For the first time since 2015, Arizona has started off the season 3-0. After the 23-17 win over Kansas State, they have shown that this is a team to not take lightly.
Kansas
Here are 15 players to watch from Kansas, K-State and Mizzou this football season
Look around the local colleges — at Kansas, K-State and Missouri — and you’ll find no shortage of standouts who could earn all-conference or even All-America acclaim.
And possibly a spot in the upcoming NFL Draft.
It could be a historic year for the three power-conference teams, with the Jayhawks and Wildcats likely to battle near the top of the Big 12, and Missouri set to compete in an even-more-loaded SEC with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas.
To help get you ready for the 2024-25 season, here are 15 players to watch, five from each local school…
Kansas State Wildcats (Last Season: 9-4)
By Kellis Robinett
1. Avery Johnson, sophomore quarterback
It’s hard to imagine a sophomore quarterback entering his first season as a full-time starter with higher expectations than Avery Johnson. K-State fans think so much of him that they weren’t upset in the slightest when Will Howard decided to hit the transfer portal and leave for Ohio State.
Johnson is a dual-threat playmaker from Maize who led the Wildcats to a victory in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last season. Some are predicting him to win the Heisman Trophy. Can he live up that kind of hype? One thing is certain: He should be fun to watch.
2. DJ Giddens, junior running back
The Junction City product led K-State’s backfield with 1,549 total yards and 13 touchdowns last season. What will he do for an encore? Well, he says he wants to prove that he is a complete running back who can gain yards between the tackles and make defenders miss on the perimeter. He should be one of the best running backs in the Big 12.
3. Dylan Edwards, sophomore running back
Giddens isn’t the only talented running back on the K-State roster. Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards has returned to his home state to play for the Wildcats. His breakaway speed and shiftiness could make him a touchdown threat any time he touches the ball. It will be interesting to see how coaches work to get him the ball.
4. Austin Moore, senior linebacker
K-State coaches long ago gave Austin Moore a nickname. They like to call him “The Machine” because he is a fundamentally sound linebacker who never takes a play off.
His tenacity has led to 172 tackles during his college football career. Expect him to add another 75 or so this season. He is the quarterback of this defense.
5. Keenan Garber, senior cornerback
The Wildcats wisely moved Keenan Garber from wide receiver to cornerback in 2022. Turns out, he was always supposed to play on defense. Giddens made 22 tackles and grabbed one interception as a stater last season. He should only get better now that he has more experience on that side of the ball.
Kansas Jayhawks (Last Season: 9-4)
By Shreyas Laddha
1. Jalon Daniels, senior quarterback
There’s no denying Jalon Daniels’ talent, but the biggest question is whether he can stay healthy. Although he only played three games in the 2023 season, Daniels had a memorable 2022 season. He threw for 2,014 passing yards with 18 passing touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 425 yards and seven more touchdowns.
Under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Daniels could take another leap. If he stays healthy, it could be the makings of a special season.
2. Devin Neal, senior running back
After many thought he would leave for the NFL, Neal returned for his senior season. As long as he stays healthy, Neal is on pace to break multiple Kansas records and leave a Jayhawk legend.
Last season, he ran for 1,280 yards on 203 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns, which earned him All-Big 12 second-team honors.
3. Mello Dotson, senior cornerback
In the dynamic corner duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, Dotson goes a little under the radar. Even though he’s a bit underrated, he has plenty of skill. Last season, he had 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Dotson told The Star his focus is on improving his coverage even further as he chases his NFL aspirations. Let’s see if he can take another step forward this year.
4. JB Brown, senior linebacker
After the departure of Rich Miller, there are big shoes to fill in KU’s linebacker room. Luckily for the Jayhawks, senior JB Brown is the perfect player for the job. Brown played in all 13 games in 2023, finishing with 57 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Coach Lance Leipold even raved about his fall camp performance.
“The guy that’s really stood out and playing some good football is JB Brown,” Leipold said. “He’s playing fast and confident. You can tell he’s really comfortable with what he’s supposed to be doing with our defense and he keeps showing up.”
5. DJ Warner, freshman defensive end
The hype around DJ Warner continues to build. Recently, Leipold said Warner and Dakyus Brinkley could see snaps this season despite being freshmen. Multiple Jayhawks raved about Warner’s play to The Star at KU’s media day. He could also help alleviate some of KU’s pass rushing concerns.
Mizzou Tigers (Last season: 11-2)
By Maddie Hartley
1. Luther Burden III, junior wide receiver
It’ll be roughly this time next year that we’ll be hearing Burden’s name talked about on Sundays, but until then, we’ll look forward to seeing how he capitalizes off a star-studded sophomore campaign.
Burden is already landing across various 2025 mock drafts as a first rounder. He recorded 1,212 yards across 86 receptions and nine touchdowns for the Tigers last season, and will be QB Brady Cook’s No. 1 target once again.
2. Brady Cook, senior quarterback
On the topic of Burden, someone will have to be there to throw it to him.
And it’s going to be Brady Cook.
As Cook prepares for his senior season, he’s under the highest expectations he’s seen in the black and gold. After leading a Mizzou squad that was projected near the bottom of the SEC to an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl win with his 3,317 passing yards and 21 TDs, the St. Louis native will be in charge of getting the Tigers to a potential College Football Playoff Spot.
3. Marcus Carroll, senior running back
The Tigers had large shoes to fill with Cody Schrader’s departure, and head coach Eli Drinkwitz hit the portal to find an answer in Georgia State transfer Marcus Carroll. Carroll ran for 1,350 yards across 274 carries for the Panthers last season, both marks ranking second in the Sun Belt.
4. Brett Norfleet, sophomore tight end
Norfleet, a member of last year’s SEC All-Freshman team, started the last seven contests for the Tigers and enters his sophomore season as the starter for the Tigers.
Schrader even said at the NFL Combine in March he expects Norfleet to be the best tight end in college football, expecting another great season out of the true sophomore.
“He’s one of the most physical, gifted tight ends I’ve seen,” Schrader said.
Norfleet recorded 197 yards on 18 receptions last year, including three TDs.
5. Blake Craig, redshirt-freshman kicker
Harrison Mevis is the program’s all-time scoring leader, finishing his college career with 415 points. He’s also Mizzou’s all-time leader in field goals by a mile with 86 (second on the list is Andrew Baggett with 66).
That’s a lot for Craig to live up to, but this KC native (Liberty North) was a top-10 kicking recruit in the country and currently holds the MSHSAA records for field goals in a season (17), career (45) and career points by a kicker (335). It’ll be interesting to see how he makes his own name in the absence of Mevis.
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A trial starting on Friday in Johnson County could determine what doctors must do before providing an abortion in Kansas.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood, challenges four abortion-related laws passed by state lawmakers. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is defending the laws.
One law requires doctors to warn patients that abortions may increase the risk of premature birth or breast cancer. A judge has already paused that provision, ruling the claims are not backed by credible medical evidence.
The lawsuit also challenges requirements for abortion paperwork, including strict rules about fonts, font sizes, and even paper color. Another law mandates a 30-minute waiting period after patients meet with a provider, which opponents argue is medically unnecessary.
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Doctors are also required to tell patients at least five times that a medication abortion can be reversed, something the groups call misleading.
Alice Wang, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, says the laws interfere with Kansas voters, who want abortion care rights.
“The government has no business inserting itself into what should be the privacy of the doctor’s office and the patient’s provider relationship,” said Wang. “It’s no one’s business what you do with your body other than your own.”
12 News did reach out to the Attorney General’s Office, but did not receive a response.
Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Sunday’s game in Kansas City didn’t bear much resemblance to Super Bowl LIX on the scoreboard, but the result was the same as it was in New Orleans in February.
The Eagles converted a first down on a tush push on the first play after the two minute warning and the clock ran out on their 20-17 win from there. When taken with the Super Bowl and the first game of this season, it marks the first time that the Chiefs have lost three straight games with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback.
It was one of many notable tush pushes during the game. The Eagles upped their lead to 20-10 in the fourth quarter when Jalen Hurts scored one play after being stopped short by the Chiefs defense. Replays showed that the Eagles had a false start on the play, but officials didn’t flag it and they didn’t flag another one with another apparent infraction on the next Eagles drive. The Chiefs also argued that they stripped Hurts of the ball on the final tush push, but officials ruled he was down with possession of the ball.
In addition to the false starts, it looked like Eagles lined up in the neutral zone on some of the sneaks and the importance of those plays could lead to further fuel for those who want to take the play out of the game.
The Chiefs were able to get back within a field goal on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, but the Chiefs will rue the turn of events that led to Hurts’ touchdown run. Mahomes hit tight end Travis Kelce in the hands with a pass just outside the end zone, but Kelce couldn’t catch it and Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba picked the ball off.
If Kelce held on, the Chiefs might have found a way to pull out the win but that result wouldn’t have been able to fully obscure the offensive difficulties that they’ve had through the first two weeks of the season. Mahomes had 70 of his 187 passing yards on the team’s final possession and his regular season career-high 69 rushing yards were more than the rest of the team combined. They’ll be in New Jersey to face the Giants next Sunday night and if they can’t get well there, it will be time to worry about the unit’s capabilities this season.
The Eagles offense wasn’t much better and the Chiefs ended up outgaining them for the afternoon. Hurts was 15-of-22 for 101 yards and Saquon Barkley ran 22 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, but a 28-yard catch for DeVonta Smith was the only explosive play for the team’s wide receivers after an even quieter Week 1 against the Cowboys.
While road wins and stout defenses have a way of obscuring flaws, history says that there will be some hand-wringing about the Eagles offense if it can’t get in gear soon. The next chance will come against the 2-0 Rams in Philly next Sunday.
The bye week comes at a perfect time, it gives the Wildcats a chance to rest and plenty of time to prepare for a very tough Iowa State team.
Here are the grades for the offense, defense, special teams, and coaching:
On the first drive, Arizona was able to get inside Kansas State territory but settled for a field goal. To start the second drive, Ismail Mahdi ripped off a 60 yard run.
A couple plays later, Noah Fifita ran it into the endzone to start the scoring for Arizona.
Luke Wysong would have a 27 yard catch and run on the third drive of the game, putting the offense into the redzone. The drive would stall out after that, forcing another field goal attempt.
On a solid march down the field, Fifita would find the endzone on the ground for the second time from one yard out.
In the first half, the offense would finish with 257 total yards. The second half would start off with a three and out.
After a 34-yard run by Mahdi, Javin Whatley would throw an interception on a trick play to end the drive quickly.
After Mahdi continued his strong night with a 15 yard run, more holding penalties would kill the drive, and the offense settled for another field goal.
Starting the fourth quarter, the offense would not do anything and punted.
On third and 15, Mahdi would take a dump down pass from Fifita and turn it into a 27 yard gain. Even with the conversion, the drive would stall and yet again it would settle for a field goal.
The bright side to that drive was that it took seven minutes and 30 seconds off the game clock.
With 412 total yards on the night, the offense definitely showed that it can move down the field in different ways. Now it needs to improve on finishing those drives in the end zone.
Arizona’s defense started off hot, forcing a three and out. However, after a special teams blunder, it was right back onto the field for Danny Gonzales’ crew.
It ended up holding Kansas State to a field goal after Treydan Stukes and Deshawn McKnight got to Avery Johnson for a third down sack.
Despite Kansas State getting into Arizona territory, the defense would force a fourth down attempt and would end up getting the stop.
On the fourth Kansas State drive of the game, the defense would force its second three and out of the game.
Continuing the first half dominance, the defense would force another punt by Kansas State. In the first half, the defense would only allow 44 total yards of offense.
The second half would not be the most ideal start for the defense. Kansas State would score on the first play, and it would be the first touchdown Arizona’s defense had let up on the season.
Off another special teams blunder, Arizona would have to defend a short field. Kansas State would score and tie the game.
Just when it would seem that Kansas State could take control of the game, Arizona’s defense came up with a three and out to stop the bleeding that started quickly in the second half.
Late in the third quarter, when Kansas State went for it on fourth down at the Arizona 40 yard line, Jay’vion Cole came up with a huge pass breakup to force the turnover on downs.
Forcing Kansas State to punt for the fourth time, the fourth quarter would start off strong for the defense. Then, for the third time, Gonzales’ crew would stop Kansas State on fourth down to seal the victory.
Overall, the defense held Kansas State to 193 total yards of offense. They had a near perfect game, outside of the long touchdown run. The other touchdown was set up by a mistake on special teams.
Genesis Smith led the team in tackles for the game with eight and also had three crucial pass breakups.
After marching down the field on the opening drive, the offense could not find the endzone, which brought out Michael Salgado-Medina. He would miss from 47 yards out.
When the defense forced a three and out, Kansas State would end up punting. Unfortunately, Jeremiah Patterson would get bumped by a Kansas State and in doing so it would touch Patterson.
This resulted in what would be called a fumble and Kansas State would recover.
In the second quarter, Salgado-Medina would be called upon again and redeemed himself from 31 yards out.
Right before halftime, Arizona would end up punting but Kansas State would muff the punt and Dalton Johnson would recover for UA.
On his third field goal attempt of the night, Salgado-Medina would miss from 62 yards out to end the first half.
The night for Salgado-Medina started to get worse as the first punt of the second half would be dropped and blocked, setting Kansas State up at the UA 13 yard line.
Late in the third, Salgado-Medina would hit from 31 yards again. He would also hit again from 41 yards late in the fourth quarter.
With an opportunity to put the game away, Salgado-Medina was called on for the sixth time of the night. His 46 yard attempt would be no good, and he finished the night going three for six on field goal attempts.
Safe to say that the special teams unit will need to improve in a lot of ways.
Brent Brennan could not have thought of a better start to this season. His players have bought into what he’s doing and it is showing on the field.
The ability to respond when things don’t go as planned is a big point of emphasis and it showed against Kansas State.
“We responded in all three phases there, and that’s what good teams do,” said Brennan.
There is now a belief and confidence in what they are trying to execute. It shows when Brennan sticks with a guy like Salgado-Medina, despite having a rough night. His trust in his player never wavered.
Gonzales has shown that this defense can be similar to the “Desert Swarm” of the retro days. Add this along with Seth Doege’s exciting and balanced offensive scheme, and this is now a team that can go toe to toe with any Big 12 opponent.
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