Knowles’ Main Focus is Consistent Improvement
Apr 15, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
One of the most dangerous weapons in college football sauntered into the Steel & Pipe Team Theatre at the Vanier Family Football Complex on Wednesday sporting his shoulder-length dreads, gray sweats, and a wry grin the size of Texas. As Kansas State senior Malik Knowles spoke, it appeared that the native of Mansfield, Texas, was at peace.
That could mean big trouble for opponents next fall.
"I just want to elevate every game and every play, be more competitive, and just dominate all competitors and all teams, week in and week out," Knowles said.
So, you want to get a little bit better?
"Not a little better," Knowles replied. "A lot better."
Sporting a blend of athleticism and talent that figures to surface more predominately next fall in the Wildcats' new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Knowles was the only player in the FBS to average 30.0 yards per kickoff return, 15.0 yards per reception and 5.0 yards per rushing attempt in 2021 (minimum 5 attempts each).
In fact, Knowles earned Second Team All-America honors as a kickoff returner — he ranked fourth in the FBS with 33.1 yards per return and second with two kickoff-return touchdowns — and was a Second Team All-Big 12 Conference selection as an all-purpose player.
"He's a stud," new K-State quarterback Adrian Martinez said.
Here's the rub: Knowles finished fourth at K-State with 29 catches for 441 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has recorded just one 100-yard performance in his career — four catches for 112 yards against Southern Illinois in 2021. But Knowles came alive with a three-catch, 42-yard, two-touchdown effort under Klein's new offense in the bowl game, demonstrating that the end of the 2021 season could be just the beginning of big things next fall.
"We need to continue to find ways to get him the football and you saw that in the bowl game," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Whether it's a jet sweep, a quick little smoke screen, a crossing route, a vertical route, and the return game, he's really valuable.
"We have to continue to find ways to get him the ball."
Next fall could mark a rebirth of sorts for Knowles offensively. Consider the spring as sowing season. Knowles begins his harvest against South Dakota on September 3 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Klieman said that the new offense is "going to cater toward a lot of guys' talents."
"If they take away Malik with two guys, we're going to be able to spread the ball around to a lot of different people," he continued. "If they want to pack everybody in and try to defend Deuce Vaughn, then we have multiple receivers outside. Just the fact that it's a little bit more up-tempo and a little bit faster and the fact that we're getting the ball downfield as well as horizontally, it's going to fit Malik's game."
Knowles said that Klein "dials up new plays every day."
"I like just the change of being more diverse," Knowles said of the new offense. "The way we've been practicing, we can hit defenses in all areas, get more looks, and there's a lot more in store."
One of the best highlights of K-State's 8-5 campaign came less than 6 minutes into the final game of the season. That's when Knowles dug into the middle of the field, cut outside to haul in a short pass, then outraced diving safety Todd Harris and juked cornerback Damarius McGhee just enough inside the 5-yard line, thus allowing him to stretch the ball past the front pylon for a 25-yard catch-and-run opening score against LSU.
"These guys have a world of ability, Malik especially," new K-State wide receivers coach Thad Ward said. "I know we're going to take (the wide receivers) to a place they can't go, and obviously, hopefully sooner than later."
Ward added that "we're going to be able to take them to the next level."
Knowles, an avid watcher of film on Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins, appreciates Ward's coaching and has already noticed it paying dividends.
"I've learned a lot this spring with help from Coach Ward," Knowles said, "just getting out of my breaks faster, staying low, focusing on transitions, finding more ways to utilize space against a defender, and focusing on hand work."
Already Knowles has proven himself as one of the best kickoff returners in the nation. Against Oklahoma State, Knowles returned a kickoff 99 yards. One week later against Oklahoma, Knowles took one 93 yards to the house.
K-State finished ninth nationally in averaging 27.22 yards per kickoff return. Knowles said that the Wildcats return 10 players on their kickoff-return unit from a year ago. Coupled with the program's traditional emphasis on special teams, Knowles expects even greater success on kickoff returns next fall.
"We left a lot out there," he said. "That's what we're emphasizing now. We want to fix the mistakes so we can be the No. 1 kickoff-return unit. Everyday it's about finding our lanes, blocking assignments, timing, and getting everything running."
Klieman looks to take Knowles' impact on special teams to an even greater level.
"What I'm excited about with Malik is I think he'll be a guy we'll use on punt and kickoff," he said. "He and I have had some good conversations. I've got him in some drill work on some tackling and coverage, and it's going to help him for what his true aspirations are beyond college. I'm excited because he's bright eyed to say, 'Let me help on these (special teams areas).' We need that. We need the Dalton Schoens who can be on everything.
"Malik can be one of those guys."
Asked to outline his individual goals for next fall, Knowles grinned again.
"I just want to be the best version of me," he said, calmly.
And that, folks, could be truly scary.
One of the most dangerous weapons in college football sauntered into the Steel & Pipe Team Theatre at the Vanier Family Football Complex on Wednesday sporting his shoulder-length dreads, gray sweats, and a wry grin the size of Texas. As Kansas State senior Malik Knowles spoke, it appeared that the native of Mansfield, Texas, was at peace.
That could mean big trouble for opponents next fall.
"I just want to elevate every game and every play, be more competitive, and just dominate all competitors and all teams, week in and week out," Knowles said.
So, you want to get a little bit better?
"Not a little better," Knowles replied. "A lot better."
Sporting a blend of athleticism and talent that figures to surface more predominately next fall in the Wildcats' new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Knowles was the only player in the FBS to average 30.0 yards per kickoff return, 15.0 yards per reception and 5.0 yards per rushing attempt in 2021 (minimum 5 attempts each).
In fact, Knowles earned Second Team All-America honors as a kickoff returner — he ranked fourth in the FBS with 33.1 yards per return and second with two kickoff-return touchdowns — and was a Second Team All-Big 12 Conference selection as an all-purpose player.
"He's a stud," new K-State quarterback Adrian Martinez said.
Here's the rub: Knowles finished fourth at K-State with 29 catches for 441 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has recorded just one 100-yard performance in his career — four catches for 112 yards against Southern Illinois in 2021. But Knowles came alive with a three-catch, 42-yard, two-touchdown effort under Klein's new offense in the bowl game, demonstrating that the end of the 2021 season could be just the beginning of big things next fall.
"We need to continue to find ways to get him the football and you saw that in the bowl game," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Whether it's a jet sweep, a quick little smoke screen, a crossing route, a vertical route, and the return game, he's really valuable.
"We have to continue to find ways to get him the ball."
Next fall could mark a rebirth of sorts for Knowles offensively. Consider the spring as sowing season. Knowles begins his harvest against South Dakota on September 3 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Klieman said that the new offense is "going to cater toward a lot of guys' talents."
"If they take away Malik with two guys, we're going to be able to spread the ball around to a lot of different people," he continued. "If they want to pack everybody in and try to defend Deuce Vaughn, then we have multiple receivers outside. Just the fact that it's a little bit more up-tempo and a little bit faster and the fact that we're getting the ball downfield as well as horizontally, it's going to fit Malik's game."
Knowles said that Klein "dials up new plays every day."
"I like just the change of being more diverse," Knowles said of the new offense. "The way we've been practicing, we can hit defenses in all areas, get more looks, and there's a lot more in store."
One of the best highlights of K-State's 8-5 campaign came less than 6 minutes into the final game of the season. That's when Knowles dug into the middle of the field, cut outside to haul in a short pass, then outraced diving safety Todd Harris and juked cornerback Damarius McGhee just enough inside the 5-yard line, thus allowing him to stretch the ball past the front pylon for a 25-yard catch-and-run opening score against LSU.
Knowles later caught a 5-yard touchdown on a crossing route in the back of the end zone. His two receiving touchdowns tied for third most by a K-State player in a bowl game.Going all out 4️⃣ the 'Cats #KStateFB | @Leekfor6 pic.twitter.com/IMUfg9LnOi
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) January 5, 2022
"These guys have a world of ability, Malik especially," new K-State wide receivers coach Thad Ward said. "I know we're going to take (the wide receivers) to a place they can't go, and obviously, hopefully sooner than later."
Ward added that "we're going to be able to take them to the next level."
Knowles, an avid watcher of film on Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins, appreciates Ward's coaching and has already noticed it paying dividends.
"I've learned a lot this spring with help from Coach Ward," Knowles said, "just getting out of my breaks faster, staying low, focusing on transitions, finding more ways to utilize space against a defender, and focusing on hand work."
Already Knowles has proven himself as one of the best kickoff returners in the nation. Against Oklahoma State, Knowles returned a kickoff 99 yards. One week later against Oklahoma, Knowles took one 93 yards to the house.
K-State finished ninth nationally in averaging 27.22 yards per kickoff return. Knowles said that the Wildcats return 10 players on their kickoff-return unit from a year ago. Coupled with the program's traditional emphasis on special teams, Knowles expects even greater success on kickoff returns next fall.
"We left a lot out there," he said. "That's what we're emphasizing now. We want to fix the mistakes so we can be the No. 1 kickoff-return unit. Everyday it's about finding our lanes, blocking assignments, timing, and getting everything running."
Klieman looks to take Knowles' impact on special teams to an even greater level.
"What I'm excited about with Malik is I think he'll be a guy we'll use on punt and kickoff," he said. "He and I have had some good conversations. I've got him in some drill work on some tackling and coverage, and it's going to help him for what his true aspirations are beyond college. I'm excited because he's bright eyed to say, 'Let me help on these (special teams areas).' We need that. We need the Dalton Schoens who can be on everything.
"Malik can be one of those guys."
Asked to outline his individual goals for next fall, Knowles grinned again.
"I just want to be the best version of me," he said, calmly.
And that, folks, could be truly scary.
Players Mentioned
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