NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson answers questions from the media during Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Las Vegas, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier) | Lucas Peltier
Editor’s note: Eighth in a series previewing each team in the Big 12 in 2024
Can the Kansas State Wildcats contend for the Big 12 football title this year with a bunch of good players, but very few great ones?
That’s a question that faces coach Chris Klieman, whose squad was picked to finish second in the Big 12 in 2024 behind conference newcomer Utah.
That respect comes from media members who cover the league comes with a hint of disrespect, however. No Kansas State players were selected by the media to the all-Big 12 preseason team.
Even BYU, which is picked 13th, has a player on the team, defensive lineman Tyler Batty. Utah, despite the bulk of the media knowing little about the Utes, has tight end Brant Kuithe, defensive lineman Junior Tafuna and punter Jack Bouwmeester on the team.
For his part, Klieman isn’t that worried about it, he said at the Big 12 football media days on July 9-10 in Las Vegas.
“We don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it, to be honest with you. Everybody sees it, but it is not something that we talk about an awful lot,” said Klieman, who is in his fifth season in Manhattan, Kansas. “I hope it shows people the overall depth and value of our roster and how important our role players are and how important our players are as far as if you’re a successful team, individual honors at the end of the season are going to come.”
A case could be made that Kansas State running back DJ Giddens deserved to be on the preseason all-league team, but that honor went to Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State, the Doak Walker award winner in 2023. Voting was done before Gordon’s well-publicized legal…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-12-team-preview-why-010019068.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-07-21 01:00:19
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
