June 5, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - With 15 starters returning from last year's 11-2 club, Kansas State fans are expecting to have a lot to cheer about during the upcoming 2003 campaign.

And apparently many of the preseason magazines agree. Athlon Sports magazine is listing K-State No. 4 in its preseason top 25, while The Sporting News has ranked the Wildcats No. 7.

In addition to its lofty national ranking, Athlon, which hits the newsstands across the country this weekend, is predicting Kansas State to win the Big 12 North. The publication also lists K-State's running backs as college football's top backfield and its quarterbacks No. 2 as a group with the Regional Big 12 cover featuring Ell Roberson.

Individually, Athlon lists junior running back Darren Sproles and senior center Nick Leckey as first team All-Americans and senior defensive end Andrew Shull as a second team All-American.

First team All-Big 12 Conference nods went to Sproles, Leckey, Shull and senior tight end Thomas Hill, while Roberson, senior linebacker Josh Buhl and senior safety Rashad Washington were named as second team all-leaguers.

Like Athlon, The Sporting Newsalso picks K-State to win the Big 12 North.

Kansas State's offensive backfield also got the top nod from The Sporting News, while TSN ranked K-State's linebackers No. 7 as a group and listed the Wildcat coaching staff No. 7 in the nation.

Individual accolades from TSN include first team All-America honors for Sproles and second team honors for Roberson. Leckey is rated as the nation's No. 3 center. Shull checks in as the No. 8 defensive end, with Travis Wilson being named the No. 12 fullback.

Kansas State opens its 2003 season in the BCA Classic at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on August 23rd against California.