved on. In fact, seven starting quarterbacks in the Big 12 last year were seniors and their departures leave a dearth of experience.  With so much turnover and turmoil, The Jug provides a quick look at what the conference has to offer (in two parts!), and what this means for K-State:

Baylor: Departing quarterback Nick Florence led the league in passing yards last year with 4,309 and completed 61.6 percent of his passes. He likely would have been picked up as an undrafted free agent should he have chosen to attempt a career in the NFL, but chose instead to continue his studies and will receive his master’s degree in December. The team has no proven quarterback returning, and junior Bryce Petty (ten attempts in 2012, seven completions) is expected step into the role.

Iowa State: Iowa State will be unveiling both a new quarterback and a new formation as the Cyclones have committed to running the pistol this upcoming season. With leading quarterback Steele Jantz gone and Jared Barnett announcing his transfer in January, Iowa State will look to either Sam Richardson or Grant Rohach. Richardson was third on the depth chart last year and did throw for 541 yards in four games. Barnett was featured in the game against K-State, completing just 16 of 36 passes.

Kansas: Starter Dayne Crist has exhausted his eligibility and was extended a mini-camp invite by the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Crist fell out of favor in the second half of the season and the team is happy to fully turn the reigns over to Jake Heaps. The transfer from BYU sat out last year and played in 22 games for the Cougars. Redshirt sophomore Michael Cummings will also see time, as he saw time in eight games last year (notably the second half against K-State when Crist was pulled after a disastrous start to the second half).

Oklahoma: Landry Jones entered the 2012 season a Heisman hopeful until his team was limited to under 20 points against K-State IN NORMAN while throwing an interception and fumbling away a football which K-State recovered in the end zone. Blake Bell, who saw a lot of goal line time last year due to his size and ability to punch through quarterback sneaks, will get the first opportunity to replace him. K-State fans will remember Bell for trying to run one of those infamous sneaks last year, only to fumble the ball (and a chance to win the game) away.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys had a veritable merry-go-round of quarterbacks last year due to injuries. Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt all return after having started at least one game each last year. They have been named co-starters. Lunt started the game against K-State last year as a freshman, but threw three interceptions and left with an injury in the third quarter. He also had 184 yards and one touchdown when Chelf came in to replace him. Chelf was 16/27 and had only one interception to his one touchdown pass, but neither player left Manhattan feeling good about the team’s 44-30 loss.

Edit: 12 hours after this post went up, it was announced that Wes Lunt would seek to transfer from Oklahoma State.

To read the second half our analysis, click here.

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The Texas Longhorns, perpetually frustrated by their inability to beat K-State despite their five star recruits, multi-billion dollar facilities, and bloated coaching salaries, have one more trick up their sleeves: preventing their potential opponents from setting foot on campus in Manhattan in the first place. According to bleacherreport, Texas has been pressing hard to convince junior offensive lineman and K-State committed Robert Castaneda to don burnt orange in 2014.

Texas has done nothing wrong here – Castaneda gave his verbal commitment to K-State in March but has signed nothing and remains on the open recruiting market, so to speak. Any contact with the player is completely above the board. As such, it’s important Bill Snyder and company do everything they can to keep Castaneda’s eyes trained on K-State. At 6’5″ and 315 lbs, the Round Rock, TX player will provide some serious beef on whichever offensive line he chooses to bolster.

Former Texas quarterback and current assistant coach Major Applewhite recently visited Round Rock and will likely push hard to secure the 3-star recruit. Another in-state school – Texas Tech – is also continuing to court Castaneda. He reportedly visited the campus in Lubbock in April and has an offer from the Raiders on the table. Hopefully the opportunity for playing time on the Big 12 champion is enough to keep him a Wildcat.