The Red Raiders head into Manhattan having lost the last 10 of 11 matchups with Kansas State, but this is a different feeling heading into the weekend, at least on my end.
Tech is going to see quite a few new faces from the Wildcats this season after last season’s disaster at home including a new quarterback in Adrian Martinez, the four-year starter at Nebraska.
Adrian Martinez:
Martinez has built up a reputation of being a roller coaster ride throughout his five-year career as a starting quarterback at a power-five school and nothing has changed in his early returns at Kansas State.
In the four rushing touchdown performance against Oklahoma last weekend, he doubled, even tripled, his season output from the first three games. He was horrid in the passing game against Tulane and wasn’t much better until the upset in Norman.
Martinez is coming off his best game in some time and this weekend’s game will likely come down to what version of Martinez shows up in Manhattan. If it’s the same one that showed up in Norman, Tech may have some trouble on Saturday.
Deuce Vaughn:
Deuce absolutely killed the Red Raiders last season, finding the end zone three times for 120 scrimmage yards on offense.
Vaughn has been off to a similar start, averaging 117 yards per game and 5.38 yards per carry while seeing his role in the passing game expand.
Despite being held out of the end zone the last two weeks, Vaughn already has three touchdowns and is extremely good at making defenders miss.
Dimitri Moore, who is a game time decision this weekend, would be a massive loss in the second level when trying to contain a guy like Vaughn.
Receiving Core & Special Teams:
Despite the Wildcats emphasis on the run, there are quite a few dangerous receivers on the roster including Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks.
Knowles has elite foot speed and shows it on this jet sweep, pop pass that went for his lone receiving touchdown on the season.
Brooks on the other hand is involved in a special team’s unit that has two kick return touchdowns on the season, on top of his duties as the second leading receiver.
The other special team’s touchdown came on a blocked punt return.
The Red Raiders have had something go wrong against the Wildcats on special teams throughout the years and what’s likely been the Red Raiders worst phase of football to this point will have their hands full on Saturday.
Defensive Line:
The Kansas State D-Line is led by a likely early round pick in Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the team leader in sacks and QB hurries.
As a whole, the Wildcats are getting to the quarterback around twice a game and hurrying him around two times as well.
The Tech O-Line responded with the return of Weston Wright to the lineup against Texas and if it’s more of the same, the Red Raiders offense should be able to move.
A Revamped Secondary:
K-State lost a ton in their secondary to the various ways you lose talent in college football, but they’ve done well to bring in talent and have created a solid group in their new 3-3-5 defense.
Kobe Savage, a Juco transfer, has been great this season with two interceptions and 23 total tackles including one for loss. He was last week’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
Another solid addition to the secondary has been Drake Cheatum who has twelve tackles this season including this great one against the Sooners.
Overall, I think the Red Raiders matchup well and that the Vegas line of an eight-point underdog is a little steep. Score predictions coming later today with the rest of the staff.
Tech is going to see quite a few new faces from the Wildcats this season after last season’s disaster at home including a new quarterback in Adrian Martinez, the four-year starter at Nebraska.
Adrian Martinez:
Martinez has built up a reputation of being a roller coaster ride throughout his five-year career as a starting quarterback at a power-five school and nothing has changed in his early returns at Kansas State.
In the four rushing touchdown performance against Oklahoma last weekend, he doubled, even tripled, his season output from the first three games. He was horrid in the passing game against Tulane and wasn’t much better until the upset in Norman.
Martinez is coming off his best game in some time and this weekend’s game will likely come down to what version of Martinez shows up in Manhattan. If it’s the same one that showed up in Norman, Tech may have some trouble on Saturday.
Deuce Vaughn:
Deuce absolutely killed the Red Raiders last season, finding the end zone three times for 120 scrimmage yards on offense.
Vaughn has been off to a similar start, averaging 117 yards per game and 5.38 yards per carry while seeing his role in the passing game expand.
Despite being held out of the end zone the last two weeks, Vaughn already has three touchdowns and is extremely good at making defenders miss.
Dimitri Moore, who is a game time decision this weekend, would be a massive loss in the second level when trying to contain a guy like Vaughn.
Receiving Core & Special Teams:
Despite the Wildcats emphasis on the run, there are quite a few dangerous receivers on the roster including Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks.
Knowles has elite foot speed and shows it on this jet sweep, pop pass that went for his lone receiving touchdown on the season.
Brooks on the other hand is involved in a special team’s unit that has two kick return touchdowns on the season, on top of his duties as the second leading receiver.
The other special team’s touchdown came on a blocked punt return.
The Red Raiders have had something go wrong against the Wildcats on special teams throughout the years and what’s likely been the Red Raiders worst phase of football to this point will have their hands full on Saturday.
Defensive Line:
The Kansas State D-Line is led by a likely early round pick in Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the team leader in sacks and QB hurries.
As a whole, the Wildcats are getting to the quarterback around twice a game and hurrying him around two times as well.
The Tech O-Line responded with the return of Weston Wright to the lineup against Texas and if it’s more of the same, the Red Raiders offense should be able to move.
A Revamped Secondary:
K-State lost a ton in their secondary to the various ways you lose talent in college football, but they’ve done well to bring in talent and have created a solid group in their new 3-3-5 defense.
Kobe Savage, a Juco transfer, has been great this season with two interceptions and 23 total tackles including one for loss. He was last week’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
Another solid addition to the secondary has been Drake Cheatum who has twelve tackles this season including this great one against the Sooners.
Overall, I think the Red Raiders matchup well and that the Vegas line of an eight-point underdog is a little steep. Score predictions coming later today with the rest of the staff.
