Ranking the Top 100 College Football Teams for 2017: No. 22 Kansas State

In the 100 days leading up to the kickoff of the college football season on Saturday, Aug. 26, HERO Sports is ranking the top 100 teams in the FBS. You can find all the rankings and previews here.

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No. 22 Kansas State

The last time Kansas State won nine games in a season (2014), they followed it up with a six-win campaign in 2015. That won't happen in 2017 after last year's nine victories.

The Wildcats will have one of the best offenses under Bill Snyder — powered by a dual-threat quarterback with improved arm strengt — and a defense that lost the Big 12's best defender but returns elite talent in the front seven and secondary.

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2016 Record: 9-4 (6-3, Big 12)

After starting 3-3, Kansas State used a season-ending four-game win streak to hit the nine-win mark for the fourth time in six seasons.

The Wildcats scored at least 30 points in their final six games (five wins) after scoring fewer than 30 in four of their first seven games — including a combined 46 in losses to Stanford, West Virginia and Oklahoma. Finding more offensive balance and consistency has been a big focal point since January.

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Head Coach: Bill Snyder (26th year, 202-105-1)

You know you've been coaching a long time when you have a tie in your career record.

Snyder, entering his 26th overall season (eighth of his second stint that began in 2009 after a three-year absence), returned to nine wins after posting six in 2015. Most importantly, the 77-year-old's recovery from throat cancer is going well, saying in July that he's "doing fine" and doesn't "have any issues right now."

He enters 2017 tied with former Bowling Green and West Virginia head coach Don Nehlen for 21st on the FBS' all-time wins list.

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Key Returning Offensive Players

QB Jesse Ertz, RB Alex Barnes, RB Justin Silmon, FB Winston Dimel, WR Byron Pringle, OT Dalton Risner, OT Scott Frantz

"We are always underrated," right tackle Dalton Risner said days before the start of fall camp

It's true. And this year it applies to both sides of the ball for Kansas State. An offense that ranked 116th nationally in passing and 22nd in rushing will be more balanced. Starting quarterback Jesse Ertz, one of four FBS players who had 1,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards last year, is back, as are six other offensive starters.

“In our offense, game experience is huge,” Ertz said. “We run a difficult system. It’s complex. Some teams are pro style or they run the ball or they throw the ball. We have QB run game, the pistol, the shotgun, the option. There are just so many things to learn. To be good at all those things and to operate quickly and efficiently takes time

Though Ertz's 1,012 rushing yards led the team and Charles Joens (596) is gone, they still return two good runners in Justin Silmon and Alex Barnes and one of best fullbacks in the nation in Winston Dimel. Barnes averaged almost eight yards per carry as a freshman.

“He reads schemes quite well and he can pick his spots,” Snyder said of Barnes. “He sees daylight, so to speak, the old adage. He’s an aggressive runner. He always runs as hard as he possibly can, which is a plus. He’s a physical back to go along with it.”

Byron Pringle is back at receiver after an outstanding sophomore year, and Dalton Risner is one of three returning starters on the offensive line. 

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Key Returning Defensive Players

DT Trey Dishon, DT Will Geary, DE Reggie Walker, DE Tanner Wood, CB D.J. Reed, CB Duke Sheeley, S Kendall Adams

Kansas State was teffic at protecting the ball and taking away the ball, recording nearly two forced turnovers per game. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Willis is in camp with the Cincinnati Bengals but they return four talented linemen, led by senior tackle Will Geary and sophomore end Reggie Walker.

Geary is a two-time All-Big 12 performer with 14 tackles for loss the last two years, and Walker (below) had a sensational freshman season and could lead the conference in sacks. 

There will be three new starters at linebacker, though a veteran front seven and secondary will help them ease into action. The secondary in particular has been earning the praise of coaches and upperclassmen all offseason. Junior corner D.J. Reed had 16 passes defended and was one of three players who had three interceptions.

“We are going to be really good,” the former JUCO transfer Reed said. “Our secondary is dynamic. I think we are going to be in more man-to-man situations, instead of zone like cover two and cover four. I am going to be more in press or man, just with the trust coaches have in me."

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Notable Player Losses

RB Charles Jones, DE Jordan Willis, LB Elijah Lee, LB Charmeachealle Moore, CB Donnie Starks, S Dante Barnett

Almost all of K-State's major losses came on defense. Both NFL Draft picks were defenders — Jordan Willis and Elijah Lee — and they lost two starters in the secondary in Donnie Starks and Dante Barnett.

Willis had 25.5 career sacks and Lee was an early entrant after recording 190 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and five interceptions the last two years.

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Notable Player Additions

WR Carlos Strickland, LB Da'Quan Patton, CB Elijah Walker, 

Kansas State scored big last August when Cal receiver Carlos Strickland announced his transfer. A former four-star recruit from Skyline High School in Dallas, Strickland is a 6-foot-4, 212-pounder who redshirted in 2015 and says he's finally healthy after battling injuries for years.

“He will be a playmaker for us,” sophomore quarterback Alex Delton said. “He has been learning every day, getting better every day, never taking any plays off. He is a quiet guy who is only going to get better.”

The other notable additions come on defense in JUCO transfers Da'Quan Patton and Elijah Walker, both of whom could start immediately. Walker was the third-ranked JUCO safety prospect in the nation.

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Schedule

After opening with Central Arkansas and Charlotte, K-State visits Vanderbilt in one of the better Big 12 non-conference games.

Following a Week 4 bye, the Wildcats open Big 12 play at home against Baylor on Sept. 30. Other notable games include Texas (away) on Oct. 7, Oklahoma (home) on Oct. 21 and Oklahoma State (away) on Nov. 18.