SE: K-State Football Notebook – Arkansas State Week
Sep 09, 2020 | Football, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
"Welcome to game week."
Chris Klieman began his Tuesday press conference like countless other college football coaches across the country, and it still felt surreal.
From BYU playing Navy in an empty stadium to seeing "ACC" painted on the field in South Bend, the 2020 college football season has found big and small ways to remind us of just how different it's going to be.
But it was something else Klieman said on Tuesday that stood out, a familiar refrain since his very first team meeting in Manhattan, that's taken on a whole new meaning this season.
"When you leave the facility, you know who you're around, you protect yourself and you protect the team. Keep your bubble small," he said. "If we continue to do those things on a daily basis and continue to stack those great days, we can get to Saturday, and how great it's going to be to play a game."
Here are a few other quotes and observations from Tuesday's press conference:
Preparing for the Red Wolves
Compared to most non-conference opponents, the Wildcats have had limited time to prepare for an Arkansas State team that was added to their schedule in August.
The Red Wolves opened their season on Saturday with a 37-24 loss to Memphis and offered a look at what K-State can expect in the season opener at 11 a.m. on FOX.
One big wrinkle for Arkansas State is a two-quarterback system with Logan Bonner and Alabama transfer Layne Hatcher. The QB timeshare was consistent against Memphis, with Hatcher playing every third series, regardless of game flow or which player had the hot hand.
"I do expect both guys to play on Saturday," Klieman said. "I think the thing that's hard for us to replicate is their speed. If we can get lined up, we have a chance. Well, come on, it's not that hard to get lined up. But the nature of their offense is to make sure you cannot get lined up quickly."
Tempo was also on Justin Hughes' mind on Tuesday, comparing Arkansas State to a Big 12 opponent the Wildcats face every year.
"The up-tempo [offense] is comparable to Texas Tech, which is like full force ahead in terms of speed and getting lined up," Hughes said. "You've just got to get set before you know what you're doing, and I've got to get everybody aligned, calling out the defense and letting everybody know what they got."
Last Ride for Skylar Thompson
On his first completion of the season against Arkansas State, there's a good chance Skylar Thompson will make a little bit of history.
The senior QB needs just seven yards to move past Michael Bishop into No. 9 all-time on the K-State career passing yards list and has a legitimate shot to rise as high as No. 6 this season.
When he spoke about beginning his senior season under center for the Wildcats, Thompson was thinking more about family than the record books.
"I've been playing this game since I was in third grade. This game has taught me a ton and this game means a ton to me… From what I've been through in my life, it's always been my rock," he said. "My family has tried to drill into my head, just cherish every moment. Especially with the situation we have now, it could be over at any given point in time."
Some of Thompson's most poignant comments were about missing out on chats with his Dad before each game at the team hotel and seeing his family after games due to COVID-19.
"On weekends of games, a big routine that I have is the night before, at our hotel, my Dad came and visited me. That was always the time of the week I looked forward to, because it was just my Dad and I," Thompson said. "I don't know what it's going to look like as far as being able to see them. If I do it's going to be socially distanced and I'm going to have a mask on."
He also didn't hold back his enthusiasm just four days before the 2020 season kicks off.
Talking Two-Deep
K-State released the first depth chart of the season ahead of Saturday's matchup with Arkansas State, with position groups on both sides of the ball beginning to take shape.
At running back, Klieman said the Wildcats will take a committee approach, naming Harry Trotter the starter with Tyler Burns and Deuce Vaughn both listed on the two-deep.
With Vaughn, a true freshman, in line to get snaps alongside two seniors, K-State fans will have an opportunity to watch a player who could be a four-year member of the backfield.
"He's got a great skill set. He can catch the ball extremely well. He has great vision. He can run inside, he can run outside," Klieman said. "We're excited about seeing what he can do, as well as a number of younger players."
On defense, Khalid Duke was a player that coaches and players couldn't say enough about in camp. He will back up senior Bronson "Boom" Massie at DE against Arkansas State.
Similar to the running backs, expect a group of players to see the field.
"You're going to see a minimum of four defensive tackles, probably five. Boom has done a really good job and has tremendous experience," Klieman said. "Khalid is a young player that we think has a tremendous upside to him. You're going to see an awful lot of guys out there on Saturday."
Massie is a player who's been in the rotation since 2017, registering his first career sack against Baylor last season. According to Wyatt Hubert, look for Massie to add to that total in 2020.
"Last year, Bronson fought through injury, so he was definitely going through that adversity. He got that all squared away," Hubert said. "He's definitely come back ready. It's his last year, and he knows that for sure. So, he's trying to go out with a bang."
"Welcome to game week."
Chris Klieman began his Tuesday press conference like countless other college football coaches across the country, and it still felt surreal.
From BYU playing Navy in an empty stadium to seeing "ACC" painted on the field in South Bend, the 2020 college football season has found big and small ways to remind us of just how different it's going to be.
But it was something else Klieman said on Tuesday that stood out, a familiar refrain since his very first team meeting in Manhattan, that's taken on a whole new meaning this season.
"When you leave the facility, you know who you're around, you protect yourself and you protect the team. Keep your bubble small," he said. "If we continue to do those things on a daily basis and continue to stack those great days, we can get to Saturday, and how great it's going to be to play a game."
Here are a few other quotes and observations from Tuesday's press conference:
Preparing for the Red Wolves
Compared to most non-conference opponents, the Wildcats have had limited time to prepare for an Arkansas State team that was added to their schedule in August.
The Red Wolves opened their season on Saturday with a 37-24 loss to Memphis and offered a look at what K-State can expect in the season opener at 11 a.m. on FOX.
New game time announced for Arkansas State
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 9, 2020
11am | BSFS
On FOX
📄 https://t.co/osHEASOiUO#KStateFB ⚒ pic.twitter.com/gAqYal1VhQ
One big wrinkle for Arkansas State is a two-quarterback system with Logan Bonner and Alabama transfer Layne Hatcher. The QB timeshare was consistent against Memphis, with Hatcher playing every third series, regardless of game flow or which player had the hot hand.
"I do expect both guys to play on Saturday," Klieman said. "I think the thing that's hard for us to replicate is their speed. If we can get lined up, we have a chance. Well, come on, it's not that hard to get lined up. But the nature of their offense is to make sure you cannot get lined up quickly."
Tempo was also on Justin Hughes' mind on Tuesday, comparing Arkansas State to a Big 12 opponent the Wildcats face every year.
"The up-tempo [offense] is comparable to Texas Tech, which is like full force ahead in terms of speed and getting lined up," Hughes said. "You've just got to get set before you know what you're doing, and I've got to get everybody aligned, calling out the defense and letting everybody know what they got."
Last Ride for Skylar Thompson
On his first completion of the season against Arkansas State, there's a good chance Skylar Thompson will make a little bit of history.
The senior QB needs just seven yards to move past Michael Bishop into No. 9 all-time on the K-State career passing yards list and has a legitimate shot to rise as high as No. 6 this season.
When he spoke about beginning his senior season under center for the Wildcats, Thompson was thinking more about family than the record books.
"I've been playing this game since I was in third grade. This game has taught me a ton and this game means a ton to me… From what I've been through in my life, it's always been my rock," he said. "My family has tried to drill into my head, just cherish every moment. Especially with the situation we have now, it could be over at any given point in time."
Some of Thompson's most poignant comments were about missing out on chats with his Dad before each game at the team hotel and seeing his family after games due to COVID-19.
"On weekends of games, a big routine that I have is the night before, at our hotel, my Dad came and visited me. That was always the time of the week I looked forward to, because it was just my Dad and I," Thompson said. "I don't know what it's going to look like as far as being able to see them. If I do it's going to be socially distanced and I'm going to have a mask on."
He also didn't hold back his enthusiasm just four days before the 2020 season kicks off.
😸😸😸@skylar_15 #KStateFB pic.twitter.com/mcelJJXH1R
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 8, 2020
Talking Two-Deep
K-State released the first depth chart of the season ahead of Saturday's matchup with Arkansas State, with position groups on both sides of the ball beginning to take shape.
At running back, Klieman said the Wildcats will take a committee approach, naming Harry Trotter the starter with Tyler Burns and Deuce Vaughn both listed on the two-deep.
With Vaughn, a true freshman, in line to get snaps alongside two seniors, K-State fans will have an opportunity to watch a player who could be a four-year member of the backfield.
"He's got a great skill set. He can catch the ball extremely well. He has great vision. He can run inside, he can run outside," Klieman said. "We're excited about seeing what he can do, as well as a number of younger players."
On defense, Khalid Duke was a player that coaches and players couldn't say enough about in camp. He will back up senior Bronson "Boom" Massie at DE against Arkansas State.
Similar to the running backs, expect a group of players to see the field.
"You're going to see a minimum of four defensive tackles, probably five. Boom has done a really good job and has tremendous experience," Klieman said. "Khalid is a young player that we think has a tremendous upside to him. You're going to see an awful lot of guys out there on Saturday."
Massie is a player who's been in the rotation since 2017, registering his first career sack against Baylor last season. According to Wyatt Hubert, look for Massie to add to that total in 2020.
"Last year, Bronson fought through injury, so he was definitely going through that adversity. He got that all squared away," Hubert said. "He's definitely come back ready. It's his last year, and he knows that for sure. So, he's trying to go out with a bang."
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