K-State Assistants Meet with Media on Thursday
Apr 01, 2021 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three Kansas State assistant coaches – Brian Anderson, Conor Riley and Mike Tuiasosopo – met with members of the media on Thursday. Above are links to video and audio of each press conference, and below is a complete transcript.
BRIAN ANDERSON, RUNNING BACKS COACH
On Jacardia Wright…
"Yeah, he's heading in the right direction. He's worked hard this offseason. He continues to grow as a football player as he understands what we're doing offensively. Again, it's just a process and sometimes guys are ready to go early and some guys it takes time. He's progressing in the right direction."
On Joe Ervin…
"Yes, for sure. When we get started, I didn't talk about him sitting out. We just went right into it, and he's jumped in right away. He's shown his abilities, and things he needs to work on he's willing to do. He's worked hard, and he's developing really nice right now."
On Deuce Vaughn continuing to evolve…
"Well, obviously protection is always a concern because of his size, but he knows where to go. He knows what to do. It's just getting his technique down. Then, obviously, seeing the big picture. When I say seeing the big picture, seeing defenses and how guys are aligned and making those off-track runs. Those off-schedule runs where this is designed to go this way, but they overplay, you can cut the ball back. He's done that this spring, so he's starting to progress in the right direction."
On what excites him with the running backs…
"I think the depth right now. We have guys who are really, really fast. We have guys who are quick. We have guys who are bigger. We have guys that can catch the ball. So, getting guys on the field and taking advantage of their skill set is a big, big thrill for me right now."
On Deuce Vaughn's leadership…
"Oh, it's big. He's a humble kid. He understands that he doesn't have the success without his teammates. He understands that, and he carries himself in that manner. Having him in the meeting rooms, having him in the locker room, being a voice, and then just being by example how he practices every single day is having him around is a big thing for our football program."
On having Joe Ervin back this year…
"It's awesome because they complement each other very well even though they're on the smaller side. Joe has a lot of punch behind his frame, and he has speed behind his frame, so having those two guys in the backfield at the same time along with (Keyon) Mozee, and then having Jacardia's (Wright) size and the other guys in the room, it's been great."
On other running backs making progress…
"Jordan Schippers has done a great job moving over from defense. Clyde Price continues to grow as a player and Kaelen Shankle also, so everyone's doing well because they're all getting reps. So, there's no way a kid can't get better because of the way we practice. Every kid's getting an opportunity to get reps. Every kid is growing, so as long as they continue to do the things they need to do during the offseason, this summer and getting into fall camp, I feel really good about our room."
On Keyon Mozee's progression…
"I don't try to get those guys to compete against the other guys in a room. Basically, what I want guys to do is I want them to grow and be themselves. When you utilize their skill set as an offense, like for Mozee for instance, he's fast. He's a 10.6 100-meter guy. We need to find roles for him to use his speed. It's not about him just running between the tackles, like a Deuce (Vaughn) or catching balls out of the backfield like Deuce (Vaughn). We have to use his skill set to our advantage, and his skill set is speed. So, it's our job to find ways to get him in those situations. He's done a better job of that, of using his speed, because now he's not thinking as much. So, we just have to continue to grow, get him going in the right direction and utilize his skill set."
On the dead period possibly ending…
"Well, it's big. We can get kids on campus. That's a big advantage for us because what we have to offer here not just as a university, but as a coaching staff, and people get to see us and see how we interact with our players. How we handle our program, and I think that's big for us to continue to grow this program to what we want. So, if this dead period ends here soon and we get kids on campus, that's going to help us tremendously."
CONOR RILEY, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
On what he's seen from his position group…
"Well, probably the first thing that we're seeing is a lot more competition, even with not having a few guys available because of injuries. We're seeing a lot more depth and guys who can fit into roles that will be necessary moving forward. So, that's one thing that's really exciting. I do think we're playing more physical, and they know we're not where we need to be, but we are taking some strides. That's all the way across the board, and that's something that we've been preaching since we've gotten here. I'm starting to really see some of that take hold. So, that's been encouraging."
On making progress at the tackle position…
"Well, one thing we've done is kind of solidified Christian Duffie into one side of the offensive line. I think that's really helped him out. In our evaluation this past season, him having to play both right side and left side then back and forth has certainly been a big challenge. It became even more so evident that he feels more comfortable on the right side, so having him settle into that has been very encouraging. We still have kind of a committee there on the left side. I couldn't be more pleased with the way that Cooper Beebe is playing. With the exception of center, now I think he's gone full circle in his short time here playing every single position along the offensive line. So, we're not where I want to be, and we'll continue to address those things moving forward. I do like how the young guys are coming along. You see flashes, some guys that we just recently recruited, but from a consistency factor, that's where they need to continue to improve. So, we're better than where we were a year ago, but we still have some work to do."
On the depth on the line…
"We have eight or nine guys who have experience, and those are things that getting live game reps are things at this time of year you do not control. So, yeah, from that standpoint, they've seen kind of the live bullets that certainly helps them out but, I don't want to feel comfortable. I want to feel like we're going in to dominate. Are we there yet with eight or nine guys? No, we're not, but that's where we want to get. So, yes from a comfort standpoint of knowing our offense, having a feel from some of the techniques, yes. From saying I have eight, nine guys that are going there and just be dominant, physical, overtake the game type guys, no we're not there yet."
On the left tackle position…
"Right now we have a combination of Cooper Beebe, Carver Willis and Kaitori Leveston working over there. That's where the competition is coming into play. Cooper Beebe, right now, is the guy. Is his long term to be on the outside? Not necessarily, but you want talk about just an all-around football player. I can't say enough about that guy. He played right tackle last year, started games at left guard, played right guard for us, and now he's over there at left tackle. Shoot, I've told him that before too long we're going to put the ball in his hands."
On Cooper Beebe…
"The thing that makes him so good is he has the ability to take a coaching point from the meeting room and apply it directly out on the grass. You coach up a little bit of a technique. He doesn't make the same mistakes twice. He gets them corrected, and those things allow you to be a pretty special football player."
On Cooper Beebe not being a prototype tackle but finding the five best guys…
"He'd probably tell you the same thing. I know he looked at one of our young freshmen who's on campus and says he'd kill to have the length that he has with some of the reach. But, yeah, it's a challenge and it's starting to become more and more clear as we go through spring practice. Something that, obviously, we didn't have a year ago, but as we get a few more guys in the mix, coming off some offseason procedures that were done, I think it's only going to increase the amount of competition that we have, especially there on the inside part of the offensive line."
On Carver Willis…
"Carver is his own worst critic, and he has a much better grasp of the offense. You're seeing him getting more and more reps, kind of with the one offense. Inconsistent would be the thing that I believe Carver would say, and those have been the conversations that I've had with him. He plays extremely hard, is extremely athletic. It's just the fine details of the game that he knows he needs to continue to work on and focus on. It's an interesting thing – I want to say there are six or seven guys going through their first spring practice ever, and they're taking an enormous amount of reps. Along with that amount of reps, you're going to have some of those failures. It's, to me, a guy with Carver. He has all the ability. He has the intangibles. Now it's just the consistency, and yes, I make this mistake, or I get beat because of this. Now how do I get it corrected, and how do I get it corrected on a consistent basis? That's going to continue to come, so I'm excited about Carver. I am excited about him in his future. He's one of those guys that would be the first to admit, as we finish up these last few practices, going into April, May and then obviously in the summer, he has a lot of work to do. But, one thing with Carver is you know he's going to get the work done."
On Witt Mitchum…
"Witt Mitchum has really turned a corner these last three or four days, and it's about body control. He's another one, these young developmental guys, and I think you guys have noticed it and even called me on it. A lot of times there's going to be that guy who is a young developmental guy who is a little bit undersized, but has the length, has the athleticism, and it's a race to maturity with Witt Mitchum. It really is. He's another one of these guys who is going to play extremely, extremely hard. He wants to be physical. He's not as physical as he wants to be right now. That's because of his strength levels and some his size, but he can move his feet. He's continuing to understand our offense, which is going to ultimately allow him to play faster, and that's what it means by the game is slowing down. It's not they're getting that much faster, stronger, bigger. It's just, 'OK, I'm seeing pictures, and now ultimately, I can get a little bit better of an anticipation.' So, it's with all young guys, you kind of have ebbs and flows. Right now, I'd say he's on an upswing, which is very encouraging."
On the team's accountability…
"I feel a ton better about it, and it's very encouraging to see that you are truly beginning to turn the corner. Are we where we want to be? No. Do we have work to still be done? Absolutely. But you're seeing more and more of that buy in. Do you again have mistakes? Absolutely, but it's truly about a vision, and that vision needs to ultimately marry up with the young people that we have in that locker room when their actions reflect that vision because that's the biggest thing is the actions. It's easy for any one of us to say, 'Hey, I want to do this, or this is what I want to accomplish, or this is what I want to do for my football team.' I'll often joke with the guys about – 'I got big ears but treat me like a deaf person. Don't tell me, show me.' You're beginning to see guys who are showing it, and that's the encouraging thing. Now the big challenge for us, do we have 120 guys in the locker room showing it on a consistent basis? No, but you're beginning to see that turn the corner. The big thing with me is it's now the players holding one another accountable, and it's getting much, much better in that direction."
MIKE TUIASOSOPO, DEFENSIVE TACKLES COACH
On who will be replacing Drew Wiley's production…
"That remains to be seen. A young man like Eli Huggins has done a great job in the past, played a bunch last year and coming back. He's certainly counted on to pick up some of that production. It's hard to replace Drew Wiley, to be honest with you, but getting someone in here like Tim (Timmy) Horne has been a blessing in so many ways. He's just kind of dived right in with the way we do things and really has had quite a spring to go along with someone like Jaylen Pickle, who's played a lot. Then you have Robert Hentz who is coming back. Yeah, it's hard to replace Drew Wiley, but those guys will have to step up to be able to do that."
On Robert Hentz II improving his production…
"Yeah, he kind of doesn't have a choice really. He absolutely needs to step up. He's done a nice job of really mastering the scheme a little bit more, but even more so than that too is that his play has been elevated. He's doing some really good things for us, has had a nice spring. We're certainly counting on him moving forward to be a part of the conversation."
On getting Timmy Horne to K-State…
"The transfer portal is very tricky. It's kind of like Forrest Gump a little bit, you don't know what you're gonna get. To get someone of this caliber, from a Group of 5 school is really, really amazing. Not only is he a principle of a guy, he's just a really, really good player. What we saw on tape was a dynamic player. For him to adapt into how we do things and the way we do things, it's been really, really cool to see, and not only that but our players have gravitated to him. He has that kind of personality, and he's certainly a leader by his play. He's made a lot of nice plays to where our guys have a lot of respect for him."
On what he's seen from his position group so far…
"What's exciting is that you have a guy like Eli Huggins, who in my opinion has taken his game to another level. You asked about Drew Wiley. Drew was in the similar situation a year ago now because he had been in a backup role in 2019. For him to step up his game in my opinion, Eli Huggins has done that heading into the last couple of practices here. Certainly, Jalen Pickle has done the same thing. He's the guy that we are counting on to be in the conversation, in the mix. His playmaking has really taken another level. Then you have Robert Hentz. We talked about Timmy Horne. We're talking about Tyrone Taleni, who's had a really, really good spring."
On defensive tackles picking up strength and techniques…
"It's hard to do the technique if you're not strong. You have to have strength all the way around – your legs, your arms, your ability to be able to lock people out. But in terms of their development, it's hard to develop. You can have a young man who's maybe not there yet physically struggle with the technique because he just doesn't have the strength to be able to execute the fundamentals. Without question, you have to have the strength to be able to execute the fundamentals. I just think we're at a good place with the d-tackles. Those guys are really working very hard. With Coach Tru (Trumain Carroll) coming in here in the last month or so, our guys are really doing a nice job in the weight room. But, yeah, I would say that it's hard, very hard for anybody, whether it's here or anywhere else in the other places I've coached, for a young man to truly play the way he wants to without the strength development."
On the recruiting challenges for defensive tackles…
"It's always challenging. It's a challenging year, and it's not just here. It's been so many other places, because at the end of the day, defensive tackles are a special breed. They have to have the mental makeup, certainly, but they have to be explosive players that are big athletes. There's a high demand. The high demand for them, and the availability is not very. So, in many ways you have to kind of look into the crystal ball, if you will, to kind of see if those skills and those abilities are there, because you have to have an explosive, twitchy athlete. If not, those things are hard to develop. Those are things that they have to come with. Then you can look down the road and say, 'This young man, we can develop him in the weight room, but there are certainly some things explosive, whether it's the hands or your feet, an explosive body.' Other things that come to mind is you got to have face courage. You got to play with your face. That's easy to say but not everybody can do. So, the supply is very low, and the demand is very high. I always say that the d-tackles are absolutely a special breed. They are a different breed altogether."
On looking into other sports for recruiting…
"I love wrestlers. I've coached a lot of wrestlers that did football too. You try to find those explosive movements. You take basketball, for instance – a young man that can explode vertically. Well, that tells me he's explosive. You mentioned track athletes, people that can go from low to out that can explode out to explode up. Those are the kinds of guys you look for because you know if they can generate power from the ground, those are the things you look for. Wrestlers, they're very similar to d-tackles. They're just a different breed. You have to be able to enjoy mixing things up with people, and wrestlers have that."
BRIAN ANDERSON, RUNNING BACKS COACH
On Jacardia Wright…
"Yeah, he's heading in the right direction. He's worked hard this offseason. He continues to grow as a football player as he understands what we're doing offensively. Again, it's just a process and sometimes guys are ready to go early and some guys it takes time. He's progressing in the right direction."
On Joe Ervin…
"Yes, for sure. When we get started, I didn't talk about him sitting out. We just went right into it, and he's jumped in right away. He's shown his abilities, and things he needs to work on he's willing to do. He's worked hard, and he's developing really nice right now."
On Deuce Vaughn continuing to evolve…
"Well, obviously protection is always a concern because of his size, but he knows where to go. He knows what to do. It's just getting his technique down. Then, obviously, seeing the big picture. When I say seeing the big picture, seeing defenses and how guys are aligned and making those off-track runs. Those off-schedule runs where this is designed to go this way, but they overplay, you can cut the ball back. He's done that this spring, so he's starting to progress in the right direction."
On what excites him with the running backs…
"I think the depth right now. We have guys who are really, really fast. We have guys who are quick. We have guys who are bigger. We have guys that can catch the ball. So, getting guys on the field and taking advantage of their skill set is a big, big thrill for me right now."
On Deuce Vaughn's leadership…
"Oh, it's big. He's a humble kid. He understands that he doesn't have the success without his teammates. He understands that, and he carries himself in that manner. Having him in the meeting rooms, having him in the locker room, being a voice, and then just being by example how he practices every single day is having him around is a big thing for our football program."
On having Joe Ervin back this year…
"It's awesome because they complement each other very well even though they're on the smaller side. Joe has a lot of punch behind his frame, and he has speed behind his frame, so having those two guys in the backfield at the same time along with (Keyon) Mozee, and then having Jacardia's (Wright) size and the other guys in the room, it's been great."
On other running backs making progress…
"Jordan Schippers has done a great job moving over from defense. Clyde Price continues to grow as a player and Kaelen Shankle also, so everyone's doing well because they're all getting reps. So, there's no way a kid can't get better because of the way we practice. Every kid's getting an opportunity to get reps. Every kid is growing, so as long as they continue to do the things they need to do during the offseason, this summer and getting into fall camp, I feel really good about our room."
On Keyon Mozee's progression…
"I don't try to get those guys to compete against the other guys in a room. Basically, what I want guys to do is I want them to grow and be themselves. When you utilize their skill set as an offense, like for Mozee for instance, he's fast. He's a 10.6 100-meter guy. We need to find roles for him to use his speed. It's not about him just running between the tackles, like a Deuce (Vaughn) or catching balls out of the backfield like Deuce (Vaughn). We have to use his skill set to our advantage, and his skill set is speed. So, it's our job to find ways to get him in those situations. He's done a better job of that, of using his speed, because now he's not thinking as much. So, we just have to continue to grow, get him going in the right direction and utilize his skill set."
On the dead period possibly ending…
"Well, it's big. We can get kids on campus. That's a big advantage for us because what we have to offer here not just as a university, but as a coaching staff, and people get to see us and see how we interact with our players. How we handle our program, and I think that's big for us to continue to grow this program to what we want. So, if this dead period ends here soon and we get kids on campus, that's going to help us tremendously."
CONOR RILEY, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
On what he's seen from his position group…
"Well, probably the first thing that we're seeing is a lot more competition, even with not having a few guys available because of injuries. We're seeing a lot more depth and guys who can fit into roles that will be necessary moving forward. So, that's one thing that's really exciting. I do think we're playing more physical, and they know we're not where we need to be, but we are taking some strides. That's all the way across the board, and that's something that we've been preaching since we've gotten here. I'm starting to really see some of that take hold. So, that's been encouraging."
On making progress at the tackle position…
"Well, one thing we've done is kind of solidified Christian Duffie into one side of the offensive line. I think that's really helped him out. In our evaluation this past season, him having to play both right side and left side then back and forth has certainly been a big challenge. It became even more so evident that he feels more comfortable on the right side, so having him settle into that has been very encouraging. We still have kind of a committee there on the left side. I couldn't be more pleased with the way that Cooper Beebe is playing. With the exception of center, now I think he's gone full circle in his short time here playing every single position along the offensive line. So, we're not where I want to be, and we'll continue to address those things moving forward. I do like how the young guys are coming along. You see flashes, some guys that we just recently recruited, but from a consistency factor, that's where they need to continue to improve. So, we're better than where we were a year ago, but we still have some work to do."
On the depth on the line…
"We have eight or nine guys who have experience, and those are things that getting live game reps are things at this time of year you do not control. So, yeah, from that standpoint, they've seen kind of the live bullets that certainly helps them out but, I don't want to feel comfortable. I want to feel like we're going in to dominate. Are we there yet with eight or nine guys? No, we're not, but that's where we want to get. So, yes from a comfort standpoint of knowing our offense, having a feel from some of the techniques, yes. From saying I have eight, nine guys that are going there and just be dominant, physical, overtake the game type guys, no we're not there yet."
On the left tackle position…
"Right now we have a combination of Cooper Beebe, Carver Willis and Kaitori Leveston working over there. That's where the competition is coming into play. Cooper Beebe, right now, is the guy. Is his long term to be on the outside? Not necessarily, but you want talk about just an all-around football player. I can't say enough about that guy. He played right tackle last year, started games at left guard, played right guard for us, and now he's over there at left tackle. Shoot, I've told him that before too long we're going to put the ball in his hands."
On Cooper Beebe…
"The thing that makes him so good is he has the ability to take a coaching point from the meeting room and apply it directly out on the grass. You coach up a little bit of a technique. He doesn't make the same mistakes twice. He gets them corrected, and those things allow you to be a pretty special football player."
On Cooper Beebe not being a prototype tackle but finding the five best guys…
"He'd probably tell you the same thing. I know he looked at one of our young freshmen who's on campus and says he'd kill to have the length that he has with some of the reach. But, yeah, it's a challenge and it's starting to become more and more clear as we go through spring practice. Something that, obviously, we didn't have a year ago, but as we get a few more guys in the mix, coming off some offseason procedures that were done, I think it's only going to increase the amount of competition that we have, especially there on the inside part of the offensive line."
On Carver Willis…
"Carver is his own worst critic, and he has a much better grasp of the offense. You're seeing him getting more and more reps, kind of with the one offense. Inconsistent would be the thing that I believe Carver would say, and those have been the conversations that I've had with him. He plays extremely hard, is extremely athletic. It's just the fine details of the game that he knows he needs to continue to work on and focus on. It's an interesting thing – I want to say there are six or seven guys going through their first spring practice ever, and they're taking an enormous amount of reps. Along with that amount of reps, you're going to have some of those failures. It's, to me, a guy with Carver. He has all the ability. He has the intangibles. Now it's just the consistency, and yes, I make this mistake, or I get beat because of this. Now how do I get it corrected, and how do I get it corrected on a consistent basis? That's going to continue to come, so I'm excited about Carver. I am excited about him in his future. He's one of those guys that would be the first to admit, as we finish up these last few practices, going into April, May and then obviously in the summer, he has a lot of work to do. But, one thing with Carver is you know he's going to get the work done."
On Witt Mitchum…
"Witt Mitchum has really turned a corner these last three or four days, and it's about body control. He's another one, these young developmental guys, and I think you guys have noticed it and even called me on it. A lot of times there's going to be that guy who is a young developmental guy who is a little bit undersized, but has the length, has the athleticism, and it's a race to maturity with Witt Mitchum. It really is. He's another one of these guys who is going to play extremely, extremely hard. He wants to be physical. He's not as physical as he wants to be right now. That's because of his strength levels and some his size, but he can move his feet. He's continuing to understand our offense, which is going to ultimately allow him to play faster, and that's what it means by the game is slowing down. It's not they're getting that much faster, stronger, bigger. It's just, 'OK, I'm seeing pictures, and now ultimately, I can get a little bit better of an anticipation.' So, it's with all young guys, you kind of have ebbs and flows. Right now, I'd say he's on an upswing, which is very encouraging."
On the team's accountability…
"I feel a ton better about it, and it's very encouraging to see that you are truly beginning to turn the corner. Are we where we want to be? No. Do we have work to still be done? Absolutely. But you're seeing more and more of that buy in. Do you again have mistakes? Absolutely, but it's truly about a vision, and that vision needs to ultimately marry up with the young people that we have in that locker room when their actions reflect that vision because that's the biggest thing is the actions. It's easy for any one of us to say, 'Hey, I want to do this, or this is what I want to accomplish, or this is what I want to do for my football team.' I'll often joke with the guys about – 'I got big ears but treat me like a deaf person. Don't tell me, show me.' You're beginning to see guys who are showing it, and that's the encouraging thing. Now the big challenge for us, do we have 120 guys in the locker room showing it on a consistent basis? No, but you're beginning to see that turn the corner. The big thing with me is it's now the players holding one another accountable, and it's getting much, much better in that direction."
MIKE TUIASOSOPO, DEFENSIVE TACKLES COACH
On who will be replacing Drew Wiley's production…
"That remains to be seen. A young man like Eli Huggins has done a great job in the past, played a bunch last year and coming back. He's certainly counted on to pick up some of that production. It's hard to replace Drew Wiley, to be honest with you, but getting someone in here like Tim (Timmy) Horne has been a blessing in so many ways. He's just kind of dived right in with the way we do things and really has had quite a spring to go along with someone like Jaylen Pickle, who's played a lot. Then you have Robert Hentz who is coming back. Yeah, it's hard to replace Drew Wiley, but those guys will have to step up to be able to do that."
On Robert Hentz II improving his production…
"Yeah, he kind of doesn't have a choice really. He absolutely needs to step up. He's done a nice job of really mastering the scheme a little bit more, but even more so than that too is that his play has been elevated. He's doing some really good things for us, has had a nice spring. We're certainly counting on him moving forward to be a part of the conversation."
On getting Timmy Horne to K-State…
"The transfer portal is very tricky. It's kind of like Forrest Gump a little bit, you don't know what you're gonna get. To get someone of this caliber, from a Group of 5 school is really, really amazing. Not only is he a principle of a guy, he's just a really, really good player. What we saw on tape was a dynamic player. For him to adapt into how we do things and the way we do things, it's been really, really cool to see, and not only that but our players have gravitated to him. He has that kind of personality, and he's certainly a leader by his play. He's made a lot of nice plays to where our guys have a lot of respect for him."
On what he's seen from his position group so far…
"What's exciting is that you have a guy like Eli Huggins, who in my opinion has taken his game to another level. You asked about Drew Wiley. Drew was in the similar situation a year ago now because he had been in a backup role in 2019. For him to step up his game in my opinion, Eli Huggins has done that heading into the last couple of practices here. Certainly, Jalen Pickle has done the same thing. He's the guy that we are counting on to be in the conversation, in the mix. His playmaking has really taken another level. Then you have Robert Hentz. We talked about Timmy Horne. We're talking about Tyrone Taleni, who's had a really, really good spring."
On defensive tackles picking up strength and techniques…
"It's hard to do the technique if you're not strong. You have to have strength all the way around – your legs, your arms, your ability to be able to lock people out. But in terms of their development, it's hard to develop. You can have a young man who's maybe not there yet physically struggle with the technique because he just doesn't have the strength to be able to execute the fundamentals. Without question, you have to have the strength to be able to execute the fundamentals. I just think we're at a good place with the d-tackles. Those guys are really working very hard. With Coach Tru (Trumain Carroll) coming in here in the last month or so, our guys are really doing a nice job in the weight room. But, yeah, I would say that it's hard, very hard for anybody, whether it's here or anywhere else in the other places I've coached, for a young man to truly play the way he wants to without the strength development."
On the recruiting challenges for defensive tackles…
"It's always challenging. It's a challenging year, and it's not just here. It's been so many other places, because at the end of the day, defensive tackles are a special breed. They have to have the mental makeup, certainly, but they have to be explosive players that are big athletes. There's a high demand. The high demand for them, and the availability is not very. So, in many ways you have to kind of look into the crystal ball, if you will, to kind of see if those skills and those abilities are there, because you have to have an explosive, twitchy athlete. If not, those things are hard to develop. Those are things that they have to come with. Then you can look down the road and say, 'This young man, we can develop him in the weight room, but there are certainly some things explosive, whether it's the hands or your feet, an explosive body.' Other things that come to mind is you got to have face courage. You got to play with your face. That's easy to say but not everybody can do. So, the supply is very low, and the demand is very high. I always say that the d-tackles are absolutely a special breed. They are a different breed altogether."
On looking into other sports for recruiting…
"I love wrestlers. I've coached a lot of wrestlers that did football too. You try to find those explosive movements. You take basketball, for instance – a young man that can explode vertically. Well, that tells me he's explosive. You mentioned track athletes, people that can go from low to out that can explode out to explode up. Those are the kinds of guys you look for because you know if they can generate power from the ground, those are the things you look for. Wrestlers, they're very similar to d-tackles. They're just a different breed. You have to be able to enjoy mixing things up with people, and wrestlers have that."
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/ FootballK-State FB | Welcome back Collin Klein
Monday, December 08
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Radio Interview
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Official Introductory Event
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
