AP Source: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder returning
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder will be back on the sideline next season.
The 78-year-old coach told his assistants during a short meeting Tuesday that he will return for his 27th season with the Wildcats, a person familiar with his decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Snyder has not announced his plans.
Snyder said after a Cactus Bowl victory over UCLA last week that he was still mulling whether to return next season or retire for a second time. He stepped away briefly after the 2005 season.
Snyder was diagnosed with throat cancer last offseason, but hardly missed a practice and headed into the year with high expectations. A series of early losses scuttled Big 12 title hopes, and it took a run at the end of the year just to become eligible for a bowl game.
The Wildcats will return most of their starters from a team that ultimately went 8-5 and won its second straight bowl game.
Snyder has a contract that rolls over each year, which means he can essentially choose when to walk away. And he has said the last several years that he makes that decision on a year-by-year basis, based primarily on his health but also the wishes of his family.
Auburn running back headed to NFL
Auburn tailback Kerryon Johnson has decided to skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
The Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year announced his decision Tuesday in a Twitter post.
Johnson ran for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns this season despite missing two games with an injury. He had one three-game SEC stretch when he scored 11 touchdowns.
Northwestern QB tears knee ligament
Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, throwing his future up in the air.
The school said Tuesday he will work with the athletic training staff to prepare for surgery in mid-January.
There was no timetable for his return.
Thorson announced last month he would return for his senior season. He was then injured catching a pass on a trick play during a win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on Friday. Thorson came up clutching his right knee after being tackled and left the field on a cart.
Oregon State's Nall headed to pros
Oregon State running back Ryan Nall has decided to declare for the NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining.
Nall rushed for 2,216 yards during his career, ranked eighth on the Beavers' career list.
He ran for 24 touchdowns (seventh) and had nine 100-yard rushing games (seventh). He also had 56 catches for 563 yards and four touchdowns.
Utah hires Andersen
Utah hired former Oregon State coach Gary Andersen on Tuesday as an associate head coach and defensive assistant.
Andersen was the defensive coordinator at Utah under coach Kyle Whittingham from 2005-08 before leaving to take lead jobs at Utah State, Wisconsin and Oregon State.
He surprisingly stepped down in early October after a 1-5 start during his third season with the Beavers. Oregon State went 7-23 under Andersen overall.