SLATE: Duke done for year

Football

EPISODE 200 of Bring on the PodCats is out, and we preview the game this weekend in Stillwater with Micah Allen from SBNation’s Cowboy’s Ride for Free. Thanks to everyone who listens, and we’re hoping for 200 more!

Yesterday was Chris Klieman’s weekly press conference with the local media, and the biggest news, of course, was that junior defensive end Khalid Duke will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a “lower leg” injury during the Kansas State win over Nevada this past weekend. Duke burst on to the scene as a true freshman in 2019 as a rush end, notably causing havoc in the big win over OU that season, before becoming a full-time starter for the 2020 season. On the positive side of injury, Skylar Thompson is still rehabbing, and while not ready yet, that’s a good sign that he could be available sooner rather than later.

Nevada head coach Jay Norvell was impressed with K-State and the atmosphere at Bill Snyder Family Stadium this past weekend, including the recent physical stadium updates. And that’s coming from someone who would know, as Norvell spent time on staff at Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas before eventually landing the head spot at Nevada. Crowd noise clearly played a part at least early against Nevada, and that’s something the Wildcats will also have to deal with for the first time this weekend as they head to Stillwater. And for many on the team, it really will be the first time in front of a raucous college football crowd that’s not wearing their own colors, since even last season crowds that were at games were much smaller and quieter.

On the recruiting front, the Wildcats continue to have a good week. Just a few days after securing a valued defensive target from Georgia, K-State picked up a commitment from 3-star Nebraska tight end Garrett Oakley. Oakley was originally committed to Northern Illinois, but flipped to the Wildcats after receiving an offer this week. Oakley also held offers from the four Dakota schools, and is rumored to have other Power 5 interest that has not been reported to the recruiting services. Oakley is now the 12th commitment to K-State’s 2022 recruiting class.

It’s finally official. What should have been an obvious endorsement deal from the start finally came to fruition, as snack-maker Pringles and Byron Pringle have announced a partnership that includes a new Tailgating Stack featuring flavors unique to Kansas City. The former K-State standout received some extra buzz on Sunday, as after he caught a 40-yard touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens, he celebrated by mimicking Ray Lewis’ signature celebration dance.

Golf

The Wildcats women’s golf team struggled a bit on the third and final round of the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational, falling from a 2nd place start to the day into a tie for 3rd to finish the tournament. Individually, K-State was led by a pair of newcomers, freshman Remington Isaac and community-college transfer Manon Donche-Gay, both of whom captured the first top-five finishes in their Wildcat careers. The Wildcats will be back in action next week at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, which features a stacked field of Big 12 and regional competition.