SE: Kyle Ball’s Spring Teaching Paying Big Dividends in Fall for K-State
Sep 27, 2019 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Those who can't do, teach. That's the approach K-State senior Kyle Ball took last spring.
Then, K-State's new defensive system was being installed and Ball was sidelined while recovering from a pectoral tear from last season. Now, he's one of K-State's top defensive linemen and is coming off a career-high eight-tackle outing at Mississippi State that included his first sack of the season.
"I thought Kyle played really well, especially considering the fact that Wyatt (Hubert) was down and he had to take a lot more snaps," K-State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton said on Thursday, as No. 22/24 K-State opens Big 12 play at Oklahoma State on Saturday at 6 p.m. "We were excited about how he played."
This spring, Ball could not garner much of any excitement.
Unable to showcase his skills in front of an entirely new defensive coaching staff, Ball said he knew he had to do everything in his power to prepare himself for the fall. So, he became an extra coach on the sidelines.
"I had to learn it all by helping teach the younger guys," he said. "That was kind of the way I did it, help coach."
It carried over into the fall. Ball has had plenty of subjects to help teach, too.
K-State's defensive ends group includes five freshmen or newcomers. Plus, for numbers-sake, linebackers like Khalid Duke and Eric Gallon II have occasionally stepped into the defensive end spot. Ball helped them as well.
"I had to know the defense really well to teach them and tell them the plays. So, I would get the play and tell both (defensive ends) what they're supposed to do right before it snapped. It helped me get quick with the defense," he said. "It was making me think fast, making me know the defense well. Teaching somebody helps you learn a lot more. That's how I contributed in the spring."
Ball has contributed even more in the fall, thanks in part to his teachings in the spring. He earned an "or" designation on the depth chart next to 2019 Preseason All-Big 12 pick Reggie Walker. Ball's left his coaches with no doubts about what he can do.
"He has been consistent since he stepped onto the field this fall. He is a guy that understands the defense and his job," Hazelton said earlier this season. "He did a really good job, when he was hurt in the spring, of picking up the defense. Most guys without doing it, they cannot do it themselves. He had the ability to take things in the classroom, walk onto the field right away and do them."
"They don't come much better than Kyle," K-State head coach Chris Klieman added. "He's healthy, he's playing fast, he's a really smart player, but he's also very, very aggressive. He's a very strong and excellent pass rusher, but he can play the run. He's a complete defensive end. That's what I like about Kyle. He can play all the downs."
For Ball, becoming a complete defensive end was a steady process. He earned playing time as a freshman and sophomore, mostly, as a third-down pass rush specialist. Last season, he started six of the 10 games he played in before getting hurt and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 accolades.
"Talk about a guy who just consistently, week in and week out, wants to get better. That's just what he does," senior offensive lineman Scott Frantz said of Ball. "He looks at his game film, he wants to get better, and he does get better. Wyatt Hubert being out (against Mississippi State) was a huge loss, but when someone like Kyle Ball steps up the way he does, it didn't turn into a big loss, and that's what you have to do when guys go out."
On top of being K-State teammates on the opposite side of the ball, Frantz and Ball also played against each other twice in high school. Ball's Shawnee Mission East squad came out on top each time against Lawrence Free State, something still he jokes with Frantz about.
"He brings it up, rubs it in my face a little bit," Frantz said, smiling. "He was a really good player in high school, too."
Since Ball's high school days, his biggest asset on the field has been his strength. Because of his injury, adding to his strength this offseason was a challenge. Simply regaining it was not easy. Ball found a way, however, through extensive treatment and physical therapy to match all his personal bests in the weight room by the end of the summer.
"It was a big deal for me to get all of my numbers back up. I worked really hard this offseason. I got all my numbers right back up and almost PR'd on hang clean," Ball said. "I was pretty pumped to do that. My strength is one of the advantages I have out there because I lack height and everything like that, so I have to have something to give me an edge."
He added another edge while out, too. Ball said his understanding of schemes took a big step forward this offseason. His game became more proactive, instead of reactive, as a result.
"That's one thing I really try to focus on each week, trying to take away what they're good at, trying to know what can affect me as a player out there and trying to stop those plays," Ball said. "When I see them lined up, I know what plays affect me and try to stop those in my head before the play snaps so I can play faster."
Those who can't do, teach. That's the approach K-State senior Kyle Ball took last spring.
Then, K-State's new defensive system was being installed and Ball was sidelined while recovering from a pectoral tear from last season. Now, he's one of K-State's top defensive linemen and is coming off a career-high eight-tackle outing at Mississippi State that included his first sack of the season.
"I thought Kyle played really well, especially considering the fact that Wyatt (Hubert) was down and he had to take a lot more snaps," K-State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton said on Thursday, as No. 22/24 K-State opens Big 12 play at Oklahoma State on Saturday at 6 p.m. "We were excited about how he played."
This spring, Ball could not garner much of any excitement.
Unable to showcase his skills in front of an entirely new defensive coaching staff, Ball said he knew he had to do everything in his power to prepare himself for the fall. So, he became an extra coach on the sidelines.
"I had to learn it all by helping teach the younger guys," he said. "That was kind of the way I did it, help coach."
It carried over into the fall. Ball has had plenty of subjects to help teach, too.
K-State's defensive ends group includes five freshmen or newcomers. Plus, for numbers-sake, linebackers like Khalid Duke and Eric Gallon II have occasionally stepped into the defensive end spot. Ball helped them as well.
"I had to know the defense really well to teach them and tell them the plays. So, I would get the play and tell both (defensive ends) what they're supposed to do right before it snapped. It helped me get quick with the defense," he said. "It was making me think fast, making me know the defense well. Teaching somebody helps you learn a lot more. That's how I contributed in the spring."
Ball has contributed even more in the fall, thanks in part to his teachings in the spring. He earned an "or" designation on the depth chart next to 2019 Preseason All-Big 12 pick Reggie Walker. Ball's left his coaches with no doubts about what he can do.
"He has been consistent since he stepped onto the field this fall. He is a guy that understands the defense and his job," Hazelton said earlier this season. "He did a really good job, when he was hurt in the spring, of picking up the defense. Most guys without doing it, they cannot do it themselves. He had the ability to take things in the classroom, walk onto the field right away and do them."
"They don't come much better than Kyle," K-State head coach Chris Klieman added. "He's healthy, he's playing fast, he's a really smart player, but he's also very, very aggressive. He's a very strong and excellent pass rusher, but he can play the run. He's a complete defensive end. That's what I like about Kyle. He can play all the downs."
For Ball, becoming a complete defensive end was a steady process. He earned playing time as a freshman and sophomore, mostly, as a third-down pass rush specialist. Last season, he started six of the 10 games he played in before getting hurt and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 accolades.
"Talk about a guy who just consistently, week in and week out, wants to get better. That's just what he does," senior offensive lineman Scott Frantz said of Ball. "He looks at his game film, he wants to get better, and he does get better. Wyatt Hubert being out (against Mississippi State) was a huge loss, but when someone like Kyle Ball steps up the way he does, it didn't turn into a big loss, and that's what you have to do when guys go out."
On top of being K-State teammates on the opposite side of the ball, Frantz and Ball also played against each other twice in high school. Ball's Shawnee Mission East squad came out on top each time against Lawrence Free State, something still he jokes with Frantz about.
"He brings it up, rubs it in my face a little bit," Frantz said, smiling. "He was a really good player in high school, too."
Since Ball's high school days, his biggest asset on the field has been his strength. Because of his injury, adding to his strength this offseason was a challenge. Simply regaining it was not easy. Ball found a way, however, through extensive treatment and physical therapy to match all his personal bests in the weight room by the end of the summer.
"It was a big deal for me to get all of my numbers back up. I worked really hard this offseason. I got all my numbers right back up and almost PR'd on hang clean," Ball said. "I was pretty pumped to do that. My strength is one of the advantages I have out there because I lack height and everything like that, so I have to have something to give me an edge."
He added another edge while out, too. Ball said his understanding of schemes took a big step forward this offseason. His game became more proactive, instead of reactive, as a result.
"That's one thing I really try to focus on each week, trying to take away what they're good at, trying to know what can affect me as a player out there and trying to stop those plays," Ball said. "When I see them lined up, I know what plays affect me and try to stop those in my head before the play snaps so I can play faster."
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