Kansas State players of the game in rout of Mountaineers

Kansas State offensive MVP: Avery Johnson

It feels like for three straight games I have said that Avery Johnson just played the best game of his Kansas State career. And it’s probably been true every time. And for everyone that doesn’t think he can throw, they’re being proven wrong at a high clip.

He almost threw for 300 yards and did throw three scores – one to Jadon Jackson, one to Will Anciaux and one to Garrett Oakley. The love for the tight ends continues. I would have to think commit Linkon Cure blushes at what Conor Riley has dialed up this year.

And to be honest, it isn’t the production and numbers that impressed me. It was the poise from Johnson.

It is the presence he now has on the road versus what we saw at BYU. He’s also making some next-level throws – including the one to Jackson over the defender before the score, the fourth down escape, the long bomb to Jayce Brown that was dropped and the touchdown to Anciaux.

His accuracy improves every week. His pre-snap reads improve every week. His progressions improve every week. And his processing improves every week. There’s not a quarterback in his class playing at this level.

Let’s also not lose sight on Riley and K-State assistant Matt Wells.

Them growing into the Kansas State operation and forming an identity also matters. Riley is discovering what Avery does well more and more and it has him buying into the plan more and more. The skills and development taking significant leaps is a credit to Wells.

Defensive MVP: Marques Sigle

Is it solely because the guy that couldn’t catch last year now has two interceptions this season? No, but it certainly weighed heavily. That’s not all Marques Sigle did for K-State. Though it was awesome he also found the end zone because of how likable he is as well.

But tack on nine tackles, two for loss and another critical pass break-up and Sigle was the man of the night for the Kansas State defense.

K-State special teams MVP: Jack Fabris

It was tough again on special teams. Quite frankly, K-State needs to be cleaner in that regard. They’re sacrificing a ton of field position this year and did so again versus West Virginia in Morgantown. It was a block in the back, a poor return with a fumble, bad kickoffs and poor punts.

The Mountaineers couldn’t make them pay but the Wildcats were rough.

But we’ll go with Jack Fabris. The Kansas State safety had a few key tackles and was also a physical presence for the Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball. When I think physicality for the Wildcats this season, he is one of the first players that come to my mind.

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