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Kansas State Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

By Connor Muldowney

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats looks to throw against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 51-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats looks to throw against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 51-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – SEPTEMBER 15: James Gilbert #34 of the Ball State Cardinals runs the ball during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – SEPTEMBER 15: James Gilbert #34 of the Ball State Cardinals runs the ball during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Alex Barnes era at Kansas State is officially over after three impressive seasons. OK, he was a redshirt in 2015, so he was technically in Manhattan for four years, but he gave the program everything he had, accumulating over 2,600 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in his time.

Leaving a year early for the NFL was kind of a no-brainer after the junior season he had with 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns. Replacing him isn’t going to be easy.

That’s where Ball State transfer James Gilbert comes into play.

The 5-9, 198-pound running back from Indianapolis chose the grad transfer route and picked Kansas State where he’d have a decent chance to play right away. There may not be a ton of competition for him in the backfield and he has proven himself at the collegiate level already.

In fact, Gilbert rushed for over 1,300 yards as a sophomore in 2016 before suffering an injury and playing just three games in 2017. He returned in 2018 and rushed for 659 yards and seven scores.

Keep an eye on the senior as he could be the work-horse back for the Wildcats in 2019.

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