This young K-State QB is turning heads in practice with ‘unbelievable arm talent’
It is unusual for Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman to praise a member of the Wildcats’ scout team without being directly asked about the player during one of his weekly news conferences. So Adryan Lara must be doing something impressive behind the scenes.
Klieman gave Lara a special shout out before K-State defeated Texas Tech last week. The freshman quarterback is apparently “really challenging” the Wildcats’ defensive starters in practice by mimicking top Big 12 passers like Dillon Gabriel and Donovan Smith and throwing the ball “into really tight windows.”
“A guy that is really helping us right now is Adryan Lara on the scout team,” Kleiman said. “That kid spins it around really, really well.”
A reporter asked Klieman if Lara was still turning heads in practice this week. His answer was a resounding yes.
“He’s got unbelievable arm talent, throwing the ball from the hash to the opposite sideline,” Klieman said. “Granted, it’s scout team stuff and we are running cards, but he’s delivering the ball and he is putting it in tight windows. I am excited about him as a young player.”
K-State is set at quarterback for the foreseeable future with Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez at the controls in his final year of college eligibility. Former starter Will Howard and four-star recruit Jake Rubley figure to compete for the QB1 spot next season, with Maize quarterback Avery Johnson also entering the picture as a freshman.
Perhaps Lara could be a factor at the position, too.
Klieman said he will try to give the freshman from Goodyear, Arizona extra opportunities to prove himself during practice next week when the Wildcats are on a bye.
“I don’t know how (his arm talent) translates to our offense,” Klieman said, “but we will find out a little bit during the open week.”
Klieman also said he has been impressed by K-State’s young receivers on the scout team, including freshman Sterling Lockett — the younger brother of past Wildcats star Tyler Lockett (2011-14) and son of former KSU standout and Chiefs receiver Kevin Lockett.
“We have a number of wide receivers there that challenge our guys,” Klieman said. “It’s fun, because we have a group of really good wide receivers and a quarterback who likes to throw the ball around on the scout team. That is going to do nothing but help us moving forward.”
