Finally, Oklahoma State Catches an Opponent with Major Problems in K-State
STILLWATER – Kansas State comes in this Saturday with a record of 4-5 and 3-03 in the Big 12. That’s far from the expectations this season for the Wildcats, and while their situation is far superior to that of Oklahoma State, the hits just keep coming for the Cats. At his weekly press conference on Monday, K-State head coach Chris Klieman revealed that middle linebacker and leading tacvkler Austin Romaine is done for the season and often discussed offensive playmaker and running back Dylan Edwards is finally done.
Edwards, a big ticket NIL deal, has been off and on this season due to injury and attitude. He is now done period according to Klieman.
"Last week, he decided to redshirt and that he was going to leave the team," Klieman said on Monday (Nov. 10). "I wish him well. It's unfortunate, but I wish him well."
Edwards was a big playmaker coming from Colorado, but he had 205-yards rushing and 17-yards receiving for Kansas State. His muff of a punt against Iowa State in the opener was a disaster. He played in only four games and 34 plays. Saying he was a disappointment would be underselling the situation.
Joe Jackson, far from the explosive runner that Edwards, a native of Derby, Kan, has jumped in and rushed for 433-yards and a touchdown on 105 carries. He is averaging 3.9-yards per carry. Klieman said that there will be other running backs getting more involved, including Monterrio Elston, JB Price and Devon Rice.
"We're gonna look at everybody back there because we've gotta get more production out of the run game, and it could be more than just one guy,” Klieman added. “It's going to be a collective effort."
The greater loss is Romaine, who is the best player and the leader on the Kansas State defense. Romaine is a smart player that makes others smarter and better. He is the “William Wallace - Braveheart” of the Cats defense that was playing with his hand taped up like a club.
"We needed to get something done for him, and the club was just a stop-gap for us for a little bit," Klieman explained of Romaine, who had 66 tackles and 7.5 tackles-for-loss. "He and I talked after that game, so we decided to shelf him for the rest of the year."
Klieman told the beat media that Des Purnell will move over the middle linebacker. Purnell has 50 tackles and 6.5 tackles-for-loss. Rex Van Wyhe will jump into Purnell’s position on the weakside. Klieman said Asa Newsom and Gabe Powers have both earned the opportunity to play and they will get some of that now.
Purnell will be the onfield playcaller and will wear the communication helmet now.
"Des understands our defense as well as anybody out there," Klieman said. "Now he's gonna be thrust into a bigger role. He's a senior, he'll be fine, and ready to do that."
None of that guarantees anything, but it is nice to play a team with some problems like Oklahoma State has dealt with all season long. Oklahoma State and Kansas State kickoff at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Nov. 15) inside Boone Pickens Stadium.
