BEVO BEAT Football
Top opponents for Texas in 2017, No. 41: Kansas State FB Winston Dimel
Posted July 24th, 2017
The countdown to kickoff is on. Over the 100 days before Texas takes on Maryland, we’re counting down the 100 best players the Longhorns will face in 2017. This series is all about impressing your friends at pregame tailgates and watch parties, so grab a notepad and buckle up.
Who is he?
Cue your favorite National Geographic-style narration: In Manhattan, Kansas lives one of the last remaining examples of what was a thriving species in the American Southwest. Fullbacks used to roam on every stretch of turf across the land, picking off larger prey at will. Known for their superior instincts and legendary status as some of the toughest beasts on the planet, they’ve been displaced by slimmer, speedier creatures. Yet Winston Dimel remains. Watch how he continues to thrive in this modern landscape, doing the work of two fullbacks at once. He’s absolutely crucial to the survival of this particular pack of Wildcats.
Give me a team of Dimels and Ertz-es…Always making plays.
🙏 @Krossovr pic.twitter.com/PlTjuxYhk9Advertisement— Cover 1 (@Cover1) July 15, 2017
What should the Longhorns watch for?
All jokes aside, it is striking to see an old-school fullback on a team not named Navy or Georgia Tech. Dimel is a two-time All-Big 12 selection who sets the tone for Kansas State’s run-first attack. The clip above is a perfect example of how he allows quarterback Jesse Ertz to be such a dual threat. At times Dimel is even positioned as the only set back in the shotgun, shielding Ertz and preparing to take heads whenever the quarterback decides to take off. He’s certainly not in every play, but his presence provides an extra layer for teams to sift through as they prepare for the Wildcats.
Previous encounters
Ertz had a field day against the Longhorns in 2016, and Dimel certainly played a part in the performance. Ertz passed for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 78 and two scores. Watch below as Dimel opens space for Ertz’s 19-yard burst in the second quarter. The fullback also caught a pass for 12 yards.
Catch up on the series
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