Kansas State football fall position battles: Can the offensive line still be elite?

Fall camp is in full swing and Kansas State has been working hard to try and reclaim their Big 12 Championship from two years ago. However, the team that won that championship looks very different than the team that Klieman is coaching today.

For one, Will Howard chose to transfer to Ohio State while the Wildcats are excited to be in the Avery Johnson era. K-State also had Deuce Vaughn back then, but now they have DJ Giddens, who is primed to have a stellar season after having a full starting year under his belt. The wide receiver and tight end positions also look very different as does the offensive line. The defense also has a completely new look to it now in 2024.

However, K-State can't live in the past, they have to focus on the future and that means focusing on the team they have now in 2024. This Kansas State team is primed to have a good season and maybe even a great season if they can find a way to stay near the top of the Big 12.

In order to start the season, the Wildcats need to know who they are going to be putting on the field and those questions will be answered in fall camp. As camp continues, there are position battles that everyone knows would happen and some that have popped up through competition.

So here is every position battle going on at K-State's fall camp and ones to keep an eye on throughout the fall.

Who will replace Cooper Beebe at center and fill out the rest of the line?

The offensive line is probably the biggest question mark for K-State this season. With the majority of the line leaving after last season, Klieman has the task of figuring out who will fill the holes. The biggest hole that needs to be filled is the center position, and that player will have to fill the shoes of Cooper Beebe

Right now offensive line coach Conor Riley has the job of picking between Sam Hecht and Hadley Panzer for the center position. Whichever player doesn't get picked will still be on the line just with the talent they have, but then it comes to rounding out the rest of the line. However, it all starts with that position and the rest should fall into place.

The wide receiver trio is set, but who with the fourth guy be?

Obviously, nothing is completely set in stone, but it is almost guaranteed that the wide receiver trio on the field will be Jayce Brown, Keagan Johnson, and transfer Dante Cephas. Brown has shown his great connection with Avery Johnson in the Pop-Tarts Bowl being the leading receiver in the game.

However, the fourth wide receiver spot is up for grabs and it is a three-person race right now between Jadon Jackson, Tre Spivey, and Sterling Lockett. Lockett is a part of a long line of great receivers at K-State and if he can get this fourth position, he may be able to be yet another great player in the Lockett family.

Jackson showed sparks last season after transferring from Ole Miss before 2023. He led the receivers in yards per catch for the first half of the season, but he cooled off significantly in the second half of the season. He will need to show consistency if he wants to be in that solid rotation of receivers all season long.

Spivey comes in with good experience and good size which could pair well with Cephas. Johnson and Brown bring that smaller receiver with a speed look to the offense which pairs well with Avery Johnson's arm, but a big receiver in the middle of the field could help fill the hole in the offense from Ben Sinnott leaving.

Who will be the middle general in JACK safety position?

Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman has the task of figuring out who his general in the middle of the field will be. Marques Sigle and VJ Payne will no doubt be great leaders in the group, but they need someone to complement them.

Redshirt freshman Jack Fabris has come out in camp like a firecracker and impressed coaches. Fabris had a great spring and is bringing that greatness to the fall and is primed to take the role, however, it wouldn't be a battle without other players.

Colby McCalister and Jordan Riley are the other two players in the mix and let's not forget that it was McCalister who started in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Both McCalister and Riley have great versatility and could easily take this position, but it going to be a battle and could even result in a rotation.

How will the defensive line round out?

The only lock as a starter on the defensive line is Brendan Mott, but after him, that is where Klanderman has some real questions. Cody Stufflebean seems to be another player who could be a lock seems how he has the most experience from last season.

However, there are more vying for those positions which include redshirt freshman Chiddi Obiazor who has impressed quite a bit, especially in the bowl game against NC State. However, he is not the only player in the mix, as Jordan Allen, Tobi Osunsanmi, and Ryan Davis are also making a play for the positions. This could end up being a rotation of the line with the amount of talent which may not be such a bad idea.

The third cornerback position is still open, and it might be the most exciting position battle

The Wildcats cornerback room took a hit during the transfer portal season with the loss of Will Lee and Kobe Savage. Jacob Parrish and Keenan Garber already have two of the positions locked down, but who will round out the position group with the third spot?

The names that are about to be listed will be more unknown names, but they have the ability to make a big name for themselves if they win this spot. Justice James, Kanijal Thomas, Donovan McIntosh, Farrel Jones, and Jordan Dunbar are all battling for the final spot.

James comes in with the most experience, but redshirt freshmen Thomas and McIntosh have impressed quite a bit in both spring and fall camps. Jones is also in the mix, but unfortunately, injuries have nagged at his ability to put up a big fight. The other surprise contender is Dunbar who comes in from Rice through the transfer portal. Dunbar is definitely a dog in the fight and don't be surprised if he wins this battle.