Five things to watch as spring football practice begins at Kansas State

Kansas State will hold its first football practice of the spring on Wednesday.

Here are five things to watch before the Wildcats take the field at Snyder Family Stadium for their annual spring game on April 23:

1. WHO WILL BE THE NEXT STARTING QUARTERBACK?

This is the question K-State football fans have been asking since the Liberty Bowl. Odds are they will continue asking it until K-State begins the 2016 season at Stanford. Odds are slim Bill Snyder will name a starting quarterback at any point during spring practices. Much like last year, there will be many candidates for the job. Jesse Ertz and Alex Delton have recovered from knee injuries that sidelined them early on last season. Joe Hubener returns with 11 starts under his belt. And freshman Skylar Thompson, a four-star recruit, enrolled early to join the mix.

Ertz enters the quarterback derby as the favorite after easily winning the starting nod a year ago, but he may face stronger competition this time around. Delton and Hubener are a year older, and Snyder thinks highly of Thompson. Ertz is also recovering from his second torn ACL. Can he avoid the injury bug? Hubener is the only returning quarterback fans got a good look at last season, but he only completed 47.6 percent of his passes.

K-State will hope for more from its top quarterback this season, whoever it turns out to be. We will get our first preview in the spring.

2. DANTE BARNETT IS BACK

The safety many expected to lead K-State’s defense and contend for all-conference honors a year ago is back for a fifth season. Barnett was granted a medical redshirt after missing all but one game a year ago to injury. He hopes his second senior year is a success. Barnett could have turned pro or looked elsewhere as a graduate transfer, but he chose to return to the Wildcats and play for a defense that returns the majority of its playmakers.

The last time we saw Barnett play a full season, he had 77 tackles, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. His leadership and skills could boost an already promising secondary.

3. RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE

Charles Jones emerged as K-State’s top running back last season, but Dalvin Warmack, Justin Silmon and Alex Barnes could all challenge him for carries next season.

Silmon looked like the most talented runner of the group early last year, but disappeared late. Warmack started slow, but finished with some nice runs in the Liberty Bowl. Barnes, a redshirt freshman, has lots of talent.

Jones was by far the most consistent runner last season, and he had some impressive games, but he doesn’t seem ready to dominate the position. He will face competition throughout spring and summer practices.

4. BRING ON THE REDSHIRTS

The Wildcats redshirted the majority of its 2015 recruiting class last season, meaning several scout-team players are ready to make a push for playing time.

There are several names to keep an eye on, but the main two may be receivers: Denzel Goolsby and Isaiah Zuber. Coaches complimented both players throughout the season, saying they showed great promise in practice. K-State lacked playmakers at receiver last season. Goolsby, a Bishop Carroll product, and Zuber could change that.

5. TIME TO REBUILD THE OFFENSIVE LINE

Cody Whitehair, Boston Stiverson, Luke Hayes and Matt Kleinsorge were all seniors, leaving center Dalton Risner as the lone returning starter on the offensive line.

Who will line up next to him?

Terrale Johnson, Will Ash, Alec Ruth, Scott Frantz, A.J. Allen, Bryce Fitzner and Adam Holtorf are all candidates to take on starting roles. Their first chance is here.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Five things to watch as spring football practice begins at Kansas State."