SE: Fall Camp Quotables – Leadership, Chemistry on Display in Week Two
Aug 18, 2021 | Football, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
The second week of fall camp has brought the leadership on K-State Football into focus.
Seniors Skylar Thompson and Daniel Imatorbhebhe both met with the media this week, as the most experienced members of the 'Cats. But other names are emerging as the Wildcats hit the home stretch of the preseason.
Landry Weber and Eric Hommel were both players Courtney Messingham mentioned as leaders in the wide receiver room, and Van Malone spoke about Joe Ervin's work ethic at running back.
With less than three weeks before the Wildcats travel to Dallas to face Stanford, here are a few of the most interesting, insightful and entertaining quotes from fall camp in Manhattan.
Offensive Coordinator Courtney Messingham – On Malik Knowles
"The biggest thing is he has nine practices played. That's the biggest thing from my standpoint with all the wideouts, [for] the quarterbacks to truly trust you and be on the same page…You've got to have as many plays and practices as you can have in a row."
After a breakout freshman season, Malik Knowles found another gear late in the 2020 season and provided a spark for the Wildcats on offense. Getting the dynamic junior receiver going from the jump in 2021 looks to be a priority for K-State throughout the preseason.
Messingham identified health and consistency as two keys to success for Knowles. He hasn't missed a practice, and with Chabastin Taylor working his way back from injury, is playing an even bigger role among the wide receivers on the practice field this month.
"I think he can make a huge positive impact both carrying it and going down the field and making explosive [plays]," Messingham said. "You say, 'Well what do you mean? Are you going to hand it to him a bunch of times?' No, but it's pretty easy to think back to Baylor where we went from being down to one play later now it's a tie ballgame."
Those explosive plays are what got the Wildcats cooking on offense last season, as K-State finished among the nation's leaders in plays over 60+ yards.
Messingham is already focused on putting Knowles in a position to break a few more in 2021.
QB Skylar Thompson - On Offensive Chemistry
"When I'm throwing an under route, [I'm thinking] 'Phillip Brooks when you catch this thing, it's a kickoff return.' That's our mindset: we're making a guy miss; we're going to go score."
Running through the skill players on this K-State offense, most of the big names have more than one way to beat you.
Messingham spoke about getting Knowles involved as a runner, a theme Thompson continued with Phillip Brooks, the team's All-American return specialist, as a weapon at receiver.
Same goes for Deuce Vaughn – his touch count as a rusher or a receiver has been a recurring question throughout camp.
And don't forget about Thompson, who brings back his dual-threat ability in 2021.
"If I'm running that thing, I want to make a guy miss, turning a five-yard run play into 15 or 20," he said. "That's our mindset as an offense. We just have to continue to build and grow."
TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe - On His Road to K-State
"I think it's been such an enriching cultural experience for me. I'm here talking to Tyrone Taleni and Reed (Godinet) and young Damien (Ilalio). I'm used to having all types of Polynesian teammates at USC, and I didn't know anyone when I was back in North Gwinnett. So, getting to be around guys from different regions of the country, different values, it's been awesome."
Imatorbhebhe has been one of the stars of fall camp, with his name coming up in interviews with coaches and players as someone who could be an immediate contributor at tight end.
His story, and a seven-year college career with stops at Florida, USC and Illinois, is remarkable, and this comment about playing with Polynesian teammates certainly reflects that perspective.
The unique background extends to play-calling – Imatorbhebhe was in the huddle with Sam Darnold and JuJu Smith-Schuster during his stint as a Trojan.
"Going from spread offense in high school, to West Coast, no huddle at USC with Coach Sark's (Steve Sarkisian) offense. I was telling Skylar this, but I'm used to processing plays in a visual way," he said. "The plays are more or less the same, it's just a different way of getting to it."
Assistant Head Coach Van Malone - On the Linebackers
"It's been refreshing to watch them grow. I talk about scheme, but we as a staff have focused a lot on the fundamentals of tackling and creating turnovers. We've talked through those things, and as a secondary coach, you talk through those things quite a bit. But at this moment, our linebackers are leading the team in interceptions, so that's been cool to watch."
Malone spoke at length about one of the more interesting position groups in fall camp, a K-State linebacking core looking to replace veteran leaders Justin Hughes and Elijah Sullivan.
Eric Munoz joined the Wildcats through the transfer portal from Utah State, with Daniel Green and Cody Fletcher looking to step into bigger roles in 2021.
Green came on strong late in the 2020 season, with 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks against Baylor.
Fletcher's junior season followed a similar trajectory, with career-best performances in the second half of the season. Both players have Malone feeling optimistic heading into September.
"Those guys, they've had a tremendous camp in terms of continuing to understand our scheme and continuing to provide leadership on the field for the new guys," Malone said. "It's been refreshing to watch them grow."
The second week of fall camp has brought the leadership on K-State Football into focus.
Seniors Skylar Thompson and Daniel Imatorbhebhe both met with the media this week, as the most experienced members of the 'Cats. But other names are emerging as the Wildcats hit the home stretch of the preseason.
Landry Weber and Eric Hommel were both players Courtney Messingham mentioned as leaders in the wide receiver room, and Van Malone spoke about Joe Ervin's work ethic at running back.
With less than three weeks before the Wildcats travel to Dallas to face Stanford, here are a few of the most interesting, insightful and entertaining quotes from fall camp in Manhattan.
Offensive Coordinator Courtney Messingham – On Malik Knowles
"The biggest thing is he has nine practices played. That's the biggest thing from my standpoint with all the wideouts, [for] the quarterbacks to truly trust you and be on the same page…You've got to have as many plays and practices as you can have in a row."
After a breakout freshman season, Malik Knowles found another gear late in the 2020 season and provided a spark for the Wildcats on offense. Getting the dynamic junior receiver going from the jump in 2021 looks to be a priority for K-State throughout the preseason.
Messingham identified health and consistency as two keys to success for Knowles. He hasn't missed a practice, and with Chabastin Taylor working his way back from injury, is playing an even bigger role among the wide receivers on the practice field this month.
"I think he can make a huge positive impact both carrying it and going down the field and making explosive [plays]," Messingham said. "You say, 'Well what do you mean? Are you going to hand it to him a bunch of times?' No, but it's pretty easy to think back to Baylor where we went from being down to one play later now it's a tie ballgame."
Those explosive plays are what got the Wildcats cooking on offense last season, as K-State finished among the nation's leaders in plays over 60+ yards.
Messingham is already focused on putting Knowles in a position to break a few more in 2021.
QB Skylar Thompson - On Offensive Chemistry
"When I'm throwing an under route, [I'm thinking] 'Phillip Brooks when you catch this thing, it's a kickoff return.' That's our mindset: we're making a guy miss; we're going to go score."
Running through the skill players on this K-State offense, most of the big names have more than one way to beat you.
Messingham spoke about getting Knowles involved as a runner, a theme Thompson continued with Phillip Brooks, the team's All-American return specialist, as a weapon at receiver.
Same goes for Deuce Vaughn – his touch count as a rusher or a receiver has been a recurring question throughout camp.
And don't forget about Thompson, who brings back his dual-threat ability in 2021.
"If I'm running that thing, I want to make a guy miss, turning a five-yard run play into 15 or 20," he said. "That's our mindset as an offense. We just have to continue to build and grow."
TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe - On His Road to K-State
"I think it's been such an enriching cultural experience for me. I'm here talking to Tyrone Taleni and Reed (Godinet) and young Damien (Ilalio). I'm used to having all types of Polynesian teammates at USC, and I didn't know anyone when I was back in North Gwinnett. So, getting to be around guys from different regions of the country, different values, it's been awesome."
Imatorbhebhe has been one of the stars of fall camp, with his name coming up in interviews with coaches and players as someone who could be an immediate contributor at tight end.
His story, and a seven-year college career with stops at Florida, USC and Illinois, is remarkable, and this comment about playing with Polynesian teammates certainly reflects that perspective.
The unique background extends to play-calling – Imatorbhebhe was in the huddle with Sam Darnold and JuJu Smith-Schuster during his stint as a Trojan.
"Going from spread offense in high school, to West Coast, no huddle at USC with Coach Sark's (Steve Sarkisian) offense. I was telling Skylar this, but I'm used to processing plays in a visual way," he said. "The plays are more or less the same, it's just a different way of getting to it."
Assistant Head Coach Van Malone - On the Linebackers
"It's been refreshing to watch them grow. I talk about scheme, but we as a staff have focused a lot on the fundamentals of tackling and creating turnovers. We've talked through those things, and as a secondary coach, you talk through those things quite a bit. But at this moment, our linebackers are leading the team in interceptions, so that's been cool to watch."
Malone spoke at length about one of the more interesting position groups in fall camp, a K-State linebacking core looking to replace veteran leaders Justin Hughes and Elijah Sullivan.
Eric Munoz joined the Wildcats through the transfer portal from Utah State, with Daniel Green and Cody Fletcher looking to step into bigger roles in 2021.
Green came on strong late in the 2020 season, with 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks against Baylor.
Fletcher's junior season followed a similar trajectory, with career-best performances in the second half of the season. Both players have Malone feeling optimistic heading into September.
"Those guys, they've had a tremendous camp in terms of continuing to understand our scheme and continuing to provide leadership on the field for the new guys," Malone said. "It's been refreshing to watch them grow."
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