12/2/2009

By ARNE GREEN

Salina Journal

MANHATTAN - Here it is early December and Bill Snyder is about to put the wraps on his 2010 recruiting class.

"A phone call or two" is all that's left, Snyder said Tuesday during a media session to wrap up Kansas State's recently completed football season. "I say that not really in jest.

"We have maybe three scholarships left to give and those could happen any time."

With most major college programs, that's not noteworthy, but in Snyder's first go-round as the Wildcats' coach, the recruiting process was never something to be rushed.

"At this time four years ago, we probably didn't have five-six guys committed to coming to Kansas State University," said Snyder, who retired at the end of the 2005 season, only to return at the end of last year. "So it's new territory for me.

"I can't tell you that I'm totally comfortable with it, I'm not."

Snyder lamented missing out on getting to know recruits personally by pushing up the recruiting calendar and offering scholarship to high school underclassmen.

Most schools play that game rather than risk losing out on a top prospect, K-State included, but Snyder still isn't sure whether he will continue to do so.

"I'm uncomfortable not having the opportunity to assess someone's senior year of high school," he said. "It doesn't mean that I'm uncomfortable with the youngsters that we have committed to our program right now ... but I would sure like to go through the process and be able to not only see them play but get to know them.

"I think one of the problems is that you really don't get to know them. You don't get to know the families as well."

With the Wildcats coming off a 6-6 season, they have some major holes to fill. They lose all-Big 12 performers Nick Stringer, Jeron Mastrud and Brandon Banks from the offense, along with starting quarterback Grant Gregory. On defense they must replace defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald, nose tackle Daniel Calvin and linebackers John Houlik and Ulla Pomele.

But Snyder said he prefers to take an across-the-board approach in stocking the roster. He'll look to the junior college ranks for the most pressing needs.

"Someone that we thought might come in and compete at a high level for a starting position would probably be an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman or two, perhaps a linebacker," he said. "I think those are the areas that we're looking at."

Rivals.com lists 14 oral commitments for K-State, including juco defensive tackles Justin Williams and Ray Kibble from Navarro, Texas, and Javanta Boyd from Butler Community College. Adam Davis, a four-star defensive end from Hutchinson Community College, is another.

Snyder said a quarterback is not at the top of the list, though K-State has a commitment from high school prospect Billy Cosh, son of Wildcat defensive coordinator Chris Cosh.

The Wildcats return senior-to-be Carson Coffman, who the first four games of 2009. Joining him in spring camp will be redshirt junior Sammuel Lamur, sophomore Collin Klein and sophomore Oregon transfer Chris Harper.

"That doesn't mean we wouldn't take a quarterback," Snyder said. "It's such a prominent position, but I'm not uncomfortable with what we have returning at all."

Snyder should get an early look at many of his 2010 recruits. He said he expects 13 of them - grayshirt freshmen from last year, semester juco transfers and any high school players who graduate early - to participate in spring practice.

"That's a good thing," he said.

Looking back

In assessing the 2009 season, a 6-6 overall record and 4-4 league mark, Snyder said it was a mixed bag. The Wildcats led the Big 12 North for much of the season, but finished with losses to Missouri and Nebraska, leaving them a victory short of bowl eligibility.

"I think there were some very good things that happened, some things that weren't so good that happened," he said. "There were some disappointments.

"There was a little bit of all of it. Bottom line, it was a disappointing finish, and yet I was pleased that we had made progress that we made during the course of the year."

He called it "part of the process."

"It takes time, I guess, to learn how to perform in that kind of environment."

Snyder did pronounce the program in better shape than where it was when he took over last December.

"I think we've made improvement since then, surely," he said.

Injury updates

Snyder said that defensive end Brandon Harold, who was injured to start the season and got hurt again in his only game back, is on the mend and should return next season.

"He's in the process and I think he's coming along quite well," Snyder said. "(Head trainer) Matt Thomason tells me that it's on schedule and Brandon thinks he's doing well as well.

"I think he's probably more than ready to go by the time we get back from Christmas break."

Harold was a standout as a true freshman in 2008 and will use 2009 as his redshirt year.

Snyder also said that sophomore safety Tysyn Hartman, who limped off the field in the third quarter of the season finale at Nebraska, will have surgery and is expected back by spring practice.

Senior offensive lineman Brock Unruh, who missed the entire season after hurting himself during a summer weight room workout, also could be back.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that's the case," Snyder said. "We just made an application for him (to the NCAA) for that possibility."

Unruh did redshirt as a freshman and would need NCAA permission for a sixth year, but an injury during his redshirt season should help his cause.

Schedule taking shape

Kansas State's nonconference schedule for the coming season includes home games against UCLA and Missouri State, plus a road trip to North Texas. Also, Central Florida already has announced that it will visit Manhattan this fall, though K-State has yet to confirm it.

Don't' be surprised if the North Texas game disappears from the schedule by fall, Snyder said.

"That may not happen," said Snyder, who voiced his displeasure with the past season's schedule, which included road trips to UCLA and Louisiana.

As for the UCF game, "It is my understanding that there is a contract on the table," he said.

Worth noting

* Mike Kent, K-State's strength and conditioning coach for the past three seasons, has left to take a similar position at Appalachian State, where he previously served from 1990-98.

* Snyder said nobody has contacted him about interviewing any of his assistant coaches.