Having Fun Putting in the Work
Mar 21, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State continues to go through spring practice carrying a mindset that the Wildcats, picked by some as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Championship, have work to do.
It's been 83 days since the Wildcats, with a partially rebuilt roster, pulled away with a 28-19 win over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to finish the 2023 season with a 9-4 record.
K-State might be ranked in the way-too-early Top 25 by ESPN heading toward the 2024 season, but assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Van Malone during a spring news conference on Wednesday said, "It's important that you always push the reset button."
"The bowl game feels like it was 14 year ago," he continued, "and it's important to let it be that."
K-State began on-field preparations for the 2024 season on March 5. The Wildcats' 15th and final spring practice will be April 13.
The Wildcats return 49 letterwinners (their second most returning letterwinners since 2003), which includes 15 returning starters and 11 players who earned All-Big 12 recognition.
K-State head coach Chris Klieman enters his sixth season with his defensive coaching staff intact while he elevated offensive line coach Conor Riley to offensive coordinator and hired Matt Wells to serve as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the departure of offensive coordinator Collin Klein to Texas A&M.
The Wildcats have welcomed seven Division I or Division II transfers along with eight high school midyear enrollees.
"I'm excited about this team because it's a new team and the way the practices have gone, I see a lot more guys who run a lot faster than they did in 2019, and that's encouraging and exciting," Malone said. "I see a team that has fun practicing together and that has fun being around one another. That's why you coach and play this game because there are 100 people on the team, and as a coaching staff you have to find a way to mesh all these different personalities into a cohesive unit. I'm so happy about our players, because they buy into that.
"What I've seen is a lot of excitement and not necessarily because we've been picked to be a good team, but because we get an opportunity to be around each other, and watch guys grow, and see guys expand their roles. As a coach and as a player that's a lot of fun."
Malone said that there are 1) players who are new to the team, and 2) players who have put themselves into a position for a bigger role, and 3) a small group of players who "have worked themselves into position to be among the elite in college football this season."
Malone listed off those players who he believes currently carry the potential to rank among the elites in college football: Quarterback Avery Johnson, safety Marques Sigle, defensive end Brendan Mott, tight end Garrett Oakley, linebacker Austin Moore, cornerback Jacob Parrish, running back DJ Giddens, wide receiver Keagan Johnson, offensive guard Hadley Panzer, cornerback Keenan Garber, and wide receiver Jadon Jackson.
"Those are names that come to mind in terms of guys — some who've played on this team and are in position to be really good players in college football, and some of those guys are stepping up into roles where they're expanding their position on this team," Malone said. "We're really excited about being able to lean on those guys not only for their play on the field, but for their leadership in the locker room."
Malone indicated that Giddens continues to make strides and appears even more physical than last season. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Giddens enters his junior season third in school history in rushing yards per carry (5.59) and 10th in rushing yards per game (64.6). The 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection needs just 256 rushing yards to reach 2,000 rushing yards in his career.
"It seems to me that he's gotten thicker," Malone said. "He's one of the veterans now. He's an older guy. To watch him physically develop has been really cool for me. As I watched him last year, he was a more physical and punishing runner. He can be more physical, a more dominating presence with the ball in his hands. He's shown he'll be a much more physical runner. He's inflicting punishment on the defenders."
Asked to evaluate Parrish, Malone called him a "phenomenal player" while stressing his leadership capabilities.
"On the field, man, he's a phenomenal player, but I think the mark of a great leader is to make the rest of the people around you raise their level of preparation and understanding to push them to be more than they can be," Malone said. "That's kind of what I'm seeing from him in this moment."
Malone indicated there were three position groups in particular that have most impressed him so far this spring.
"I've been impressed with the offensive line because there are a lot of young guys coming into that room, but a lot of guys who seem to work hard and are smart as young guys," Malone said. "Coach Riley does a good job in that room of growing leadership. I'm excited about an influx of really young guys who've shown bigtime promise.
"I'm encouraged by the defensive backs because I'm around them more than anybody, but we've added a lot of speed and athleticism to that group. The running backs with DJ Giddens, I'm excited about those guys. I could continue on and talk about all the positions I'm excited about, but those are the ones that have stood out so far in the practices."
K-State opens the 2024 season against UT Martin on August 31, and, after a trip to Tulane, wraps up the non-conference slate against Arizona. In the Big 12 schedule, the Wildcats host Oklahoma State, Kansas, Arizona State and Cincinnati. The Wildcats have road games at BYU, Colorado, West Virginia, Houston and Iowa State.
"Things that people say about you, man, they're great," Malone said. "You say 'thank you,' but your level of commitment to excellence and preparation never changes."
In the end, there's always more work to do.
Kansas State continues to go through spring practice carrying a mindset that the Wildcats, picked by some as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Championship, have work to do.
It's been 83 days since the Wildcats, with a partially rebuilt roster, pulled away with a 28-19 win over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to finish the 2023 season with a 9-4 record.
K-State might be ranked in the way-too-early Top 25 by ESPN heading toward the 2024 season, but assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Van Malone during a spring news conference on Wednesday said, "It's important that you always push the reset button."
"The bowl game feels like it was 14 year ago," he continued, "and it's important to let it be that."
K-State began on-field preparations for the 2024 season on March 5. The Wildcats' 15th and final spring practice will be April 13.
The Wildcats return 49 letterwinners (their second most returning letterwinners since 2003), which includes 15 returning starters and 11 players who earned All-Big 12 recognition.
K-State head coach Chris Klieman enters his sixth season with his defensive coaching staff intact while he elevated offensive line coach Conor Riley to offensive coordinator and hired Matt Wells to serve as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the departure of offensive coordinator Collin Klein to Texas A&M.
The Wildcats have welcomed seven Division I or Division II transfers along with eight high school midyear enrollees.
"I'm excited about this team because it's a new team and the way the practices have gone, I see a lot more guys who run a lot faster than they did in 2019, and that's encouraging and exciting," Malone said. "I see a team that has fun practicing together and that has fun being around one another. That's why you coach and play this game because there are 100 people on the team, and as a coaching staff you have to find a way to mesh all these different personalities into a cohesive unit. I'm so happy about our players, because they buy into that.
"What I've seen is a lot of excitement and not necessarily because we've been picked to be a good team, but because we get an opportunity to be around each other, and watch guys grow, and see guys expand their roles. As a coach and as a player that's a lot of fun."
Malone said that there are 1) players who are new to the team, and 2) players who have put themselves into a position for a bigger role, and 3) a small group of players who "have worked themselves into position to be among the elite in college football this season."
Malone listed off those players who he believes currently carry the potential to rank among the elites in college football: Quarterback Avery Johnson, safety Marques Sigle, defensive end Brendan Mott, tight end Garrett Oakley, linebacker Austin Moore, cornerback Jacob Parrish, running back DJ Giddens, wide receiver Keagan Johnson, offensive guard Hadley Panzer, cornerback Keenan Garber, and wide receiver Jadon Jackson.
"Those are names that come to mind in terms of guys — some who've played on this team and are in position to be really good players in college football, and some of those guys are stepping up into roles where they're expanding their position on this team," Malone said. "We're really excited about being able to lean on those guys not only for their play on the field, but for their leadership in the locker room."
Malone indicated that Giddens continues to make strides and appears even more physical than last season. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Giddens enters his junior season third in school history in rushing yards per carry (5.59) and 10th in rushing yards per game (64.6). The 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection needs just 256 rushing yards to reach 2,000 rushing yards in his career.
"It seems to me that he's gotten thicker," Malone said. "He's one of the veterans now. He's an older guy. To watch him physically develop has been really cool for me. As I watched him last year, he was a more physical and punishing runner. He can be more physical, a more dominating presence with the ball in his hands. He's shown he'll be a much more physical runner. He's inflicting punishment on the defenders."
Asked to evaluate Parrish, Malone called him a "phenomenal player" while stressing his leadership capabilities.
"On the field, man, he's a phenomenal player, but I think the mark of a great leader is to make the rest of the people around you raise their level of preparation and understanding to push them to be more than they can be," Malone said. "That's kind of what I'm seeing from him in this moment."
Malone indicated there were three position groups in particular that have most impressed him so far this spring.
"I've been impressed with the offensive line because there are a lot of young guys coming into that room, but a lot of guys who seem to work hard and are smart as young guys," Malone said. "Coach Riley does a good job in that room of growing leadership. I'm excited about an influx of really young guys who've shown bigtime promise.
"I'm encouraged by the defensive backs because I'm around them more than anybody, but we've added a lot of speed and athleticism to that group. The running backs with DJ Giddens, I'm excited about those guys. I could continue on and talk about all the positions I'm excited about, but those are the ones that have stood out so far in the practices."
K-State opens the 2024 season against UT Martin on August 31, and, after a trip to Tulane, wraps up the non-conference slate against Arizona. In the Big 12 schedule, the Wildcats host Oklahoma State, Kansas, Arizona State and Cincinnati. The Wildcats have road games at BYU, Colorado, West Virginia, Houston and Iowa State.
"Things that people say about you, man, they're great," Malone said. "You say 'thank you,' but your level of commitment to excellence and preparation never changes."
In the end, there's always more work to do.
Players Mentioned
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