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Starting options abound on Kansas State football’s first official depth chart of 2024

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Starting options abound on Kansas State football’s first official depth chart of 2024


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MANHATTAN — Until now, we could only speculate on how Kansas State football’s depth chart would look heading into the 2024 season.

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But coach Chris Klieman provided some clarity on Monday, as the Wildcats released their first official two-deep with the opener scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Here are a few observations.

Kansas State football QB Avery Johnson cool and calm ahead of season opener

Kansas State football WR Sterling Lockett is ready to add to the family legacy

Kansas State football creative with extra positions

K-State frequently has listed 12 players on its offensive depth chart to allow for either a fullback or third wide receivers. Now, suddenly, there are 13 positions on offense, and 12 on defense.

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Adding names to the list no doubt keeps more players happy, but also illustrates the Wildcats’ depth at several positions.

On offense, there now are two tight ends and two running backs to go with three wide receivers, while the defense lists three defensive ends. There is no shortage of players in the mix.

The tight end expansion allows for both sophomore Garrett Oakley and senior Will Swanson to claim starter status, while at running back junior DJ Giddens and sophomore Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards can say the same.

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The three starters now listed at defensive end — the Wildcats’ base defensive is two ends and a nose tackle up front — are super-senior Brendan Mott, senior Cody Stufflebean and either Austin Peay transfer Travis Bates or redshirt freshman Chiddi Obiazor.

Veterans dominate the Wildcats’ top roster spots

The Wildcats boast experience at just about every position, as evidenced by a depth chart that names no freshmen and only six sophomores as potential starters.

And of the sophomores — Oakley at tight end, Avery Johnson at quarterback, Edwards at running back, Jayce Brown at receiver, Bates at defensive end and Austin Romaine at middle linebacker — all had significant roles last year with the Wildcats. All except for Bates, a transfer who started as a redshirt freshman at Austin Peay.

But the Wildcats have high hopes for last year’s freshmen, most of whom redshirted. The depth chart includes eight redshirt freshmen.

Damian Ilalio nailes down nose tackle job

One surprise, and it wasn’t entirely unexpected, was the emergence of junior Damian Ilalio as the starting nose tackle ahead of super-senior Uso Seumalo.

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Ilalio, a Manhattan High School product, drew praise from his coaches throughout the spring and fall, while returning starter Seumalo missed most of the spring with an injury.

While both will see significant playing time, Ilalio has separated himself with his leadership ability.

We have some answers on special teams

There was not much news coming out of preseason camp with regards to specialists, but now we have an idea at last.

To nobody’s surprise, senior Chris Tennant is back to handle kickoffs, field goals and extra points, but redshirt freshman Simon McClannan has won the punting job.

The Wildcats also list a number of playmakers in the return game, with Edwards, Brown and receiver Keagan Johnson still battling for kickoff return duties, while Edwards or sophomore receiver Sterling Lockett will field punts.

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Kansas State football’s first official 2024 depth chart

OFFENSE

WR — Keagan Johnson; Jadon Jackson or Ty Bowman

TE —Garrett Oakley, Brayden Loftin

LT — Easton Kilty, John Pastore

LG — Hadley Panzer, Andrew Leingang

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C — Sam Hecht, Michael Capria

RG — Taylor Poitier or Andrew Leingang; Alex Key

RT — Carver Willis, Drake Bequeaith

TE — Will Swanson; Will Anciaux or Andrew Metzger

QB — Avery Johnson; Ta’Quan Roberson or Jacob Knuth

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RB — DJ Giddens, Joe Jackson

RB — Dylan Edwards, La’James White

WR — Jayce Brown, Sterling Lockett

WR — Dante Cephas, Tre Spivey

DEFENSE

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DE — Brendan Mott; Tobi Osunsanmior Ryan Davis

NG — Damian Ilalio, Uso Seumalo, Asher Tomaczewski

DE — Travis Bates or Chiddi Obiazor

DE — Cody Stufflebean, Jordan Allen

SLB — Desmond Purnell, Asa Newsom

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MLB — Austin Romaine, Beau Palmer, Terry Kirksey

WLB — Austin Moore, Rex Van Wyhe, Zach Wittenberg

CB — Jacob Parrish, Justice James

SS — VJ Payne; Colby McCalister or Wesley Fair

JS — Jordan Riley, Jack Fabris

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FS — Marques Sigle; Nickendre Stiger or Daniel Cobbs

CB — Keenan Garber; Jordan Dunbar or Donovan McIntosh

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK — Chris Tennant, Leyton Simmering

P — Simon McClannan, Teagan Cobb

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LS — Mason Olguin, Keane Bessert

KR — Dylan Edwards or Jayce Brown or Keagan Johnson

PR — Dylan Edwards or Sterling Lockett

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.



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2025-26 Kansas State MBB: Game 6 vs Nebraska

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2025-26 Kansas State MBB: Game 6 vs Nebraska


The Kansas State Wildcats are officially entering the “pay-attention” neighborhood. After a 98-77 drubbing of a decent Mississippi State squad last night, the 5-0 Wildcats are starting to appear like a legitimately solid squad…one that could be capable of fun things if they can keep things rolling into the heart of the season.

They’ve got another big test tonight. The Cats will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the championship of the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic. The Huskers are also 5-0, and advanced to the championship game after an 84-72 win over New Mexico in the opening game of the classic. The Huskers are led by Fred Hoiberg, who is in his seventh season in Lincoln, and are looking for a return to the NCAA Tournament after winning the College Basketball Crown to end the 2024-25 season.

The last time these two teams met was Dec. 17th, 2023, when the Huskers beat up on the Wildcats 62-46 in Manhattan, a win that snapped a 7-game win streak for the Wildcats over their former Big 12 conference mates. But that K-State team was significantly more offensively inept than the current iteration of the TangCats. These TangCats are lighting up the nets with a return to the “fun” brand of basketball that marked Jerome Tang’s first season in Manhattan. And last night, the Wildcats showed they could even manage some defense more consistently than the final couple minutes.

This will be the biggest test yet for the Wildcats. A win would be a huge springboard into the heart of the season. A loss doesn’t hurt, as long as it’s productive. Can the Wildcats handle the quick turnaround and keep building?

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We’ve got an 8:30pm CT tipoff for the championship game of the Hall of Fame Classic tonight from T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, and you can catch the action on NBCSN and streaming on Peacock with Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Tre Demps (analyst) on the call.

If you can’t access the stream, the game can be heard across portions of the 28-station K-State Sports Network with Wade Gerstner (play-by-play) and Clent Stewart (analyst) calling the action. The game will also be available online at K-Statesports.com and via the Varsity Network app, as well as on satellite radio at Sirius/XM Ch. 383. Live stats are also available at k-statesports.com, and social media updates (@KStateMBB) will also be a part of the coverage.



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Kansas federal attorneys went 5 months without pay, sparking constitutional crisis

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Kansas federal attorneys went 5 months without pay, sparking constitutional crisis


TOPEKA — For nearly 20 weeks, certain lawyers, paralegals, psychologists, interpreters, court reporters and investigators were not paid. Federal funding for a group of criminal justice professionals expired in early July, and the government promised to reimburse them in October, but the longest shutdown in U.S. history delayed that promise. As of Nov. 14, the […]



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Boyfriend suspected of shooting at KCK home, killing woman: affidavit

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Boyfriend suspected of shooting at KCK home, killing woman: affidavit


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Multiple shots were fired at a house where a Halloween party was taking place in a suspected domestic violence incident that killed a 20-year-old woman in Kansas City, Kansas, earlier this month, according to court records released Wednesday.

An affidavit released by Wyandotte County District Court details what happened in the early-morning hours of Nov. 1 at the Kansas City, Kansas, home, where Ana Juarez was fatally shot. The affidavit was filed in the case of 22-year-old Kevin Calamaco-Morales, who is accused of killing Juarez. Charging documents say the two were in a relationship.

Officers with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department were called to the home on North 11th Street near Barnett Avenue just before 4:30 a.m. Nov. 1. Officers found Juarez with a gunshot wound to her lower back. She was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Investigators interviewed witnesses inside the house and collected video, phone records and Facebook messages sent to the victim that led them to arrest Calamaco-Morales, according to the affidavit.

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FOX4 has reached out to an attorney listed for Calamaco-Morales for comment.

Witnesses told police that Juarez went out with friends to Westport and some house parties for Halloween. Back at the house in KCK, they said they noticed Juarez was ignoring her phone, which was “blowing up” with calls or texts. Moments later, they heard gunshots, the witnesses said, and they took cover. Some of the witnesses stated that they saw Juarez getting up and opening the front door.

By the time the witnesses came out from hiding, police officers arrived, and Juarez was lying on the ground.

The house had been hit by gunfire, with some of the bullets entering the home. The victim’s car was also hit by a bullet with the driver’s side window shattered.

Charging documents say that at least one witness told police they believed Calamaco-Morales was involved in the shooting due to his attitude toward Juarez leading up to their Halloween plans. The witness claimed Juarez told them that Calamaco-Morales was controlling and that he initially didn’t want her to go out for Halloween.

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Investigators obtained phone records that showed that a number registered to Calamaco-Morales called her 18 times between 4:21 and 4:23 a.m., according to the affidavit. The affidavit also says investigators recovered Facebook messages that were sent to the victim at 4:21 a.m.

Kansas City, Kansas, police took Calamaco-Morales into custody later that day for questioning.

Police also noted that at the address where Calamaco-Morales was taken into custody, they noticed a Honda Accord that was similar to the suspect vehicle they saw on a video that was captured near the shooting scene that morning. The video showed a vehicle parking in front of the home at 4:19 a.m. and a person exiting the passenger side and firing shots.

Charging documents say the Honda had a Kansas tag that was flagged by a license plate reader as being at Seventh Street and Quindaro Boulevard at 4:31 a.m., about nine minutes after the shooting and two miles from the scene.

Calamaco-Morales was arrested and Wyandotte County prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm on Nov. 3.

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He remains in the Wyandotte County jail with bond set at $500,000.

The next court hearing is set for Dec. 16.



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