Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: There is not much to say about Christian McCaffrey that has not been said already.
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Trailing late in the first half against Stanford on Friday, Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz threw for receiver Byron Pringle in the Cardinal end zone. Hubener was later able to lead the team on a long drive in the third quarter, and after 15 plays, the team tried for a field goal and missed. One team enters the game with a high national ranking and looks to prove it deserves to keep it, while the other team looks to pull off what would be a major upset. A number of second and third string players came up big for Stanford, including fifth-year senior Jordan Watkins, who had the sack that resulted in the safety.
We can probably expect a lot more of the same from McCaffrey this season. The first one he had a lot to do with, bouncing off guys. McCaffrey, again taking hits from all angles, gained 6 yards on four carries, but Stanford went 98 yards on 10 plays with Burns hitting Michael Rector with a 40-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.
“When he touches the ball enough, good things happen”, coach David Shaw said.
He has a dynamic offense around him led by McCaffrey, last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up when he broke Barry Sanders’ record by gaining 3,496 all-purpose yards.
He finished 126 yards on 22 carries and 210 all-purpose yards in the opener this year.
But then Kansas State figured out how to attack Stanford’s young offensive line and the game’s momentum did a big flip-flop.
With his team up 3-0, McCaffrey made a decision that would have some questioning his academic inclusion to Stanford, fielding a punt at his own 3-yard line, a perception made all the more accurate when KSU defenders swarmed him.
Otherwise, the Wildcats were stymied in the fourth quarter by two Jake Bailey punts that were downed by Trent Irwin at the 1- and 2-yard lines. He also threw one touchdown pass.
“We got bailed out by our defense”, McCaffrey said. Stanford starting QB Ryan Burns had attempted just one collegiate pass before Friday, and that was in 2014. The defense was up to the task to make the lead hold but could have more trouble doing that once the Pac-12 schedule starts. His go-to play was a scramble, even when he had time to throw.
K-State spoiled a chance to score points on its next possession, with McCrane missing a 45-yard field goal with 13:27 left in the game.
Illegal block or not, his return was nothing short of incredible.
Georgia State struck in the first two minutes of the game when Jerome Smith intercepted a pass from Ball State’s Riley Neal and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.
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Backup Keller Chryst played one series in the first half, completed his only pass and will “continue to get worked in, ” Shaw said.
