Kansas State Wildcats expected to be without this key defender for several weeks
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas State will miss leading pass-rusher Tobi Osunsanmi for several weeks.
- Osunsanmi leads team in sacks and tackles for loss through six games.
- Coaches will shift roles to Jordan Allen, Ryan Davis and others on defense.
The Kansas State football team is preparing to play multiple games without one of its best defenders.
Tobi Osunsanmi, a junior defensive end from Wichita who leads the Wildcats in both sacks and tackles for loss this season, is expected to miss at least the next few weeks with an undisclosed injury.
“It sounds like it might be decently long term,” K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. “I’m not sure what the status will be for later in the year, but for the next couple of weeks, for sure, it looks unlikely (for Osunsanmi to play).”
His injury status is an unfortunate update for the Wildcats. Osunsanmi has been one of the best defensive players on the entire roster this year, as he has piled up 19 tackles through six games. Five of those stops were tackles for loss. And four of them were sacks.
Osunsanmi also has a fumble recovery to his name this season.
He has already been listed as “out” for the TCU game at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It may be several weeks before he is able to return to action.
Klanderman said the Wildcats will rely on other defensive linemen until Osunsanmi is able to return.
“Jordan Allen will have a bigger role now,” Klanderman said. “Ryan Davis, we’ve shuffled him around a little bit because he’s good enough to be out there. He just hasn’t really found a home. If Tobi is out for for a stretch, then we’ll have to park Jordan in a place, which I think will be good for him so he can just learn one position.
“It’s going to put more stress on guys like Travis Bates and Cody Stufflebean who, frankly, are great players They’re doing a really good job for us. The thing that we’re going to miss with Tobi is when it comes to third down ... He’s a threat in the pass-rush game, and we’ll miss that.”