Rapid Recap: The plan for Kansas State QB Will Howard

BAYLOR’S APPROACH ON FOURTH DOWN

Nobody goes for it more on fourth down in the Big 12 than Baylor, and Kansas State is mindful of that because that factors into the game script. It means that Dave Aranda and the Bears could sequence their plays much differently than most squads.

It also means getting off the field is essential and K-State will likely face many critical short-yardage situations on Saturday evening in Waco. That will be an important factor in the contest, and it’s why Baylor has built so much of their offense around the running game.

They’ve been rushing the ball around 66 percent of the time.

KANSAS STATE INJURY REPORT

Kansas State will not be without their receivers when they take on the Bears in four days. After missing parts of the last few possessions due to injury, Malik Knowles and Kade Warner are expected to be available when K-State takes the field.

Neither have practiced yet this week and the coaches are not anticipating either one to participate on Tuesday evening, either. However, even if in limited fashion, the plan is for both to begin practicing on Wednesday.

PLAN FOR K-STATE QB WILL HOWARD

I know some are frustrated that the redshirt for Will Howard seems to be coming into play for Kansas State. With that being said, had they come to the conclusion that Howard gave them a better chance to win versus Texas, I believe he would have played.

It was more of a decision that Adrian Martinez was healthy and they felt like they were better with the ball in his hands against the Longhorns. In fact, he rewarded that by playing one of his better games of the season. Unfortunately, he just had a back-breaking turnover in the first half because of a poor read.

With only three regular season games remaining, the redshirt for Howard is becoming something that they are mindful of, and it sounds like it is also in part because of his sensitivity to it. Head coach Chris Klieman even stated that it was important for him to see it from Howard’s viewpoint as well.

It is his third season in Manhattan and he has yet to play a full season. Neither he or Howard want to see another partial season rob him of a year of eligibility. It is his third year of football at at K-State and he’s yet to start more than seven games in a season.

Yes, even if he were to still burn through the redshirt this year, he would still have two years of eligibility remaining. But he made a bit of a sacrifice to play against Texas in the regular season finale last year and forego an entire year of eligibility, too, when Skylar Thompson was unable to compete.

And if he were to not become the full-time starter in Manhattan or lose the job at Kansas State, he wouldn’t want to lose another season of eligibility by not even playing half the season.