74 Days To K-State Football: Kason Hostrup Player Preview
By Dave Thoman
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
For our next installment of the 100 day countdown to kickoff against North Dakota State University, 74 marks the days left until kick-off at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and the number worn by Kason Kai Hostrup, who is another candidate The Jug is nominating for the Big 12‘s All-Name team. The offensive lineman from Sachse, TX came graduated high school in 2010 and will look to contribute more during his second year of eligibility.
Hostrup is another example of Bill Snyder’s prolific use of the grayshirt, bringing the 2010 graduate onto the team during the second semester of the 2010-11 academic year and extending his eligibility another season. Hostrup then redshirted in 2011, and 2012 was technically his redshirt freshman year.
Scout.com provided the following report on Hostrup coming out of high school:
"Decent sized offensive line prospect, plays left tackle for his high school but does not have the footwork to play ths position in college. Has a great pop in his arms that he uses to knock down smaller defensive linemen. Very good at getting into the opponents pads and putting them in the ground. His best future in college is as a guard prospect. Needs to work on pass protection skills, good at run blocking."
Emphasizing this assessment, the site lists his strengths as “aggressiveness/tenacity” and “power and strength,” while his weaknesses are “feet” and “quickness off the ball.” Coming out of high school at 6’5″ and 260 lbs, Hostrup bulked another 40 pounds which means there’s even more power behind his play, but not a lot more quickness. As such the transition from tackle to guard was a natural move.
Hostrup was named one of the top 20 offensive linemen in Texas his senior year by TexasFootball.com, and ESPN rated him the #58 player at his position in the nation. His playing time has been limited due to a solid depth at the position for the team, but this is his third spring on campus and he’s built up to a suitable playing weight. Don’t be surprised if the program’s strength and conditioning coaches try to layer another ten pounds on Hostrup (currently listed at 296), but the development he’s demonstrated should get him on the field in a reserve role this year and have him ready to dominate defensive linemen once he becomes an upperclassman.
To work backward in the countdown, visit 75 days, where we look at the new stadium renovations to be unveiled on August 30.