Insider: Kansas State
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A closer look at this week's Husker opponent, the Kansas State Wildcats.
KEEP AN EYE ON ’EM
Points
Offense: 36.7
Defense: 27.7
Yards
Offense: 422.4
Defense: 347.6
Rush
Offense: 134.3
Defense: 126.3
Pass
Offense: 288.1
Defense: 221.3
Time
Offense: 28:58
Defense: 31:02
Base formations
Offense: One-back multiple
Defense: 3-4
Ian Campbell
OLB / Jr. / 6-4 / 249 pounds
A returning first-team All-Big 12 player, Campbell is well off the pace he set while making 17½ tackles-for-loss in 2006. He still leads the Wildcats with 7½ this season, has four fumble recoveries and a TD off an interception return.
Jordy Nelson
WR / Sr. / 6-3 / 217 pounds
His school-record 90 receptions are more than double those of the team’s No. 2 receiver. Nelson also has returned two punts for scores and thrown two TD passes. He nearly saw some action at his former defensive back position last week, too.
Brooks Rossman
K / Jr. / 6-0 / 178 pounds
The Wildcats will feel good if Saturday’s game comes down to the transfer from Ohio. Rossman is second nationally in field goals per game (2.11) and his 76 percent success rate (19-for-25) is No. 2 in the Big 12. He has hit a 52-yarder.
Quarterbacks
Sophomore Josh Freeman might be the Big 12’s most-improved quarterback from last season, when he threw 15 interceptions and just six TDs. On pace to set several K-State single-season records, he ranks 23rd nationally in total offense at 281.4 yards per game. His 373 attempts and 237 completions are school records. He doesn’t throw deep very often, but has eight games with at least 20 completions. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Freeman is the biggest QB in the league, but the Wildcats don’t count on him as a ball carrier. Freeman usually starts hot, but K-State hasn’t had an opening-drive score in its last five games.
Running backs
Senior James Johnson is more of an all-purpose back, but he’s averaged 97 rushing yards the past four games to move up to sixth in the Big 12. Johnson began that stretch with a career-best 159-yard effort against Colorado. He’s averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has nine rushing TDs. Johnson also gives Freeman a nice safety valve, as he’s third on the team with 27 receptions. Leon Patton, who last year set K-State’s freshman rushing record, provides a nice second option. He’s averaging 4.3 yards per attempt and is 2-for-2 on halfback passes, with two touchdowns, in his career.
Wide receivers
These guys don’t run a lot of deep routes, as Jordy Nelson averages a team-best 13.6 yards per catch. Nelson, coming of a school-record 214-yard game at Iowa State, needs eight receptions to set the Big 12 single-season record for a senior. He’s also 11 yards from the school’s single-season yardage mark. Nelson’s per-game averages of 10 catches and 135.8 yards rank No. 2 nationally. Junior college transfer Deon Murphy is probably the fastest receiver and is No. 2 on the team with 41 catches. He also has 12 rushes. Daniel Gonzalez (24 catches) and tight end Jeron Mastrud (21) are the next-best options.
Offensive line
This group has given up just eight sacks, which is the lowest total in the Big 12 and third-lowest nationally. Center Jordan Bedore is set to return after missing the last four games because of an elbow injury. Left tackle Alesana Alesana graduated from high school in 1998 before eventually going to junior college. Senior Logan Robinson has replaced Brock Unruh at left guard the last four games. Robinson also is the backup to right guard Gerard Spexarth. At right tackle, Penisini Liu has taken over for Nick Stringer the last eight games. NU could see TE Rashaad Norwood, who hasn’t played so far because of a legal matter.
Defensive line
This group has been instrumental in the Wildcats recording 63 tackles-for-loss, 20 of which have come the last two weeks, against Baylor and Iowa State. Without nose tackle Steven Cline (who tore an ACL last week), K-State will lean more heavily on Brandon Balkcom. Ends Rob Jackson, Moses Manu and Ian Campbell have a combined 16 tackles-for-loss. Campbell, who moved to outside linebacker when the Cats switched to a 3-4 look in the offseason, has started at left end the past two weeks. Another end, Clayton Cox, is coming on at the end of his career. Cox, who made two tackles last year, made eight against Baylor two weeks ago.
Linebackers
Outside of Ian Campbell, who also plays on the line, this is one of the least-recognized sets of linebackers in the Big 12. Part of that is because they rely on speed and teamwork to get the job done, rather than one guy taking over. Senior MLB Justin Roland is No. 2 on the team with 55 tackles, 38 more than he had in 2006. The other inside backer, John Houlik, has 48 stops. He’s replaced Reggie Walker, who leads team with three sacks, the last three games. With Campbell playing end the last two weeks, Ross Diehl (questionable this week) and Courtney Herndon have each made a start on the strong side.
Defensive backs
Even with three senior starters, the Wildcats have continued to develop here. K-State has created 20 turnovers in its past six games, and 15 of those are interceptions. Senior cornerback Justin McKinney is probably the team’s defensive MVP, as he leads the club with 58 tackles and 11 breakups, and also has three interceptions. Sophomore Chris Carney has started the last four games and has all four of his interceptions in the last five games. Free safety Marcus Watts, a preseason first-team All-Big 12 pick, is fifth on the team in tackles. Senior Bryan Baldwin has returned from injury to solidify the other corner spot.
Special teams
Under second-year coach Ron Prince, the Wildcats bank on getting big production from these units. This year, K-State leads the country in punt returns, averaging 22.1 yards, a number that includes four touchdowns. Deon Murphy has a 16.8-yard average on 24 returns. Running backs James Johnson and Leon Patton haven’t been as explosive handling kickoffs. Senior Tim Reyer ranks No. 7 in punting average (44.1 yards) for a team that leads the Big 12 in net average (38.9). Nebraska still should have some chances for good field position, as only five of the Wildcats’ kickoffs have gone for touchbacks.
Scouting report
Kansas State was coming off a 47-20 win against Colorado and had moved back into the Top 25 before its Oct. 20 game at Oklahoma State.
Despite offensive coordinator Larry Fedora saying that the Wildcats would field the best defense the Cowboys had faced, OSU scored in every quarter and gained 510 yards.
But with Freeman throwing for a career-best 404 yards and completing a two-point conversion pass that gave K-State a 39-38 lead with 1:10 left in the game, Oklahoma State needed one more drive before Jason Ricks kicked a game-winning, 26-yard field goal with 2 seconds left.
Fedora noted that Kansas State’s 3-4 defensive front makes it harder for offensive linemen to recognize where blitzes come from. OSU coach Mike Gundy also pointed out the Wildcats start seven seniors on that side of the ball.
“There’s a lot of maturity and there’s guys out there that are older that are experienced and they play like that. They have corners that can cover and linemen that can rush the passer and put pressure on him.
“They pressured Zac (Robinson) all night long. That’s why he didn’t have a great night throwing (11-for-25 for 181 yards and three TDs).
“They’re a very fast football team. They’ve done a nice job acquiring some junior college players, in my opinion, that have upgraded their team speed. Coach (Bill) Snyder did a nice job of that in the past and it looks like coach (Ron) Prince continued to do that. They’re a fast football team and they have good schemes and they get to the football. And then, offensively, they have guys that can make you miss in space.
“They are a very good football team. You don’t go down to Texas and beat them (41-21) without being very good.”
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