Chris Klieman has a plan for K-State QB Will Howard now that Adrian Martinez is back
As long as Adrian Martinez stays healthy, all signs point to him finishing out the season as Kansas State’s starting quarterback.
But questions remain at the position. Chief among them: What is the plan for backup QB Will Howard?
Many wanted Howard to continue leading the K-State offense after he torched TCU and Oklahoma State for 521 passing yards and six touchdowns over a two-game span when Martinez was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Some still think he should be elevated to QB1 after Martinez was unable to lead the Wildcats to a victory over Texas, despite the incumbent passer throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
So what role will he play now that the Wildcats have pivoted back to a healthy Martinez?
“We still have a plan,” K-State football coach Chris Klieman said. “Will understands that plan.”
Translation: Don’t expect Howard to play in more than four games this season. The Wildcats want to let him redshirt and preserve his three remaining years of college eligibility for the future after Martinez has moved on.
Howard has already seen action in two games this season, which means he can only play in two more without losing his redshirt status.
It’s possible K-State could choose to use him at certain times in two more games. Offensive coordinator Collin Klein and Klieman have both said they aren’t opposed to trying a two-quarterback system that features both Howard and Martinez ... so long as it doesn’t affect Howard’s redshirt status.
Both quarterbacks are willing to do whatever is asked of them.
“Those two guys are really good friends,” Klieman said. “They have handled this really well. Will is a team player. You bet he would want to play, just like the week before I think Adrian wanted to play. But he couldn’t and Will said, ‘Let’s go.’ That’s the healthy part of that relationship, as well as how I think Coach Klein handles those guys.”
Some will say it is silly for K-State to worry so much about saving a redshirt on a junior quarterback who is in his third year with the program and will still have two full seasons remaining even if he keeps playing this year. But it is apparently important to Howard.
“I look at it from Will’s point of view,” Klieman said. “He hasn’t played a full season yet, whether that is by default or Skylar (Thompson) getting hurt or Adrian coming in here and playing. I know the competitive side of Will wants to play a full season.”
To that end, it is worth remembering that Howard also planned to redshirt last year until he agreed to burn it and play in his fifth game during the regular-season finale at Texas.
Howard has filled in admirably for Thompson and Martinez over the past three seasons. He has played in 17 games and made 11 starts. Now that he is starting to hit his stride as a college quarterback some want to see more of him.
But that may not happen much more this season as long as Martinez remains healthy enough to play.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 7:00 AM.