Kansas State Football: Is the Bill Snyder era finally coming to an end?

Offense

Bill Snyder is no stranger to hard-nosed running football. He cut his offensive coordinator teeth under Hayden Frye at Iowa in the 1980’s and has used different forms of quarterback-centric option football during his two tenures at K-State. The Wildcats started three quarterbacks in 2017 and will probably start two in 2018. Alex Delton and Skylar Thompson are the two passers fighting over the quarterback position heading into fall camp. Even in the quarterback shuffle of ’17, K-State finished 52nd in offensive S&P+.

Delton is the stronger runner, which will fit Snyder’s taste. He averaged five yards per carry and scored eight rushing touchdowns in 2017. However, he struggled in the passing game averaging only 7.1 yards per attempt and throwing two interceptions and only three touchdowns. Thompson is the better passer of the two. Thompson averaged 7.9 yards per attempt, but he only ran for 3.9 yards per carry and three scores a year ago.

Supporting Cast

The quarterback controversy may turn into a steady duo for the season, but whoever gets the nod at that moment will be well supported. Running back Alex Barnes returns after running for 819 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns in 2017. The Wildcats didn’t sign a running back for this class, but do return the backups in Dalvin Warmack and Justin Silmon who combined for three touchdowns.

The receiving corps is led by Byron Pringle who averaged an eye-popping 24.1 yards per catch with six scores last season. He’s flanked by possession receiver Isaiah Zuber who caught 51 passes and four touchdowns. Dalton Schoen is another deep play guy that averaged 20.4 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns in 2017. That’s a lot of home run capabilities for the Wildcats quarterbacks.

The entire offensive line returns intact for the 2018 season. That’s a well-seasoned crew that their new offensive coordinator can build success behind.