In Search of More Depth

Apr 06, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra

By: D. Scott Fritchen

Kansas State held all of its Big 12 Conference opponents under their season scoring averages coming into the game last season. In the 27 games since the defense switched from a four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment, K-State is allowing just 21.4 points per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 23^rd in the nation.

The evidence of K-State's strides on defense is ever present.

That's what made the Wildcats' 45-20 loss to No. 5 Alabama so maddening to defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as he walked off the field at the Sugar Bowl.

"We're not that far off," Klanderman said. "I came away from that game, although disappointed, realizing that week to week we can beat anybody and we should."

K-State returns five defensive starters — linebackers Daniel Green and Austin Moore, defensive ends Khalid Duke and Brendan Mott, and safety Kobe Savage — from a unit that ranked third in the Big 12 in scoring defense (21.9) and fourth in total defense (375.1). The defense returns 20 letterwinners on defense along with 12 players who redshirted the 10-4 campaign.

The Wildcats carry the capacity to bring some defensive excitement to the field next fall.

"Obviously, there are some big-time playmakers that we lost when you talk about Julius Brents and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, but I think we have a lot of really good playmakers right now, too," Klanderman said in a news conference Wednesday. "They're just guys where you don't know their names yet. I don't think we've seen the best from Nate Matlack and Khalid Duke and Uso Seumalo.

"There are some guys that by mid-October people are going to be like, 'Woah, that guy is pretty good.' That remains to be seen."

K-State began spring practice on March 7 and its regimen of 15 practices will conclude on April 15.

Klanderman and the defensive coaches have finished installation of their defense.

The primary question now? Depth.

"What is our depth situation like?" Klanderman said. "We can't run into certain situations and expect to be successful like we were a year ago. At safety, the roof caved in a little bit with all the injuries that piled up there, and we got to be extraordinarily thin at the end of the year. Hopefully, we can get to the point where every position across the board (has quality depth) and we're not running into that. That's the biggest thing we're trying to do right now."

One of the biggest areas of interest comes in the defensive backfield. K-State must find replacements at safety for the likes of Drake Cheatum, Josh Hayes and Cincere Mason. Klanderman, who also coaches safeties, believes that he has possibilities. While Savage continues to make progress from an injury suffered last season, others are making their mark and are viable candidates.

"You'd love to have nine guys you feel comfortable with," Klanderman said. "Right now, I'm really pleased with Colby McCalister. He's a guy who we weren't sure what to expect in the spring and he's far exceeded expectations. I'm really pleased with Marques Sigle as a transfer coming in here. He's going to be a huge part of what we're doing. He's been phenomenal. Kam Sallis and Wesley Fair as true freshmen early enrollees are probably going to help us next year."

Gone are Julius Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe, who started a combined 62 career games at cornerback. Senior Keenan Garber, a 6-foot, 173-pounder who arrived at K-State as a wide receiver, figures to be in the mix.

"Garber is a full-time corner now, and he's extremely impressive," Klanderman said. "He's flashed in the last three practices just with some plays coming out of nowhere. He has some athleticism that's very, very rare, and the more he gets comfortable in that position, he's going to be a bigger and bigger player in this, too."

Garber isn't alone in making impressive impressions. In fact, Klanderman believes that the two cornerback spots could be filled by a committee.

"It's not because we don't have two guys who are alphas," he said, "it's because we have several guys who are alphas. Will Lee III as a transfer is getting more and more comfortable and he'll have a big role in that. Jacob Parrish has been steady Eddie, Omar Daniels has seen snaps, Darell Jones and Jordan Wright are good enough to play in the Big 12 and it's just on us to find different roles and situations where we can use those guys, whether it's in nickel or dime packages where we can put those guys in and be cover guys, blitzers and underneath-zone guys."

Another area of intrigue surrounds nose guard. Eli Huggins returned for a sixth season and was one of the heart and souls of the defense last season. His departure opens the door for several possibilities. That includes 6-foot-3, 345-pound senior Uso Seumalo, a Hawai'i native who played two seasons at Garden City Community College before transferring to K-State last season. Seumalo played in every game in 2022.

"Uso is going to be a beast," Klanderman said. "I'm excited about him. He's so quick and explosive and Coach Mike Tuiasosopo has done a marvelous job with him because he's gotten away with being the best player on the field everywhere he's been. What Coach Tui is doing is teaching him technique and pad level and hand placement and formation recognition. He's come a long way in that.

"Jevon Banks as a transfer has been a very pleasant surprise. He's exactly what we thought he was. He's quick and gets off blocks and it's difficult to get movement on him. He's smart and understands things, and he'll be a major factor in the fall. The other guy that we knew was good but he's just coming into his own as he comes into his body a little bit more is Damian Ilalio. Damian might be one of our best technicians on defense. He plays with tremendous pad level. He's always down for the cause. He'll have a role, too."

K-State lost its best defensive player when junior defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah declared for the NFL Draft. Duke, who previously played at defensive end before switching to more of a hybrid linebacker type last season, has swung back into the defensive end position on a full-time basis. It feels like home for the 6-foot-4, 246-pounder who had 5.0 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks in 2022.

"He's so explosive," Klanderman said. "It's been a long time, but going back to 2021 Khalid, he's a dangerous, dangerous dude at defensive end. He's got incredible rush ability, very heavy hands, he's tough, and he gets off blocks really well. He's going to pick up hopefully where Felix left off last year."

Klanderman added: "I just want Khalid to be Khalid and use his natural instincts because that's when he's at his best."

K-State figures to have two of the best linebackers in the Big 12 next fall. Green surprised coaches when he decided to return for a sixth season. He'll be joined by Moore, who led the team with 87 tackles to go along with 10.0 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and one interception last season.

However, there's more in store for the linebacker position as well. It figures to be one of the biggest areas of strength — offense or defense — for the Wildcats.

Asked if this was the best linebacker room K-State has had since his arrival in 2019, Klanderman replied, "Definitely — from an experience standpoint, from a knowledge of scheme standpoint, and from a leadership standpoint also. Those guys are just incredible when you talk about Austin Moore and Daniel Green.

"Then you have some of the younger guys into the mix who have incredible ability — Jake Clifton, Tobi Osunsanmi and guys like Desmond Purnell who've found a role last year and have gotten so much better and so much more comfortable. There's a number of other guys in our room I'm not mentioning, but that's really a good source of strength for our defense."

A Big 12 Championship banner hangs in the new Shamrock Practice Facility, which serves as a proud reminder of the Wildcats' feats and successes in 2022.

Just as Klanderman and his coaches worked to complete installation of the defense, they continue to work each day at developing a tough-minded group as well.

"We're 0-0 just like everybody else," Klanderman said. "Nobody is going to hand you anything. In fact, it's going to be a more difficult road this year than it was last year because we're on target now (among opponents). We're just back to the point of what we're trying to develop this spring — toughness and a mindset that none of the (Big 12 Championship season) matters.

"We're just blocking things out and trying to play ball."