Kansas State Wildcats Projected As Middle-Of-Pack In Big 12

It's no secret the Kansas State Wildcats football team will only go far as quarterback Avery Johnson's arm and legs takes them. 

Johnson is back for his senior season, the third as a full-time starter, with hopes of leading the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth. Most media and college football experts believe the chances of that happening are unlikely. 

CBS Sports recently picked the Wildcats as a middle-tier team in the conference. It projected them to finish 7-5 overall and 4-5 in league play. Most of the prediction was based on how well Johnson adjusts to playing under first-year coach Collin Klein, a former K-State star quarterback who was the offensive coordinator at Texas A & M. 

Klein replaced Chris Klieman, who surprisingly resigned at the end of last season. 

Here's what the CBS article wrote: "Kansas State has all the ingredients to emerge as the Big 12's surprise contender if the marriage between Avery Johnson and Collin Klein goes as expected on offense. The quarterback returns with another year of experience, and his dual-threat ability gives Klein's offense a ceiling few teams in the conference can match. Klein knows how to maximize Johnson's strengths, creating explosive plays while leaning on a physical rushing attack that travels well." 

WILDCATS OFFER TOP WIDE RECEIVER

Wow, we're already on 2029 recruits.

I mean, why not? It's easier to start recruiting for the future sooner rather than later. Kansas State football extended an offer to Colton Laisure, a 2029 wide receiver from Sullivan East High School in Bluff City, TN. He's currently unranked, which is to be expected from a rising high school sophomore. Laisure also received offers from Arizona, Florida State, and Kentucky, among others.

The Wildcats are in a bit of a dead period at the moment, but still have one of the best 2027 recruiting classes in the country. While 2029 is a way away from their current evaluation period, it's still good to start laying the groundwork for what you could get.

MORE K-STATE NEWS 

Collin Klein has a strong message for incoming players 

Are Collin Klein and Avery Johnson already on same page? 

Avery Johnson reacts to Dylan Edwards' departure to KU 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KStateRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]