K-Stated

By now, it’s pretty obvious that players such as Tysyn Hartman, Arthur Brown and Collin Klein are excelling at Kansas State’s voluntary summer workouts. All three have been voted captains by their teammates, and all three were invited to Dallas for Big 12 Media Days by coach Bill Snyder.

But what about the players further down the depth chart? What about some newcomers? Who came into the offseason flying under the radar (excuse the cliche) but now has a chance to turn a few heads during games?

I asked those questions earlier this week, and came away with a handful of answers.

On the offensive line … “A lot of guys are working hard up front,” said Klein, a junior quarterback. “Clyde Aufner, B.J. Finney, Colten Freeze, I could go on and on.”

Aufner started eight games a year ago at tackle and as a senior should be one of the leaders on K-State’s line. Finney received great reviews from teammates at the end of spring practices. I will be surprised if he doesn’t start at center as a redshirt freshman. Freeze played in all 13 games last season in a reserve role, but could make a run at starting right guard this year.
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Who will replace Brandon Banks as Kansas State’s main kick returner?

That is a question that has been asked countless times heading into the upcoming football season.

On Tuesday, Wildcats coach Bill Snyder gave us an answer. On kickoffs, Terrance Sweeney and Brodrick Smith will line up nearest the end zone. For punts, Tramaine Thompson and Smith will do most of the sprinting.
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At Kansas State, Brandon Banks used his speed to zoom past defenders on kickoff returns and lead the Wildcats in receptions.

In the NFL, his quick feet are being utilized in a third way: taking snaps out of the Wildcat formation.

According to The Washington Post , Banks, a 5-foot-7 speedster, spent time at quarterback during a recent practice.

There was a Wildcat formation sighting at Redskins Park but it took a split second longer than usual to actually see who was at quarterback. The diminutive Brandon Banks, a former Kansas State Wildcat, no less, took a couple snaps in the formation that has taken the NFL by storm since the Miami Dolphins introduced it in 2008.

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Of the seven Kansas State football players who received individual honors from the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday, Brandon Banks was the biggest winner.

The senior wide receiver/kick returner was named Special Teams Player of the Year, making him the first Wildcats player to earn the honor. The last time K-State produced a Big 12 Player of the Year was in 2002 when Terence Newman took home top defensive honors.

Other 2009 K-State honorees, voted on by Big 12 coaches, included junior running back Daniel Thomas, who was named Offensive Newcomer of the Year, first-teamers Jeron Mastrud and Nick Stringer, and honorable mentions Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Tysyn Hartman, Joshua Moore and coach Bill Snyder.
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