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Goal No. 15: LEADERSHIP. Everyone can set the example.
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#15 Jake Waters |
Position: Quarterback Previous College: Iowa Western Community College Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
Jake Waters (b. March 20, 1992) is a versatile athlete who developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2013. After splitting time with Daniel Sams last year, he now will take hold of the starting quarterback position.
Waters enters his senior campaign with the top career passing efficiency rating (156.8) in school history and ranking fifth in passing yards per game (189.9). He also was voted a team captain for the 2014 season.
He started all 13 games under center last season, earning third-team All-Big 12 honors from Phil Steele, throwing for 2,469 yards and 18 touchdowns on 159-of-260 aim, and rushing 118 times for 312 yards and six scores.
Waters ranked fourth nationally in yards per completion (15.53) and 14th in passing efficiency (156.8). He also finished third in the Big 12 in passing yards per game (189.9) and total offense per game (213.9).
He finished third in school history with a 156.8 passing efficiency rating, while he ranked fourth in completion percentage (61.15) among quarterbacks with 200 or more attempts.
Waters was 10th overall and fourth among juniors in yards as he became just the 15th player in school history with 2,000 passing yards in a season.
He also tied for sixth in school history in touchdowns and finished second with 9.50 yards per attempt, as well as finishing eight completions shy of tying for 10th in school history.
Waters debuted by throwing for 280 yards in the season-opening loss to North Dakota State, which were the most by a Wildcat in a home opener since Dan Manucci against Auburn in 1978 (343).
His three touchdowns against West Virginia, Oklahoma and Michigan were one shy of tying the school record.
Waters completed touchdown passes of 74 and 79 yards against TCU — the latter being the longest by a Wildcat since 2005 — and became the first Wildcat since at least 1970 with two TD passes of 70 or more yards in a game.
His 348 yards against Oklahoma were the 14th most in a game in school history and the most by a Bill Snyder-led quarterback since 1998 — which is insane, because that means we're getting into Michael Bishop comparisons.
Waters' passing total against the Sooners included a 90-yard touchdown pass, the longest since 1998.
He went 21 of 27 for 271 yards and three touchdowns in K-State's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl victory over Michigan, setting the school's bowl records for completions and completion percentage (77.8).
Waters also tied for third in the school's bowl history in touchdowns, ranked fourth in passing yards of total offense and tied for 10th in attempts. He evaded being named Offensive MVP only due to being Tyler Lockett's teammate.
Jake Waters came to Kansas State after being named the 2012 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading Iowa Western Community College to a 12-0 record. He chose us over Penn State in a somewhat surprising move.
He also led the Reivers to a national championship, personally accounting for more than 300 yards of total offense in the national championship game, a 27-7 win over second-ranked Butler Community College.
For his incredible sophomore season, Waters was named a 2012 NJCAA first-team All-American, the Midwest Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year and an MFC first-team all-conference honoree.
He set a NJCAA national record for completion percentage after connecting on 73.3 percent (244 of 333) of his passes while throwing for 3,501 yards, 39 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
He threw for 307 yards and a school-record five touchdowns in the first half of a 65-21 win over No. 17 Dupage (Ill.).
Waters was named a second-team MFC all-conference selection in 2011 and also was named to the 2010 Academic All-Region XI first team as a freshman.
Prior to his time at IWCC, he led St. Albert High School to two Iowa 1A State championships and a 37-2 mark as a three-year starter, throwing for 5,288 yards and 70 touchdowns while running for 1,820 yards and 28 touchdowns.
A three-time first-team Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) All-State 1A selection at quarterback, Waters also was a standout for the Falcons on the hardwood and was named a second-team INA All-State 1A selection as a senior.
After the senior season he appears to be in line to have, I stand by my prediction last year that Jake Waters will end up being one of Bill Snyder's favorite quarterbacks of all time when it's all said and done.