Making his rounds with reporters on Thursday, Kansas State head football coach Collin Klein delivered the unfortunate news that two of his starting offensive linemen, Second Team All-Big 12 tackle John Pastore (lower leg) and Oklahoma State transfer tackle George Fitzpatrick (health issues), will be absent from the 2026 campaign, which kicks off in just two weeks.
Pastore sustained a season-ending lower-leg injury, removing a major asset from the trenches for the Wildcats. Klein also stated that doctors recommend Fitzpatrick not play the upcoming season in the interest of his long-term health and his ability to return and potentially play another season of football.
Klein speaks on both players in a clip provided by Wyatt Wheeler of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
WHO WILL STEP UP?
With the season near, Kansas State now must look down the depth chart to replace two 294-plus linemen before the season kicks off with Nicholls in Week 1. At left tackle, Tyler Johnson, a 315-pound junior who started twice in 24 appearances at Auburn, is the likely replacement; At right tackle, It’s 314-pound sophomore Gus Hawkins, who started one game in seven appearances with the Wildcats last year, and two freshmen backing him up.
The loss of two veteran tackles could weigh on Kansas State’s ability to run the football, with Third Team All-Big 12 returning rusher Joe Jackson and may see a seasoned senior in Avery Johnson face a bit more pressure than the coaching staff planned on when putting together the playbook in Collin Klein’s first season as head coach.
There’s a new coach on staff, Mike Schmidt of San Diego State, working with the O-Line in place of Chris Kleiman staffer Brian Lepak, who now coaches tight ends. With two of his big men gone, Schmidt is leaning on Colorado State senior transfer Tanner Morley big time at left guard to pull things together alongside Mizzou RG transfer Keiton Jones, only in his second year.
Last year’s line, bolstered by Carolina Panthers center Sam Hecht, paved the way for 171 rushing yards per game (5.1 yards per carry). Before this setback, the Wildcats could certainly make a case for surpassing that number, but just how much of an impact does the loss of two critical linemen have on the run game in 2026? That’s the latest question.
