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Texas Tech football: 3 Kansas State offensive weapons to know

By Matthew Conner

MANHATTAN, KS - SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats hands the ball off to running back Deuce Vaughn #22 against Arkansas State Red Wolves during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 12, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats hands the ball off to running back Deuce Vaughn #22 against Arkansas State Red Wolves during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 12, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Joshua Youngblood #23 of the Kansas State Wildcats rushes for an 11-yard gain after getting past safety Kolby Harvell-Peel #31 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 26-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Joshua Youngblood #23 of the Kansas State Wildcats rushes for an 11-yard gain after getting past safety Kolby Harvell-Peel #31 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on September 28, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 26-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

WR/KR Joshua Youngblood

Speaking of players that burned Tech last year, don’t forget about wide receiver and kick returner Joshua Youngblood.  After all, he provided the turning point of KSU’s victory at Jones Stadium last fall.

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After Tech had cut the KSU lead to 13-10 in the third quarter, Youngblood took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a TD to restore his team’s 10-point lead.  That was the key play in the loss that prevented Tech from having any hope of reaching bowl eligibility.

In recent years, special teams have become rather critical for the Wildcats when playing the Red Raiders.

In 2018, KSU kicker Blake Lynch hit four field goals in a 21-6 win.  Meanwhile, in 2016’s 44-38 Wildcat triumph, Byron Pringle returned a kickoff 99 yards for a TD.  Even in 2015’s 59-44 Red Raider win in Lubbock, KSU got a 93-yard kickoff return TD from Morgan Burns.

Oh, and special teams appear to be a concern for Tech in 2020, in case you forgot about what saw on Saturday.  After all, Matt Wells‘ team is coming off of a game in which it had a punt blocked, missed a field goal, and failed to recover an onside kick.

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Thus, don’t forget about Youngblood.  For his career, he’s averaging 32.7 yards per kickoff and we’ve already seen first-hand how he can turn a game in his team’s favor by taking a kick to the house.

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