In 1998, Gene Chizik began a four-year stint as the Central Florida’s defensive coordinator.

The Knights went on to have their best year in school history, going 9-2. At the center of it all was eventual first-round draft pick and Pro Bowl NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Chizik, now ISU football coach, said he is reminded of Culpepper by Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman. On Saturday, the 6-foot-6-inch, 238-pound sophomore will lead the Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) into Jack Trice Stadium with a chance to become bowl eligible.

“[Freeman’s] a great athlete. He’s huge . and very confident in the way he plays,” Chizik said. “They do a lot of great things with him that gives other teams defensive problems.”

Culpepper threw for 3,690 yards and 28 touchdowns in 1998, breaking Steve Young’s single-season record for completion percentage (73.6 percent). Freeman has thrown for 2,174 yards through the first eight games of his second season with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 63.5 percent of his passes.

Defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt said the 19-year-old reminded him of another Oakland Raider quarterback – 2007 No. 1 NFL Draft pick Jamarcus Russell.

“Never played with Jamarcus but saw him a lot, and you know, really, really strong arm, knows where he is going with the ball and can get around too, so we’ve got our hands full,” Bolt said. “And we’re ready for the challenge.”

Perhaps a tougher challenge will be handling Freeman’s main option, senior wide receiver Jordy Nelson.

Nelson is one of 12 receivers still in the running for the 2007 Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s top wide receiver.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 213-pound former walk-on already has 1,008 yards on 76 receptions – second nationally to only Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree in per game average in both statistic – with seven touchdowns.

Running back James Johnson has run for 639 yards and eight touchdowns to balance an team that averages almost 39 points per game.

Meanwhile, on defense, the Wildcats have 25 sacks this season – 11th best nationally – and have limited opponents to an average of 21.5 points this season.

Kansas State held Texas’ offense to just 14 points in a 41-21 earlier this season. ISU offensive coordinator Robert McFarland said the success was largely due to the ability and play of the two Wildcat corners, seniors Justin McKinney and Byron Garvin.

“They don’t mind stacking the box and daring you to throw it . I think Texas might have some of the best receivers in the nation, and they just locked up on them in man-on-man coverage all day long,” McFarland said.

The defensive backfield, paired with an aggressive defensive line and linebacker corps, will pose problems for the Cyclones. McFarland said the offensive line, tight ends and tailbacks will have to be solid in protection and the offense will have to establish a running game.

The emergence of redshirt freshman running back Alexander Robinson last weekend could give the Wildcats more to think about. After coming in the game in the Cyclones’ last possession of the first half, Robinson ran for 149 yards on 21 carries.

Chizik said he thought Robinson was “feeling it.” The freshman was the only back to get carries in the second half.

“I don’t know after one ball game if they’re going to sit there and say, you know, all of the sudden we’re a threat,” McFarland said. “It was pleasing to see Alexander’s performance last week. He did a great job, and I thought he created a spark for us with some explosive plays that we really have lacked this year, and that was pleasing to see. I think our players enjoyed it. I think you could tell in the end zone [after Robinson ran for a 37-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1].”