Coming a Long Way in a Short Time

By: D. Scott Fritchen

A year ago, young defensive backs Jacob Parrish and VJ Payne were simply trying to get onto the field for Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman and a unit that returned an older and experienced defensive backfield. Now the sophomore duo will be counted upon to deliver while helping to stabilize a group that, much like themselves, must grow up quickly, as the Wildcats prepare for their Big 12 Conference title defense this fall.

The good news? Parrish, a cornerback, and Payne, a safety, are operating at a high level as the Wildcats head into their normal practice routine in preparation for the season opener against SEMO next Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

"I'm incredibly impressed with Jacob Parrish," Klanderman said as K-State neared the end of fall camp last Friday. "He wasn't a starter most of last year. He's playing at an extremely high level. VJ Payne is playing at an extremely high level."

Parrish is a 5-foot-10, 183-pound sophomore from Olathe, Kansas, who played in all 14 games as a backup cornerback last season, and bided his time behind NFL-bound Julius Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe. When Boye-Doe went down against No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game, Parrish sprang into action and proved solid with a career-high four tackles and a pass breakup against the Horned Frogs.

"A year ago Jacob was just a really good athlete who didn't have a great idea of what he was doing or what we were doing," Klanderman said. "That's where his biggest offseason gains have come. He's really evolved in his understanding of what we're doing, and that's going to help him in situational football. He's done a lot of situational things the last few days that's going to allow us to move him around in some different positions. He's going to be a rock-solid star wherever he is."

Payne, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore from Gainesville, Georgia, made an immediate impact at safety last season. The first true freshman on defense to start a season opener since at least 1988, Payne racked up four total starts while playing in every game. After recording four tackles in the Big 12 title game, he delivered in a big-time fashion against No. 5 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl behind 10 tackles — tied for the 10^th most tackles in a K-State bowl game — and his first-career sack.

"When you're a true freshman, you're just caught in the moment and trying to play fast," Klanderman said. "That's still what we want them to do, but maybe now we can play a little bit more intelligently and use VJ more as a communicator and a quarterback back there instead of just being a piece that listens to others. He's a guy who can direct the traffic a little bit more."

Intense training and offseason film study prepared the roommates for this opportunity. While Payne, senior Kobe Savage and junior transfer Marques Sigle appear poised to fortify three safety positions, Parrish finds himself helping guide a cornerback room that features senior Keenan Garber along two community-college transfers in Will Lee III and Justice James. Though it's expected that Klanderman could rotate even more cornerbacks, Parrish has pushed to become the leader of a like-minded group that is light on FBS experience — Garber only started playing cornerback toward the end of last season.

"Jacob's leadership – as he and I have had discussions – his leadership is important, because he's a very good player and a focused player, and he competes. I have continually talked to him about having an understanding that everyone is watching. They're watching you," said assistant head coach Van Malone, who also coaches the cornerbacks. "There's no more lead by example. We need him to lead and be a vocal part of our defense because he has the creditability to be able to do that.

"You're talking about a sophomore. Normally you're talking about juniors and seniors, but this guy, when he's a junior and senior, he's going to be off the charts with his play. I continually, as a coach, push him to be a leader. He runs well, he's competitive, he understands the schemes, he communicates when he's on the field. From that standpoint, I just want him to continue to refine those things. Where I want him to grow the most will be in his leadership off the field and being a vocal guy to bring guys along with him."

Hard to believe it was just one year ago that Parrish, an all-state cornerback, was just heading into his first college game after posted 137 tackles – including 55 as a senior – to go along with six interceptions and 21 passes defended in his career at Olathe North High School.

"I know the scheme better," Parrish said after practice last Friday. "Last year, I was new to the game, and it was going too fast for me. Now the game is slowing down, and I'm able to make plays. I'm just more physical, and I've put on weight. Last year, I was at around 175 pounds, but now I'm at around 190. That'll help me this upcoming season."

Payne interestingly came to K-State after playing linebacker at Buford High School, where he was the 80^th-rated linebacker in the Class of 2022. Last season, Payne played multiple safety positions for the Wildcats, and now he finds himself learning the Jack position, which dictates that he knows the entirety of the defensive pieces. That has required extra video study alongside Klanderman to gain comfort with the added responsibilities on the field.

"Doing that every day is really helping me to know not just my position but everybody around me, so when I'm out there, I'm not just worried about my position," Payne said. "I can think about what the next guy is doing and the guys next to me are doing.

"They set the bar really high (last season). They really gave us knowledge and the confidence out there. Last year, before every game, we'd go up there and watch film with them so we were on the same page with them on gameday. This year, I know what I'm doing."

Parrish and Payne enter their second season together as roommates.

"VJ is my dude," Parrish said. "We study together. I'd say he's my best friend. Compared to last year, I'd say he's understanding the scheme more and communicating more and becoming a leader."

Added Payne: "Jacob has been up there watching film with me. We've really studied the playbook more than last year. We're playing faster and freer, and we're out there making plays."

They'll look to show their comfort when K-State opens its season against SEMO next week at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It'll mark their golden opportunity to show how far they've come in only a year.

And oh, what a difference a year can make.

Players Mentioned

Ekow Boye-Doe

Julius Brents

Justice Clemons

Keenan Garber

Will Lee III

Jacob Parrish

VJ Payne

Kobe Savage

Marques Sigle

Kansas State University Athletics