Kansas State Offensive Players to Watch vs. Texas Tech

Kansas State will feature a human joystick at running back and a veteran quarterback in its backfield for 2022.

Offense wins games but defense wins championships. It's time to retire the saying for good. 

For Kansas State to become a viable contender in the Big 12, the offense will need to kickstart into high gear. While Skylar Thompson made thing intriguing at quarterback, his inconsistencies did play a factor into the Wildcats' 8-5 season. 

Thompson is gone but K-State isn't going younger. The Wildcats added one of college football's most talked about quarterbacks in recent memory with Nebraska's Adrian Martinez. The talking points haven't always been positive as the grad transfer struggled with consistency on the way to four losing seasons in Lincoln. 

Will that be a similar case him at K-State? More importantly, is that a sign of hope for Texas Tech in Week 5?

Make sure to follow along at RedRaiderReview.com as we preview every matchup for Texas Tech during the 2022 season. Now, onto the K-State offensive players Red Raider nation should be keeping an eye on. 

QB Adrian Martinez 

Martinez provides the veteran leadership needed to push K-State into the contender category. Not everything is negative surrounding his name, either. In 39 games, he's completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 8,491 yards and 45 touchdowns. 

One thing that piqued the Wildcats' interest was Martinez's dual-threat ability. Since being named the starter, he's averaged 4.5 yards per attempt and scored 35 touchdowns on the ground. Offensive coordinator Collin Klein has always been big on mobile quarterbacks, meaning there's a chance for Martinez to be effective with option plays and keep drives alive with his legs rather than his arm. 

The last time K-State had a mobile quarterback like Martinez was in 2012 with Klein. That season, the now-Wildcats' OC won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, finished third in the Heisman voting, and led K-State to its first 11-win season since 2003. Could Martinez do the same? 

RB Deuce Vaughn 

Vaughn is a running back on paper, but he's more an all-purpose weapon at this point. Since arriving in Manhattan, the 5-6 scatback has found success as a runner, receiver, and in the return game. 

Last season, Vaughn totaled a career-high in total yards (1872) and touchdowns (22) while averaging a respectable 6.0 yards per run. While his overall receiving yards diminished, Vaughn doubled his reception total from 25 to 49. He also doubled his touchdown count from nine to 22 — 18 of which came on the ground. 

WR Malik Knowles

K-State's passing game will need to improve with Martinez. The good news is both starting receivers are set to return for their senior season. Knowles slightly underachieved in terms of production last season, but he is the most experienced player on the roster with 29 starts. 

In 2021, Knowles recorded 29 catches for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Klein also utilized him in the run game last season on jet sweeps and motions. As a ball carrier, Knowles averaged 7.1 yards per attempt. For his career, he's averaged 9.9 yards per carry. 

OL Cooper Beebe

Arguably the top offensive linemen in the conference, Beebe is going to be a problem up front. His stout frame and exceedingly improved footwork allowed the Wildcats to average 162.5 yards per game on the ground and nearly three rushing touchdowns per outing. 

Beebe was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the top offensive lineman in the Big 12 last season with an 81.4 run-blocking grade and 87.5 pass-blocking grade. He didn't allow a sack and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors as a redshirt sophomore. There's a chance K-State moves him inside to guard depending on the development of redshirt sophomore Carver Willis.

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