K-State Q&A: Which player has the best highlight video in Wildcats football history?
Some days, my work schedule consists mainly of phone calls and news conferences. Other days, I spend a lot of time at games or in front of my computer mashing keys until an awe-inspiring article about Kansas State sports appears on the screen.
But every once in a while the stars align and I get paid to search YouTube for old highlight videos and then watch them for a few hours. It’s a sweet gig if you can get it. This week was one of those magical times, thanks in large part to Reggie Bush and his old highlight reel going viral after he reconciled with Southern California. Watching what might be the best mix tape in college football history got me wondering. Which K-State football player has the best highlight reel of all time?
Turns out, you can make a case for quite a few Wildcats.
When I posed that question on Twitter, my mentions filled up with dozens of nominations. Most were obvious names like Michael Bishop and Darren Sproles. But there were many other playmakers I hadn’t initially considered, like Andre Coleman and Lynn Dickey. One person even suggested I take a look at former kicker Martin Gramatica.
I didn’t end up searching for him. Sorry, Martin. But I did watch highlight reels of 13 different players and narrowed it down to four finalists: Tyler Lockett, Terence Newman, Sproles and Bishop.
As hard as it was to cut former studs like Jordy Nelson, David Allen, Kevin Lockett and Quincy Morgan from the list, I could only let my Twitter followers choose between four options. And I caught myself saying “wooooo” a lot more during those other highlight videos.
Check them out for yourself.
Here’s Darren Sproles. That guy was basically a walking highlight in college. My two favorite: the time he caught a screen pass and took it to the house against Oklahoma and the time he dragged Nebraska defenders into the end zone on an option toss. Think I dropped a few curse words watching those.
Next up is Bishop. His combination of speed, power and arm strength made him arguably the best quarterback in K-State history. Some of his goal-line runs were almost unfair.
Now let’s look at Lockett. Watching Jake Waters throw passes to him was always a thrill. Lockett was impossible to cover at K-State. Check out his route at the 3-minute mark of this video. Your jaw will drop.
And, finally, we have Newman. Some, perhaps many, of you have suggested Nelson or Allen would have been better finalists, but I disagree. Newman was a game-changer on offense, defense and special teams. Plus, his blocked extra point return against USC was legendary.
Honestly, though, I really only needed two finalists. Nothing against the other contenders, but this competition came down to Sproles vs. Bishop.
Every other candidate had good highlights, but none of their videos were entertaining from start to finish or jam-packed with eye-popping plays. Things felt different watching Sproles and Bishop. I wanted to see more!
In my mind, they are in a category all their own. And my Twitter followers agree, as they dominated in the polls with more than 1,100 people voting.
Newman received 4% of the vote and Lockett received 7% of the vote, leaving Sproles and Bishop to duke it out in a much more entertaining way than the we see on Saturdays at Bill Snyder Family Stadium with the legends race. That’s right, I’m not a fan.
In a way, they are both winners. But we aren’t handing out participation medals here. This competition is like Highlander. There can be only one!
And the winner is ...
Drum roll please ...
Darren Sproles.
I figured he was the favorite to win from the get-go, and many of you agreed as he received a whopping 65% of the vote and, much like he did to seemingly everyone that tried to tackle him in college, he even ran away from Bishop (24%).
He made plays in space. He made plays in traffic. He broke tackles. He ran away from people. His spin moves are entertaining as hell. His ability to break tackles is out of this world. It’s easy to see why he lasted in the NFL long.
Congrats to him. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to go watch him score against Nebraska a few more times.
And now it’s time to answer your questions. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
There’s not a whole lot they can do right now.
Even after all 90 active members of the K-State football team tested negative for the coronavirus this week, they still aren’t allowed to begin working out together until Monday and they aren’t exactly encouraged to interact in big groups.
There have been a few in-person meetings between position groups and one full team meeting on Thursday. But players have mostly been doing everything else on their own.
That is a smart strategy.
At Alabama, football players foolishly got tested for the coronavirus and then gathered together for some sort of unapproved players-only practice. The next day, a handful of players reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 and a few more joined them this week.
Landry Weber told me he has been working out with backup quarterback Nick Ast, because they are roommates. But he hasn’t been around too many other of his teammates yet. The Wildcats want to play it safe and continue to social distance as much as possible so they can utilize as much practice and workout time as they can before the season arrives.
The only thing I can tell with certainty is that any K-State football that tests positive for the coronavirus at this very moment will be asked to quarantine for 10 days, plus three more days without a fever.
Any teammate that player came in close contact with and is showing symptoms would either follow the same safety protocol or take a new COVID-19 test.
After that time in isolation, the player would be allowed to return to the team and resume summer workouts.
I have asked what K-State will do if a positive test occurs closer to the season or in the fall. But there is no answer. The Wildcats will cross that bridge when, or if, they come to it.
Positive tests will be something every sports team will have to navigate. I don’t think we will see entire rosters go into quarantine or any canceled games because of it. But players could miss some action.
I could easily give you three names that the Wildcats would miss for any reason next season, but I don’t want to put that voodoo on anyone. Let’s hope everyone stays healthy.
The difference is night and day for Kansas State football when it comes to media access.
Here is how the typical week looked for us in the media with Bill Snyder calling the shots ...
Monday: 10 minutes with Snyder on the Big 12 teleconference.
Tuesday: 30 minutes with Snyder at his weekly news conference and then 30 minutes with coach-approved players.
Wednesday: No access.
Thursday: No access.
Friday: No access.
Saturday: Postgame interviews with Snyder and players.
Sunday: No access.
Here is how the typical week looks for us in the media with Chris Klieman in charge ...
Monday: 10 minutes with Klieman on the Big 12 teleconference.
Tuesday: 30 minutes with Snyder at his weekly news conference and then an hour with any requested players.
Wednesday: 30 minutes with players that couldn’t make it on Tuesday, plus 30 minutes with assistant coaches.
Thursday: 15 minutes with coordinators.
Friday: No access.
Saturday: Postgame interviews with Klieman and players.
Sunday: No access.
The biggest difference, though, is the way both coaches approach the media. Snyder could talk for 30 minutes without saying a single thing of interest. Klieman spends less time at the podium, but tries his best to answer questions and provide enlightening information. That doesn’t mean he’s going to hand over the game plan, but he’s willing to talk strategy and do it in a more relaxed environment.
Allowing more players and assistants to speak with media has also been a refreshing change. The assistant coaches provide great insight, and they were completely off limits under Snyder.
I can see value in both approaches, but prefer Klieman’s method much more.
There’s more information than I need on a weekly basis, and that means more entertaining stories for you to read.
Hey there, Kellis. I wanted to drop you a line and say keep up the good work on K-State Q&A. I also hope you will consider using the following question next week: Is there any chance Donovan Williams asks for a release from Oklahoma State now that the NCAA gave them a post season ban? And if so, do you think he would look at Kansas State again? - Andrew B. via e-mail.
That is a valid question. Given how much I enjoyed getting to know Williams during the recruiting process, I will admit that I wondered about it myself.
But I think he is all-in with the Cowboys, even after they were slapped with a postseason ban last week.
A quick aside: I think it is ridiculous that the NCAA punished Oklahoma State so severely. Was anyone out there calling for a postseason ban because of Lamont Evans and his rogue actions? I think not. Besides, why punish the current student-athletes who had nothing to do with him? I would much rather see the NCAA simply punish Evans or the coach who hired him. I would rather the NCAA fine the school or do just about anything other than tell a group of players that thought they were a shoo-in for the NCAA Tournament that they aren’t allowed to play in it next season. Depriving future athletes of scholarships also seems counterproductive. But I digress.
Williams has said he remains committed to the Cowboys in media interviews, and so far none of Oklahoma State’s players have announced plans to transfer. There is obviously uncertainty about the future of No. 1 ranked recruit Cade Cunningham, but he could always stick to his original plan and play basketball in Stillwater for a season, where his brother is an assistant coach.
There is also a chance that Oklahoma State wins an appeal and is allowed to play in the postseason next season. The Cowboys have the makings of a good team. There are reasons for him to stay put.
Besides, it might be hard for him to find a new home. K-State and Texas were the only other power-conference teams that offered him. The Longhorns appear set without him, and there are probably some hurt-feelings with the Wildcats after the way he withdrew his commitment at the last moment.
For now, I don’t see any reason why he would look to play elsewhere.