Kansas State plays in a conference that easily will account for 5-or-more teams finishing in the Top 25. This means the Wildcats have their work cut out for them - they have to finish at the top of the Big XII to likely be in the Sugar Bowl. Otherwise, they could play the USC or Iowa role from last year, not winning their conference and still decisively being a BCS candidate. Finishing with three or four losses would still afford them a poll-placement in this most-competitive of conferences. With the talent and potential this 2003 version has, the Wildcats will have no excuses if they underachieve.

Defensively, this unit has to have a strong showing in the middle up front. Departures here could threaten the phenomenal numbers achieved in 2002. Funny thing, the middle is the strength of the offense. Two returning guards will be the foundation for this line with newbies starting at both tackles. With a QB that can make something out of nothing, expect more KSU magic in the form of consistent offense and devastating defense. Opponents will bend over backwards to cause TOs and other errors with Roberson's mistake-free style. Still, look for K-State to be beaten by themselves more often than by opponents.

The entire month of September is full of "the sisters of the poor" in terms of scheduling. In fact, this slate has led NationalChamps.net to award the Cats with our Betty Crocker Cupcake SOS award for 2003. We point this out due to the detriment of 2002's schedule - too many patsy non-conference teams led to an unprepared Wildcat club losing once they met tough Big XII rivals. All too often we see highly qualified programs not line up serious challenges for their boys to grow through in the season's first tilts. This pattern can never help - either an unprepared squad eventually meets an already-warmed-up conference foe and gets slaughtered, or the year goes well only to have pollsters hold their easier slate against them, claiming those patsy opponents don't prove much. Look for similar failures as to what happened in 2002 if KSU tries gliding early. Texas, Oklahoma State and Colorado all come back-to-back as soon as the non-cons are done. At least Marshall will offer a stern test prior to the Texas duel.

With all these if-then qualifications, bank on Kansas State finishing first or second in the entire conference. They have a bumper crop of talent that outshines the rest of the Big XII from top to bottom, save Texas and Oklahoma. But their "team" will play better than those two, riding the defense and Roberson to new heights by season's end. This is the year they surprise many, and, by bowl time, they will be in control of their own destiny heading into the conference final. Mistake-free ball means sweet, sugary results…you heard it here first.

Passing: Ell Roberson, 175-91-4, 1580 yds., 7 TD's

Rushing: Darren Sproles, 237 att., 1465 yds., 17 TD's

Receiving: James Terry, 28 rec., 561 yds., 5 TD's

Scoring: Darren Sproles, 17 TD's, 1 PAT, 104 pts.

Punting: none

Kicking: Joe Rheem, 9-12 FG, 53-59 PAT, 80 pts.

Tackles: Josh Buhl, 135 tot., 77 solo

Sacks: Andrew Shull, 10 sacks

Interceptions: Bryan Hickman, 3 for 19 yds.

Kickoff returns: Darren Sproles, 4 ret., 20.5 avg.

Punt returns: Darren Sproles, 15 ret., 10.3 avg.

Head Coach Bill Snyder was not raving about his team's performance in the spring game. In fact, he compared it to "watching paint dry", and said he applauded anyone who stayed the duration of such a disappointing performance. Snyder criticized QB El Roberson's play, saying that he "wasn't terrible", but there were certainly areas where he needed to improve before the start of the season. Dropped balls by receivers were also cited as a problem on offense. A name to know now, because it will be a fixture on stat sheets, is WR Derrick Evans. A quick, breakaway receiver with soft hands, Evans is hard to contain and will benefit from the focus defenses will have on Roberson, Sproles and Terry. His current task - passing enough summer credits to remain eligible for '03… Senior Daniel Davis is expected to see time this season as a third down back, as well as WR… The Cats had reserve FB Ayo Saba work a little at TE this spring in place of the injured Travon Magee. Magee had a troubled off-season, nursing a bad hand and dealing with off the field troubles …With three starters gone from the O-line, three viable replacements need to be established. Snyder says that two of them, senior OG Ryan Lilja and junior OT Jon Doty have appeased coaches with solid spring showings

The defense, too, has been described as inconsistent by the coaching staff. CB Randy Jordan, who was a steady contributor last season, has been challenged to step up his play and accordingly his work ethic… D-coordinator Bobby Elliott credited junior CB Louis Lavender with making the biggest strides in terms of improvement.. Don't forget about JUCO (teammate) transfers, corners Corey Reddick and Cedrick Williams. Neither is very tall (at 5'9" a piece), but provide worthy cover skills. Williams' 4.33 speed is among the fastest on the team. Another name that could get thrown into the DB pot is redshirt frosh Maurice Mack. Mack is one of the strongest backs in the group and can provide K-State with an enforcer in the secondary… The linebacking corps will receive an EXTREME dose of talent in the fall when JUCO transfer Melvin Simmons arrives. We foresee this young man becoming one of the school's all-time greats!