GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Kansas State defense must show enough looks and be sticky enough in the secondary to pose problems for Baylor QB Charlie Brewer, who is averaging 252.4 yards passing and has just one interception through five games. The Wildcats forced four turnovers in their Big 12 opener at West Virginia, though the offense converted those takeaways into just three points. Against Texas on Sept. 29, the Wildcats were not assessed a penalty (except for one that offset) but could not prevail.
DRAFT SLANT
–S Eli Walker continues to establish himself as one of the hardest hitters on the Kansas State defense. The senior, who broke in a year ago when he was used situationally as a junior college transfer, also registered a career-best 11 tackles in the Texas loss. Walker had one tackle for a loss off a blitz. He would be a long shot to get a look in an NFL camp, but at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, he has the frame and the toughness to make an impact in the right situation.
ROSTER REPORT
–PK Blake Lynch was not available against Texas because of an injury. Backup Andrew Hicks was used on kickoffs, while Nick McLellan was called on to boot both extra points. Kansas State seemed uncomfortable using either to try a field goal, opting to go for touchdowns in goal-to-go situations.
–S Denzel Goolsby remains out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, reducing depth in a Kansas State secondary that has also played without CB Kevion McGee, who made a nice splash in the season opener by breaking up four passes.
–QB Alex Delton started against Texas after closing the West Virginia game a week earlier. The start for Delton was his first since a four-game stretch midway through last season, when Kansas State also started Jesse Ertz in the first five games and Skylar Thompson in the last four. Thompson will start against Baylor, though Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said Delton would play.
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