‘I’m Ready to Make More Memories’
Jul 24, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Daniel Green sits in a chair upon a small stage at AT&T Big 12 Media Days, his nameplate "DANIEL GREEN" positioned on the middle of the table, as if the Kansas State linebacker still requires introduction. Green embarks upon his sixth season, and, yes, it seems like he's been a Wildcat forever. Green, a native of Portland, Oregon, was arguably the top inside linebacker on the west coast when he signed his letter-of-intent with K-State on February 1, 2017.
Avery Johnson was 13 years old.
"It's amazing to be here," Green says, "but I have personal goals that I feel like I need to come back and accomplish."
It's well-documented that Green suffered painful injuries that kept him from playing at 100% last season. Although he started in 13 games, he didn't touch the practice field until Week 10 of the regular season. Impressively, he still ranked fifth on the team with 58 tackles to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and four total passes defended en route to All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades for a second-straight year.
As for his best game last season? He had a season-high 10 tackles in the Big 12 Championship Game against TCU, and none more important than teaming with Eli Huggins for a tackle on fourth-and-goal inside the one-yard line in overtime prior to Ty Zentner's game-winning 31-yard field goal in a 31-28 instant classic.
"I don't think I'll ever wear the Big 12 Championship ring," Green says. "I'm trying to get a new one. I want to collect some."
Green's return appeared murky after the Wildcats finished their season with a 45-20 loss to No. 5 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Green sat in another chair, this one in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 31. He wore a white K-State jersey, a purple "C" emblazoned on the left, and the No. 22 ever prominent, following his final game of his fifth-year senior season. He spoke slowly and quietly, and he said, "I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss it a lot."
Fast-forward to January 14, and the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Green announced on Twitter: "SEE Y'ALL IN THE FALL."
He wrote that coming to K-State was one of the best decisions in his life. He wrote that K-State had the best fan base in the nation. He wrote that he thought long and hard about leaving and entering the 2023 NFL Draft. Finally, he wrote: "After a senior season plagued by injury and not being 100% most of the year, I want to finish my college career playing my best ball."
It was incredible news and surprising news to K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard.
"Having Daniel back was one of the best phone calls I've had in a long time," Stanard says. "He called and said, 'Coach, is it OK if I come back?'"
Stanard chuckles.
"What do you say? No?"
And now Green prepares for the final chapter of his college career.
"I came in as a boy, young, and now everything I've been through, all the different experiences, I wouldn't change it for anything," he says. "It's been an amazing experience. I'm surrounded by great, great men in the facility from my teammates to coaching staff, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm blessed to be a part of what we have at K-State.
"The goal is to be back here in December."
Somebody asks Green about being back inside AT&T Stadium.
"A lot of memories," he says, "but I'm ready to make more memories."
"As soon as I came in here, I was like, man, I'm ready to come back here and play football," he continues. "Being around these other players on other teams (at Big 12 Media Day), it gets me going. I'm ready to play. It gets the juices flowing. I'm really excited how close the football season is coming up."
Somebody else asked Green to recall the goal-line stand against TCU.
"That's something I'll never forget," he replies. "After that kick, the confetti dropped right here on us — stuff you dream about. You just want to do it again. That's the whole mindset, that we're going to be back here in December."
Green enters the 2023 season with 219 career tackles, 31 stops shy of reaching 250 tackles and 95 tackles shy of entering the school's top-10 list in total tackles. His 152 solo tackles are 17 shy of also entering the school's top-10 list. He would be the first K-State player to rank in the top 10 in career unassisted tackles since 2014.
It's a spot that was difficult to envision at times last season.
"After the first or second game last season, he was kind of a shell of himself with a foot injury and even when he came back and started feeling as good as he ever had, he had the hit where he tore cartilage in his ribs," Stanard says. "Daniel played two games where he was completely healthy."
Somebody asks Green if some people perhaps have forgotten about his playmaking ability because of last season's injuries.
"People doubt you anyway at K-State, and I would want it any other way," he replies. "It gets a fire in you. It's tough. You guys probably know I didn't even get to practice until Week 10. That was the hardest thing, but having guys like brothers around you saying, 'We got you, bro. We know you're going to show up on Saturday,' keeps you going. Being around guys like that really helped me out."
There was a time when it was even more difficult to get onto the field.
Green, a standout at Madison (Ore.) High School, chose K-State over Oregon State, Utah, USC and Arizona. He was the highest-rated signee for K-State in the Class of 2017 and the No. 6-rated high school prospect out of the state of Oregon by 247Sports. However, dreams of making an immediate impact at K-State stalled due to the NCAA Clearinghouse, meaning Green was delayed getting onto the K-State campus.
After redshirting the 2018 season, Green progressed as a redshirt freshman (34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks) and as a sophomore (39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks) while playing behind starter Justin Hughes. He thrived during his first full season as a starter as a junior (89 tackles, 16.9 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks) prior to his injuries last season.
Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman was taken aback by Green's decision to return.
"Every hint was, 'I'm going to show what I can do at the next level,'" Klanderman says. "When (his decision) came out, I've got to tell you, it was big-time and incredibly unexpected. He's outstanding."
Now Green looks back on his path — and where he could go from here. It's a quiet moment at Big 12 Media Days and the crowd of reporters has dispersed. Green, sitting alone, speaks slowly and quietly, much like he did after the Sugar Bowl, but he carries a different tone. He grows emotional.
"My mental toughness has grown since I've been at K-State," he says. "The years, especially starting with Coach Snyder up to now, has grown me into a leader. When I came in, there were a lot of older guys in front of me, even in 2020. Then Coach Klieman had a conversation with me prior to the 2021 season and challenged me to accept a leadership role. I'll never forget that. He said, 'I believe in you and you have that capability and we need that from you.' He challenged me as a man and as a team and football player to be the best I can be.
"I'm still growing. Just to see the growth I've had over the years, I'm excited to keep going — and keep growing."
Daniel Green sits in a chair upon a small stage at AT&T Big 12 Media Days, his nameplate "DANIEL GREEN" positioned on the middle of the table, as if the Kansas State linebacker still requires introduction. Green embarks upon his sixth season, and, yes, it seems like he's been a Wildcat forever. Green, a native of Portland, Oregon, was arguably the top inside linebacker on the west coast when he signed his letter-of-intent with K-State on February 1, 2017.
Avery Johnson was 13 years old.
"It's amazing to be here," Green says, "but I have personal goals that I feel like I need to come back and accomplish."
It's well-documented that Green suffered painful injuries that kept him from playing at 100% last season. Although he started in 13 games, he didn't touch the practice field until Week 10 of the regular season. Impressively, he still ranked fifth on the team with 58 tackles to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and four total passes defended en route to All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades for a second-straight year.
As for his best game last season? He had a season-high 10 tackles in the Big 12 Championship Game against TCU, and none more important than teaming with Eli Huggins for a tackle on fourth-and-goal inside the one-yard line in overtime prior to Ty Zentner's game-winning 31-yard field goal in a 31-28 instant classic.
"I don't think I'll ever wear the Big 12 Championship ring," Green says. "I'm trying to get a new one. I want to collect some."
Green's return appeared murky after the Wildcats finished their season with a 45-20 loss to No. 5 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Green sat in another chair, this one in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 31. He wore a white K-State jersey, a purple "C" emblazoned on the left, and the No. 22 ever prominent, following his final game of his fifth-year senior season. He spoke slowly and quietly, and he said, "I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss it a lot."
Fast-forward to January 14, and the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Green announced on Twitter: "SEE Y'ALL IN THE FALL."
He wrote that coming to K-State was one of the best decisions in his life. He wrote that K-State had the best fan base in the nation. He wrote that he thought long and hard about leaving and entering the 2023 NFL Draft. Finally, he wrote: "After a senior season plagued by injury and not being 100% most of the year, I want to finish my college career playing my best ball."
It was incredible news and surprising news to K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard.
"Having Daniel back was one of the best phone calls I've had in a long time," Stanard says. "He called and said, 'Coach, is it OK if I come back?'"
Stanard chuckles.
"What do you say? No?"
And now Green prepares for the final chapter of his college career.
"I came in as a boy, young, and now everything I've been through, all the different experiences, I wouldn't change it for anything," he says. "It's been an amazing experience. I'm surrounded by great, great men in the facility from my teammates to coaching staff, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm blessed to be a part of what we have at K-State.
"The goal is to be back here in December."
Somebody asks Green about being back inside AT&T Stadium.
"A lot of memories," he says, "but I'm ready to make more memories."
"As soon as I came in here, I was like, man, I'm ready to come back here and play football," he continues. "Being around these other players on other teams (at Big 12 Media Day), it gets me going. I'm ready to play. It gets the juices flowing. I'm really excited how close the football season is coming up."
Somebody else asked Green to recall the goal-line stand against TCU.
"That's something I'll never forget," he replies. "After that kick, the confetti dropped right here on us — stuff you dream about. You just want to do it again. That's the whole mindset, that we're going to be back here in December."
Green enters the 2023 season with 219 career tackles, 31 stops shy of reaching 250 tackles and 95 tackles shy of entering the school's top-10 list in total tackles. His 152 solo tackles are 17 shy of also entering the school's top-10 list. He would be the first K-State player to rank in the top 10 in career unassisted tackles since 2014.
It's a spot that was difficult to envision at times last season.
"After the first or second game last season, he was kind of a shell of himself with a foot injury and even when he came back and started feeling as good as he ever had, he had the hit where he tore cartilage in his ribs," Stanard says. "Daniel played two games where he was completely healthy."
Somebody asks Green if some people perhaps have forgotten about his playmaking ability because of last season's injuries.
"People doubt you anyway at K-State, and I would want it any other way," he replies. "It gets a fire in you. It's tough. You guys probably know I didn't even get to practice until Week 10. That was the hardest thing, but having guys like brothers around you saying, 'We got you, bro. We know you're going to show up on Saturday,' keeps you going. Being around guys like that really helped me out."
There was a time when it was even more difficult to get onto the field.
Green, a standout at Madison (Ore.) High School, chose K-State over Oregon State, Utah, USC and Arizona. He was the highest-rated signee for K-State in the Class of 2017 and the No. 6-rated high school prospect out of the state of Oregon by 247Sports. However, dreams of making an immediate impact at K-State stalled due to the NCAA Clearinghouse, meaning Green was delayed getting onto the K-State campus.
After redshirting the 2018 season, Green progressed as a redshirt freshman (34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks) and as a sophomore (39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks) while playing behind starter Justin Hughes. He thrived during his first full season as a starter as a junior (89 tackles, 16.9 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks) prior to his injuries last season.
Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman was taken aback by Green's decision to return.
"Every hint was, 'I'm going to show what I can do at the next level,'" Klanderman says. "When (his decision) came out, I've got to tell you, it was big-time and incredibly unexpected. He's outstanding."
Now Green looks back on his path — and where he could go from here. It's a quiet moment at Big 12 Media Days and the crowd of reporters has dispersed. Green, sitting alone, speaks slowly and quietly, much like he did after the Sugar Bowl, but he carries a different tone. He grows emotional.
"My mental toughness has grown since I've been at K-State," he says. "The years, especially starting with Coach Snyder up to now, has grown me into a leader. When I came in, there were a lot of older guys in front of me, even in 2020. Then Coach Klieman had a conversation with me prior to the 2021 season and challenged me to accept a leadership role. I'll never forget that. He said, 'I believe in you and you have that capability and we need that from you.' He challenged me as a man and as a team and football player to be the best I can be.
"I'm still growing. Just to see the growth I've had over the years, I'm excited to keep going — and keep growing."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
NG
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ FootballK-State Rowing | Media Day
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
