Manhattan
Chris Klieman allowed reporters to watch the first few periods of Kansas State spring football practice Tuesday.
Here are a few key observations about the Wildcats
AVERY JOHNSON WAS BUSY DURING QB DRILLS
No one can say that K-State quarterback Avery Johnson is taking it easy as the Wildcats press on this week at spring football practice.
The Wichita native was, perhaps, the busiest player on the entire team.
Offensive coordinator Matt Wells asked Johnson to do all sorts of unique quarterback drills at the beginning of practice. He ran the first-team offense during a short scrimmage. Then he practiced handoffs and short jet-sweep passes. Next, he worked on option drills with his center and running backs. Finally, he threw some deep balls
K-State designed his reps in a way so that Johnson was always moving from one part of the field to the next. There were no opportunities for him to take a play off. At one point, the Wildcats used a passing drill that featured three centers, three quarterbacks and three wide receivers at the same time.
It was also interesting to see the Wildcats spend so much time on option pitches with Johnson and all of their other quarterbacks. That isn’t a play that K-State has leaned on much in the past. Maybe Wells will use it during his first season as the offensive play-caller.
Or maybe it was just something for K-State quarterbacks to practice. The Wildcats worked extensively on jet-sweep passes last season and rarely called that play in games.
Still, it seems like Johnson will be ready for just about any type of play next season.
DYLAN EDWARDS WASN’T IN PADS
No need to fear, K-State fans.
Dylan Edwards isn’t dealing with a significant injury. But the talented running back was not a full participant on Tuesday. The Derby native warmed up with his K-State teammates in shorts and a T-shirt, but he never put on pads or joined in on drills with his fellow ball-carriers.
This was likely a scheduled day off for Edwards, as Klieman likes to employ “load management” with his best veteran players. Several notable starters watched from the sideline.
For what it’s worth, Edwards ran the ball hard when reporters were allowed to watch practice last week.
TRANSFERS ARE ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT AT WIDE RECEIVER
It is beginning to look like K-State brought in a few talented wide receivers from the transfer portal.
Jaron Tibbs, a 6-foot-2 junior from Purdue, caught a deep pass from Johnson during a brief scrimmage. He was well-covered on the play, but it didn’t matter. He still found a way to come down with an impressive catch. After he made the grab, he rose to his feet and enthusiastically signaled for a first down.
