Kansas State makes coaching changes ahead of bowl game

On Friday, the Kansas State Wildcats announced a coaching move for their football team as they prepare for their bowl game. Kansas State announced that offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and fullbacks/ tight ends coach Jason Ray will not return to the team. With Messingham out, quarterbacks coach Collin Klein will serve as the Wildcats interim head coach for their bowl game.

In a statement addressing the moves, Kansas State head football coach Chris Klieman thanked Messingham and ray for their contributions to the program.

“we appreciate the efforts of Courtney and Jason during their time in Manhattan and wish them well in the future. these were very difficult decisions to make as bold are great coaches and friends – basin since our time at North Dakota State, and Courtney, who I have known since we were young. However, I feel like this is in the best interest of our program moving forward,” said Klieman.

K-State offense under Messingham

With Messingham in control of the offense, Kansas State had trouble staying consistent throughout the year. Overall, they ranked 77 in the country with points per game at 25.9 and 97 in average yards per game with 353.6 yards. The reason for the Wildcats bowl berth and the successful season was the play of their defense. Kansas State held opponents to just 20.9 points per game which is 22nd best in the country. And their opponents averaged 354.5 yards per game.

The bowl projections from CBS Sports Jerry palm have the Wildcats slated against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Texas bowl. If that projection holds true, it will be a battle between the Wildcats defense and the Bulldogs air raid offense.

Wildcats who have left via the transfer portal

Transfer portal background information 

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and that request cannot be refused.

Sophomore RB Jacardia Wright

Wright played in just five games this season for the Wildcats. On the year, he’s carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Wright has struggled to find playing time behind Kansas state’s other two sophomore running backs in deuce Vaughn and Joe Ervin.

Redshirt junior S/LB Wayne Jones

Jones saw time at safety and linebacker for the Wildcats. He was a full-time starter in 2019, then was a spot starter last season and a reserve this season. Jones had 92 tackles in his K-State career.