Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
For our next installment of the 100 day countdown to kickoff against North Dakota State University, 86 is the number of days left as well as the jersey number worn by Tramaine Thompson, the team’s number two returning wide receiver. With 4th round pick Chris Harper now suiting up for the Seattle Seahawks and Tyler Lockett expected to command the attention of opponents’ number one cornerback, Thompson will look to truly break out in 2013.
Although K-State was known nationally as a running team, the tandem of Harper, Lockett, and Thompson combined for over 2,000 receiving yards last year. The duo of Lockett and Thompson should be able to eclipse that total this year as well. Seriously. Lockett is a star and will be among the top receivers in the conference – particularly if Jake Waters wins the starting quarterback spot. But Thompson will look to be just as effective.
Thompson put up respectable numbers last year, finishing with 526 yards on 37 receptions, good enough for 14.2 yards/catch while contributing four touchdowns. Listed at 5’8” and just 167 lbs, he’s not built to fight for jump balls and did his damage using quickness to get separation last year (think a Wes Welker type). Back ups Curry Sexton (5’11”) and Kyle Klein (6’3”) will be responsible for that role, leaving Thompson to burn DBs in the slot.
If Waters is the primary quarterback, this team will throw more and run less – he threw for 39 touchdowns and only three interceptions at Iowa Western while completing 73.3 percent of his passes. Waters is more capable of delivering lobs or rockets as the situation demands as compared to Klein – he just can’t run nearly was well. Which leads us back to Thompson getting 1,000 yards this year.
Klein threw for over 2,600 yards last year while running for over 900. If we give half those yards to other running backs and turn the rest into passing yards, that’s over 3,000 on the season. Which you would expect a passing K-State team to make, at minimum. And while outgoing senior TE Travis Tannahill will be sorely missed over the middle, Zach Trujillo demonstrated some of the toughness last year to command some of the same attention.
So what should we expect out of Tramaine Thompson in 2013? Assuming Jake Waters does what his scouting report promises, look for 1,050 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. I’m still not sold on the depth, but the combination of Lockett and the (literally) overlooked Thompson should be a force to be reckoned with this year. Of course, if Daniel Sams commands the starting gig and rushes for 1,000 yards himself this year, I couldn’t expect Thompson to net over 650 yards – but at the end of the day, I really don’t care as long as it ends in wins.
To work backward in the countdown, visit 87 days, where we the infamous K-State/KU Toilet Bowl of 1987.