Texas A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines said if you asked Santa Claus for a quarterback, Kansas State's Josh Freeman would be under your tree on Christmas morning.
Kines wants his unit to play Scrooge on Saturday against the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Freeman, who has been taking what defenses give him.
Freeman is averaging 280.2 yards per game, which ranks 20th in the nation in total offense. He is 90-of-143 passing (62.9 percent) with 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His passing efficiency rating 10th in the nation at 162.7.
"There's not a throw on the field that he can't make," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "If you're on [the left] hash over here, he can throw the out [to the right]. Most college kids don't have that arm strength, and, a fair amount of NFL players, if they were put on this hash over here, they would struggle to throw that out. But he has a very strong arm."
Kines calls Freeman's right arm a bazooka. Freeman also is hard to tackle with the physique of a defensive linemen. He's rushed for 126 yards and eight touchdowns on 29 carries, getting caught behind the line of scrimmage just once.
Texas Tech blitzed a cornerback last week who had a clear shot at Freeman, but the Red Raider couldn't tackle him.
"When he hit him, it looked like it just made him mad," Kines said. "He never even flinched. The corner just bounced off him. He looked like he just as well could have run into that wall. [Freeman's] a big, strong good-looking youngster who is really playing good."
KSU has done a better job protecting Freeman this season by returning nine of its 10 offensive linemen on the two-deep chart.
"The [offensive line] does a good job of protecting him, but he gets the ball out pretty quick, too," Sherman said. "He's a hard guy to sack because of how he plays the game."
A&M's defense hasn't had much luck sacking quarterbacks, managing only five to rank 107th among FBS teams. The Aggies rank seventh in pass defense (148.6 yards per game), but that's misleading because A&M ranks only 70th in pass defense efficiency. A&M's run defense also has been porous, allowing 225 yards per game, which ranks 114th.
Different types of quarterbacks have given the Aggies fits.
Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson accounted for five touchdowns in the Cowboys' 56-28 victory last week. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 66 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
Arkansas State's Corey Leonard passed for 160 yards and a touchdown and added 86 yards rushing in the Red Wolves' season-opening 18-14 victory. Army sophomore quarterback Chip Bowden rushed for a game-high 128 yards on 34 carries in his team's 21-17 loss, and Miami freshman Robert Marve threw for 212 yards on of 16-of-22 passing with two touchdowns in a 41-23 victory.
A&M's best defensive effort against a quarterback came in a 28-22 victory over New Mexico. A&M forced Donovan Porterie into three turnovers which resulted in three A&M touchdowns.
Freeman will be a much bigger challenge. He's accounted for 20 of his team's 29 touchdowns. Several publications have him as one of the nation's top quarterback prospects for the NFL draft, should he leave after his junior season.
"You really gotta be sound against this guy," Kines said.
Freeman threw for a school-record 3,353 yards last season. He has thrown a touchdown pass in 16 straight games and his career completion percentage is 60.
"I would not trade him for any quarterback in the country," KSU head coach Ron Prince said at the Big 12 Media Days.
Freeman is coming off one of his worst efforts. He was 13-of-28 passing for 170 yards in a 58-28 loss to Texas Tech. He added 18 yards rushing on seven carries.
"I am embarrassed," Freeman said. "As a quarterback and leader of the offense, it is unacceptable to play the way we played. We can learn from this, and we have to put it behind us."
Freeman and the Wildcats get their chance at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kyle Field.
"It is definitely a must-win week," Freeman said. "We know they have a great team and stadium. We are going to have to bring our 'A' game to win."
TOTAL OFFENSE LEADERS
There are seven Big 12 quarterbacks among the nation's Top 20 in total offense. The nation's other BCS conferences -- ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC -- have only one quarterback in the Top 20 in Illinois' Juice Williams.
RANKNAME, SCHOOLYPG
2.Graham Harrell, Texas Tech404.4
3.Todd Reesing, Kansas358.4
4.Chase Daniel, Missouri347.8
7.Sam Bradford, Oklahoma328.4
10.Colt McCoy, Texas319.4
*18.Corey Leonard, Arkansas St.282.2
19.Joe Ganz, Nebraska280.6
20.Josh Freeman, Kansas St.280.2.
*played against Texas A&M
GAME INFO
Kansas State (3-2, 0-1 in Big 12) at A&M (2-3, 0-1)
TV/Radio: none, WTAW (1620 AM)
Tickets: $70, $35 (bleachers)
Line: KSU by 3 1/2