Drew takes a look at the first defensive depth chart. There’s plenty of speed, but question linger on the defensive line and linebacker.
DE
#38 – Brendan Mott – 6’5”, 244 – Sr. – Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City West)
#44 – Tobi Osunsanmi – 6’3”, 248 – Wichita, Kan (Wichita East)
or
#52 – Ryan Davis – 6’4”, 252 – Fr. – Phoenix, Ariz (Sandra Day O’Connor)
DL
#56 – Damian Illalio – 6’2”, 300 – Jr. – Manhattan, Kan. (Manhattan)
#99 – Uso Seumalo – 6’3”, 333 – Sr. – Maunaloa, Hawaii (Garden City CC)
#93 – Asher Tomaszewski – 6’4”, 290 – Fr.- Schereville, Ind. (Mount Carmel, Ill)
DE
#39 – Travis Bates – 6’3”, 265 – So. – Tomball, Texas (Austin Peay Univ.)
or
#8 – Chiddi Obiazor – 6’6”, 282 – Fr. – Eden Prairie, Minn (Eden Prairie)
DE
#47 – Cody Stufflebean – 6’4”, 257 – Sr. – McPherson, Kan. (McPherson)
#91 – Jordan Allen – 6’4”, 258 – Fr. – (Olathe South)
SLB
#32 – Desmond Purnell – 6’0”, 236 – Jr. – Topeka, Kan. (Hayden)
#23 – Asa Newsom – 6’3”, 228 – Fr. – Waverly, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock)
MLB
#45 – Austin Romaine – 6’2”, 242 – So. – Hillsboro, Mo (Hillsboro)
#57 – Beau Palmer – 6’2”, 225 – Sr. – Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley)
#26 – Terry Kirksey Jr. – 6’3”, 228 – Jr. Theodore, Ala. (Hutchinson CC)
WLB
#41 – Austin Moore – 6’1”, 220 – Sr. – Louisburg, Kan (Louisburg)
#28 – Rex Van Wyhe – 6’5”, 239 – So. – Rock Rapids Iowa (Iowa Central CC)
#48 – Zach Wittenberg – 6’2”, 225 – Jr. – El Dorado, Kan. (Butler CC)
CB
#10 – Jacob Parrish – 5’10”, 198 – Jr. – Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North)
#5 – Justice James – 5’10”, 198 – Sr. – West Columbia, Texas (Tyler JC)
SS
#19 – VJ Payne – 6’3”, 211 – Jr.- Gainesville, Ga (Buford)
#2 – Colby McCallister – 5’10”, 200 – So. – Houston, Texas (Clear Brook)
or
#18 – Wesley Fair – 6’1”, 200 – Fr. – Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Collegiate)
JS
#6 – Jordan Riley – 6’0”, 202 – Sr. – Clinton, Md. (Ball State Univ)
#36 – Jack Fabris – 6’1”, 193 – Fr. – Bogart, Ga. (North Oconee)
FS
#21 – Marques Sigle – 6’0”, 197 – Sr. – Omaha, Neb (North Dakota State Univ)
#12 – Nickendre Stinger – 5’11”, 187 – Sr. – Wichita, Kan (Butler CC)
or
#27 – Daniel Cobbs – 5’10”, 190 – So. – Fort Worth, Texas (Tyler JC)
CB
#1 – Keenan Garber – 6’0”, 188 – Sr. – Lawrence, Kan. (Free State)
#34 – Jordan Dunbar – 6’0”, 196 – Jr. – Tarrytown, N.Y. (Rice Univ)
or
#9 – Donovan McIntosh – 6’3”, 190 – Fr. – St. Louis. Mo. (St. Mary’s)
Notes
- There are 3 defensive end positions listed on the 2 deep. This is still a base 3-3-5 stack, but look for more 4 linemen looks on run downs. When that happens, consider Bates or Obiazor as a 3-tech defensive tackle.
- It’s been talked about all camp, and now it’s official Illialio has replaced Uso as the starting nose tackle. This is all about motor. Physically, Uso is the prototype, but it doesn’t matter how good you are if you can’t stay healthy and can’t play every down hard. A move down the pecking order should keep him fresh for when he’s needed most. Hopefully it also keeps him healthy.
- I’m not as sold on the defense as other folks. I see a defensive line and linebacking group that got bullied towards the end of last season. I’m still seeing an undersized line and linebacking group. This team is fast, but they’re going to have to prove their ability to hold up against a straight ahead run game.
- Speaking of linebacker, New Mexico transfer Alec Marenco was hurt all camp and couldn’t get back in time to make a move up the depth chart. Something similar happened last year with Honas (except Honas had a lingering injury he couldn’t recover from), and it hurt the linebacker depth significantly. The staff needs to get Marenco up and running as soon as possible.
- I’ve got the same hesitation at corner. Parrish and Garber are both great, but who matches up with a receiver like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan down the field (not that many other teams have an answer for him either)? Losing Will Lee’s length, and not finding a real replacement hurts the defense.
- Kansas State may have a top 5 safety group in the nation if VJ Payne builds on his performance from last season and Riley is as good as the coaches say. Sigle is a stud and potential All-American.
Special Teams
FG
#17 – Chris Tennant – 6’5”, 226 – Sr. – Shawnee, Kan. (Mill Valley)
#96 – Leyton Simmering – 6’0”, 173 – So – Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
HLD
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
#30 – Teagan Cobb – 6’2”, 215 – Fr. Rose Hill, Kan. (Rose Hill)
SNP
#16 – Mason Olguin – 6’1”, 226 – Edmond, Okla (Edmond Santa Fe)
#46 – Keane Bessert – 6’0”, 220 – Loma, Colo. (Fruita Monument)
P
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
#30 – Teagan Cobb – 6’2”, 215 – Fr. – Rose Hill, Kan. (Rose Hill)
KO
#17 – Chris Tennant – 6’5”, 226 – Sr. – Shawnee, Kan. (Mill Valley)
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
KR
#3 – Dylan Edwards – 5’9”, 167 – So. – Derby, Kan. (Univ. of Colorado)
or
#1 – Jayce Brown – 6’0”, 179 – So. – Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Choctawhatchee)
#10 – Keagan Johnson – 6’0”, 206 – Jr. Bellevue, Neb (Univ. of Iowa)
PR
#3 – Dylan Edwards – 5’9”, 167 – So. – Derby, Kan. (Univ. of Colorado)
or
#6 – Sterling Lockett – 5’10”, 170 – So. – Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley)
Notes
- McClannan takes over at punter. He’s got the pedigree after being named all-state in Nebraska as a junior and senior.
- The return options are sick. Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles were one of the best kick return tandems in the nation, and it’s weird to say that I don’t anticipate any drop off this season. Edwards is the headliner but there isn’t a bad option. I anticipate the opportunities will be spread around until someone emerges as the clear #1.