“Highly Conflicting” As Kansas State Football Tight Ends Duo Sensation Money In The Red Zone
MANHATTAN — Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson couldn’t help but smile, and he had good reason to.
When discussing the Wildcats’ tight ends, Johnson is quick to praise them, just as he eagerly throws them the ball whenever K-State enters the red zone. It’s no coincidence that out of his six touchdown passes in the first three games, four have gone to tight ends Brayden Loftin and Will Swanson.
“Brayden Loftin and Swannie have really stepped up for me in the red zone,” Johnson said after connecting with both tight ends for touchdowns during the No. 14 Wildcats’ 31-7 win over Arizona on Friday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. “We have some great plays designed to get those guys open down there.
“They’ve consistently shown up in the red zone each week, and I really appreciate their hard work.”
Swanson, Loftin, and starting tight end Garrett Oakley had significant expectations to meet after Ben Sinnott, a Big 12 all-conference player, left for the NFL, where he is now a rookie with the Washington Commanders. However, they have been performing exceptionally well, effectively sharing the responsibilities.
“I think they’re doing a fantastic job of selling run fakes and getting open,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said on Monday. “We run similar actions for our running plays, and some of those wheel routes that Loftin has caught, and Swannie caught one during a scramble situation as well.
“They’re really good at selling the run. They effectively find open windows and provide big targets for Avery, who has a lot of confidence in them, too.”
It also helps that the Wildcats (3-0) are entering Saturday’s Big 12 opener against Brigham Young, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (central), ranked No. 16 nationally in rushing, averaging 244.3 yards per game. Running back DJ Giddens is averaging 108 yards per game, and Johnson had a career-high 110 rushing yards in the game against Arizona.
Johnson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Swanson in the first quarter completed a 75-yard drive that tied the game at 7-7, while his 9-yarder to Loftin in the third quarter put the Wildcats ahead 21-7.
“I think our run game really opens things up, and those guys do a great job with it,” Johnson said. “The defenders have to respect our running attack.”
In both instances, the surprise factor was key.
“Take the touchdown to Loftin, for example—when I fake a toss to DJ, they have to honor that,” Johnson explained. “DJ could easily get a pitch and stroll into the end zone, and Loftin did a great job selling that play and slipping past the defender.”
“For the other touchdown, we were in 13 personnel (three tight ends), and I’m not sure how much passing we’ve done from that formation this year, so I think they were caught off guard, allowing us an easy touchdown.”
The Wildcats haven’t targeted their tight ends frequently, with Loftin recording six catches, Swanson four, and Oakley, who has been dealing with some injuries, adding one. However, of their 11 combined receptions, four have resulted in touchdowns.
“It’s definitely the scheming that the coaches implement that works well, mixing up looks to confuse the defense,” Johnson noted. “I really think that strategy plays a big role in the red zone.”