‘I Just Think the World of the Kid’
Aug 21, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State's Brian Anderson wore a grin that filled the team interview room at the Vanier Family Football Complex, as the 29-year coaching veteran and sixth-year running backs coach was swarmed by reporters at the conclusion of the Wildcats' training camp. The normally happy-go-lucky Anderson got down to business.
The topic: DJ Giddens.
In recent months, a variety of social media graphic rankings depicted the top players at a given position. One such ranking released by FOX Sports listed the nation's top running backs this way: 1. Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), 2. Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), 3. TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), 4. Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), and 5. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina).
Asked where he would rank Giddens among the best running backs in the Big 12, Anderson didn't blink.
"I'd put him at the top," Anderson said. "And not because of the ability but because of how I know him as a person. He's a student of the game. He's not going to put himself out there on social media. That's not who he is. I just think the world of the kid."
The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Giddens nears 2,000 rushing yards in a career, enters his junior season ranked third in school history in rushing career yards per carry (5.59) and 10th in rushing yards per game (64.6). He rushed for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 323 receiving yards and three touchdowns to earn All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick by the league's coaches.
It marked the third-straight season Anderson coached a player to a 1,000-yard campaign, the longest by K-State running backs since the 2001 through 2004 campaigns.
Anderson does dabble in social media and anytime that he spots a list of top running backs, he casually types "#31" at the top — a hat-tip to Giddens, his uniform number, and a number that should cause opposing Big 12 defensive coordinators restless nights in 2024.
"He does everything so well, and the players look at how hard he works and how he runs the ball and catches the ball," Anderson said. "He's deep into his details and how he handles his business out there. Those are things that he brings to the table. Every day he stays the same."
K-State running backs have found success every year with Anderson in Manhattan as he has produced an All-Big 12 running back every season.
Just as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are expected to do big things at Ohio State, the Wildcats could have their own dynamic one-two punch that nobody is really talking about at a national level — yet.
Anderson grins at his X factor — 5-foot-9, 165-pound Dylan Edwards — who was able to step out of tackles in training camp but cannot yet emerge from the lengthy shadow cast by former Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn.
Edwards, who transferred from Colorado in the summer, is a Derby, Kansas product who was considered to be the No. 3 running back in the Class of 2023 by Rivals. Last season, Edwards became the first true freshman in Colorado history to record 250 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards in a season. Edwards had five catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns and six rushes for 24 yards and one score in his debut performance at TCU.
"It's his overall speed," Anderson said. "Deuce could run, run. But this guy can run, run, run."
If all goes as planned, the Wildcats, who are No. 18 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll and open their season against UT Martin on August 31 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, could be headed up, up, up the rankings.
"It's pretty special to see (Edwards) on the field when he gets into the open field, how he pulls away from people and gains ground on people," Anderson said. "It's a sight to see. Once we get him to the point where he's very comfortable at doing the things we want him to do, the sky's the limit for the kid."
On a team that prides itself on depth heading into the 2024 season, arguably no position group is deeper than running back. That's huge for K-State. That's huge for Anderson.
"This is the deepest room I've had since I've been here," Anderson said. "Not taking away from guys in the past, but overall, I feel really good with where we're at right now."
It all starts with the unassuming, quiet young man from Junction City, Kansas — Giddens — who famously coined the phrase "TURNT" after the Pop-Tarts Bowl. (Anderson had "TURNT" t-shirts made, adding: "It's a part of who he is as a person, and everyone respects that. He can be himself in his own skin.)
"Dylan plays the game at a different speed than a lot of players, and then DJ can run between the tackles and does a great job on the edge and in the passing game," Anderson said. "They're going to be a one-two punch, and then you add in Joe Jackson and La'James White, and it could be running back by committee and who has the hot hand."
Anderson paused.
"At the end of the day," he said, "we know what No. 31 can do."
And soon, it appears, the nation will know what Edwards can do as well.
Kansas State's Brian Anderson wore a grin that filled the team interview room at the Vanier Family Football Complex, as the 29-year coaching veteran and sixth-year running backs coach was swarmed by reporters at the conclusion of the Wildcats' training camp. The normally happy-go-lucky Anderson got down to business.
The topic: DJ Giddens.
In recent months, a variety of social media graphic rankings depicted the top players at a given position. One such ranking released by FOX Sports listed the nation's top running backs this way: 1. Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), 2. Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), 3. TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), 4. Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), and 5. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina).
Asked where he would rank Giddens among the best running backs in the Big 12, Anderson didn't blink.
"I'd put him at the top," Anderson said. "And not because of the ability but because of how I know him as a person. He's a student of the game. He's not going to put himself out there on social media. That's not who he is. I just think the world of the kid."
The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Giddens nears 2,000 rushing yards in a career, enters his junior season ranked third in school history in rushing career yards per carry (5.59) and 10th in rushing yards per game (64.6). He rushed for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 323 receiving yards and three touchdowns to earn All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick by the league's coaches.
It marked the third-straight season Anderson coached a player to a 1,000-yard campaign, the longest by K-State running backs since the 2001 through 2004 campaigns.
Anderson does dabble in social media and anytime that he spots a list of top running backs, he casually types "#31" at the top — a hat-tip to Giddens, his uniform number, and a number that should cause opposing Big 12 defensive coordinators restless nights in 2024.
"He does everything so well, and the players look at how hard he works and how he runs the ball and catches the ball," Anderson said. "He's deep into his details and how he handles his business out there. Those are things that he brings to the table. Every day he stays the same."
K-State running backs have found success every year with Anderson in Manhattan as he has produced an All-Big 12 running back every season.
Just as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are expected to do big things at Ohio State, the Wildcats could have their own dynamic one-two punch that nobody is really talking about at a national level — yet.
Anderson grins at his X factor — 5-foot-9, 165-pound Dylan Edwards — who was able to step out of tackles in training camp but cannot yet emerge from the lengthy shadow cast by former Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn.
Edwards, who transferred from Colorado in the summer, is a Derby, Kansas product who was considered to be the No. 3 running back in the Class of 2023 by Rivals. Last season, Edwards became the first true freshman in Colorado history to record 250 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards in a season. Edwards had five catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns and six rushes for 24 yards and one score in his debut performance at TCU.
"It's his overall speed," Anderson said. "Deuce could run, run. But this guy can run, run, run."
If all goes as planned, the Wildcats, who are No. 18 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll and open their season against UT Martin on August 31 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, could be headed up, up, up the rankings.
"It's pretty special to see (Edwards) on the field when he gets into the open field, how he pulls away from people and gains ground on people," Anderson said. "It's a sight to see. Once we get him to the point where he's very comfortable at doing the things we want him to do, the sky's the limit for the kid."
On a team that prides itself on depth heading into the 2024 season, arguably no position group is deeper than running back. That's huge for K-State. That's huge for Anderson.
"This is the deepest room I've had since I've been here," Anderson said. "Not taking away from guys in the past, but overall, I feel really good with where we're at right now."
It all starts with the unassuming, quiet young man from Junction City, Kansas — Giddens — who famously coined the phrase "TURNT" after the Pop-Tarts Bowl. (Anderson had "TURNT" t-shirts made, adding: "It's a part of who he is as a person, and everyone respects that. He can be himself in his own skin.)
"Dylan plays the game at a different speed than a lot of players, and then DJ can run between the tackles and does a great job on the edge and in the passing game," Anderson said. "They're going to be a one-two punch, and then you add in Joe Jackson and La'James White, and it could be running back by committee and who has the hot hand."
Anderson paused.
"At the end of the day," he said, "we know what No. 31 can do."
And soon, it appears, the nation will know what Edwards can do as well.
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