Kansas State University Athletics
Rich Continuing K-State’s Cornerback Lineage
Oct 29, 2025 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
There's a young man. And his name is Zashon Rich. And he is the No. 1 cornerback for the Kansas State football team. Rich is a 19-year-old sophomore and has started all eight games in this 2025 season. As a true freshman, he saw the football field here and there. He played 112 total snaps on defense.
And now, Rich is the No. 1 man. And he proves it on the field each week. He ranks eighth in the FBS with eight pass breakups. Ask around. Ask veteran K-State defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Van Malone. He'll tell you. It's technique. It's a craft. Why, Jacob Parrish, K-State's No. 1 cornerback last season, had eight pass breakups. And he had technique. And he knew the craft. And now, Parrish is in the midst of a thrilling rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"The way Zashon works, the fact he has really good length, runs well, and is athletic, I've talked to numerous NFL scouts about his potential at the next level, and he has those abilities," Malone says. "He still has a lot to work on and a long way to go, but if you could forecast and predict a guy who'd be able to have that NFL opportunity, yes, Zashon has that potential."
Rich, of course, assumes the responsibility of covering the opponent's top wide receiver. These are typically wide receivers who get 10 to 12 targets per game, because, well, they're the top wide receivers for a reason. And well, the latest demonstration of Rich's prowess in the defensive backfield came just this past Saturday in the Wildcats' 42-17 win over Kansas in Lawrence.
For most of the day, Rich played man-to-man defense against a Kansas wide receiver named Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Henderson is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior, a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, and a transfer from Alabama. A productive yards-after-catch threat with 4.2 speed, the former five-star recruit could be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Well, Henderson was targeted eight times while playing against Rich. Henderson finished the game with three catches for a season-low 24 yards. His longest reception against Rich? Ten yards.
"I take my one-on-ones seriously, like personally," Rich says. "That's what it all comes down to — winning my one-on-ones. It's press man. I get hands on him, I have good footwork, and I can just hang with any receiver. I just got to get some picks. I got to get some interceptions on my record. I want a few of those and add to my eight PBUs, and I'll be great."
True, Rich awaits the first interception of his two years at K-State.
Malone explains why it hasn't happened yet.
"The interceptions aren't easy to come by when you're playing man-to-man, and he's in a lot of situations where he's playing man," Malone says. "Most interceptions come in zone coverage. He's playing man on the best receiver. For Zashon's job description and what we ask him to do, it's understandable that interceptions won't come, but his role and effectiveness comes when he eliminates a portion of the opponent's offense."
K-State head coach Chris Klieman has dozens of things to think about, study, observe, and suggest in a practice. But Klieman, who once served as safeties coach and defensive coordinator at North Dakota State before becoming head coach and leading NDSU to national championships, has evaluated Rich's progress plenty and has always walked away impressed.
"He has patience," Klieman says. "Sometimes corners get into a hurry and then they open up their hips too early. He's connecting with guys and connecting in a balanced position where he can then brake whether it's vertically to the ball or downfield inside or outside. Some defensive backs get too far back on the heels. Zashon is very patient and has a great center of gravity. He has really good hip flexibility and ankle flexibility, and he studies the game. You can do all those things, but if you don't study the game, you're not going to be very good, and he studies the game."
Last season as a true freshman, Rich had two tackles in his first appearance on defense at Colorado, and he had two tackles against Arizona State and broke up a pass against Cincinnati. Then — boom — Rich had a season-high four tackles and two pass breakups against Rutgers in the Rate Bowl on a season-high 39 defensive snaps. His final tackle against the Scarlet Knights came on a fourth-down attempt with less than two minutes left to help preserve the win.
"Last year, him being a young guy, I really kick myself because I didn't play him more," Malone says. "I would imagine Coach Klieman would say the same thing: 'We got to get him in the game and play him more.' But you just don't do it with a freshman because you're so scared of scarring them. But I think if I would've played him, he would've continued to get better as he's doing this season. Once we rolled into this season after going through the spring with him, I just knew with the things he was doing, he'd be able to do something.
"I'm pleased with where he is and not at all surprised."
Rich, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was 5 years old when Shan, his father, put a football into his hands for the first time.
"My whole family played football and didn't want to let anybody down," Rich says. "I started out as a running back. Dad set things up in the yard, I jumped through tires, and as the year went on, I fell in love with the game.
"But basketball was really my first love. Dad was a basketball coach. He coached me a lot. I really wanted to be in the NBA."
Shan couldn't teach his son to grow to 6-foot-7, but he did teach his son many virtues along the way.
"He always taught me to be confident in anything I do, to always feel like I'm the best at it," Rich says. "I've carried that everywhere I've been."
A first team all-state honoree by the Associated Press his senior year at North Community High School, Rich was shocked to discover that he was ranked as the 103rd best cornerback in the nation in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports.
"I was most-definitely undervalued," Rich says. "I don't think there are 102 cornerbacks better than me at any moment. I carry that around with me."
Klieman and the K-State coaching staff did due diligence.
"I know some of the coaches in those high schools," Klieman says, "and they spoke very highly of him."
Malone recalls the recruiting process vividly.
"Coach Brian Anderson has worked in Minnesota, and the guys on our staff with North Dakota State influence have ties, and we all have recruited Minneapolis one time or another," Malone says. "It's ended up being a place we jumped into. Zashon and his dad came to a camp, we watched him perform, and we offered him a scholarship."
Adds Rich: "I had 10 offers, some FCS offers, committed to Wyoming in October, and K-State offered me a few days later. I took a gameday official visit, the snow game against Iowa State, in Manhattan, and I just felt love. I felt like this is where I needed to be. Everybody was nice and it was a loving community.
"I wanted to be a part of that."
And now, Rich appears to be following a proud K-State lineage of standout cornerbacks under Malone — a list that includes several All-Big 12 cornerbacks in Malone's six seasons on staff, such as AJ Parker (2019), Julius Brents (2022), Ekow Boye-Doe (2022) and Jacob Parrish (2024).
"Zashon was kind of the Jacob Parrish of his freshman year, playing special teams, learning, getting spot time here and there, but that valuable experience sitting behind Jacob Parrish, like Jacob had sitting behind JuJu Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe, he just got the game and understood," Klieman said. "Playing last year gave him the confidence this year to continue to ascend and be that No. 1 corner for us."
Malone has seen the proud lineage continue to progress through the years.
"The cool thing that I've seen over the year in coaching Jacob and Ekow and now Zashon, is that when Julius was here, I remember Jacob watching and trying to pick up things from Julius and Ekow," Malone says. "Then I see Zashon doing the same thing with Jacob. That's why we bring them here. That's the allure to get them here, is the fact that you can fall into steps."
With each day, Rich is following those steps.
"It makes me feel great about myself," Rich says. "Those guys came here, laid the foundation, and I'm trying to follow them and keep it better for the next players."
Today, Rich is the No. 1 cornerback for the Wildcats. He is a sophomore bursting with potential. He carries NFL aspirations. And he's still learning and progressing every day.
Each week, opposing Big 12 offensive coordinators are learning something as well.
They learn it's probably not the wisest decision to throw the ball toward Rich.
There's a young man. And his name is Zashon Rich. And he is the No. 1 cornerback for the Kansas State football team. Rich is a 19-year-old sophomore and has started all eight games in this 2025 season. As a true freshman, he saw the football field here and there. He played 112 total snaps on defense.
And now, Rich is the No. 1 man. And he proves it on the field each week. He ranks eighth in the FBS with eight pass breakups. Ask around. Ask veteran K-State defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Van Malone. He'll tell you. It's technique. It's a craft. Why, Jacob Parrish, K-State's No. 1 cornerback last season, had eight pass breakups. And he had technique. And he knew the craft. And now, Parrish is in the midst of a thrilling rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"The way Zashon works, the fact he has really good length, runs well, and is athletic, I've talked to numerous NFL scouts about his potential at the next level, and he has those abilities," Malone says. "He still has a lot to work on and a long way to go, but if you could forecast and predict a guy who'd be able to have that NFL opportunity, yes, Zashon has that potential."
Rich, of course, assumes the responsibility of covering the opponent's top wide receiver. These are typically wide receivers who get 10 to 12 targets per game, because, well, they're the top wide receivers for a reason. And well, the latest demonstration of Rich's prowess in the defensive backfield came just this past Saturday in the Wildcats' 42-17 win over Kansas in Lawrence.
For most of the day, Rich played man-to-man defense against a Kansas wide receiver named Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Henderson is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior, a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, and a transfer from Alabama. A productive yards-after-catch threat with 4.2 speed, the former five-star recruit could be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Well, Henderson was targeted eight times while playing against Rich. Henderson finished the game with three catches for a season-low 24 yards. His longest reception against Rich? Ten yards.
"I take my one-on-ones seriously, like personally," Rich says. "That's what it all comes down to — winning my one-on-ones. It's press man. I get hands on him, I have good footwork, and I can just hang with any receiver. I just got to get some picks. I got to get some interceptions on my record. I want a few of those and add to my eight PBUs, and I'll be great."
True, Rich awaits the first interception of his two years at K-State.
Malone explains why it hasn't happened yet.
"The interceptions aren't easy to come by when you're playing man-to-man, and he's in a lot of situations where he's playing man," Malone says. "Most interceptions come in zone coverage. He's playing man on the best receiver. For Zashon's job description and what we ask him to do, it's understandable that interceptions won't come, but his role and effectiveness comes when he eliminates a portion of the opponent's offense."
K-State head coach Chris Klieman has dozens of things to think about, study, observe, and suggest in a practice. But Klieman, who once served as safeties coach and defensive coordinator at North Dakota State before becoming head coach and leading NDSU to national championships, has evaluated Rich's progress plenty and has always walked away impressed.
"He has patience," Klieman says. "Sometimes corners get into a hurry and then they open up their hips too early. He's connecting with guys and connecting in a balanced position where he can then brake whether it's vertically to the ball or downfield inside or outside. Some defensive backs get too far back on the heels. Zashon is very patient and has a great center of gravity. He has really good hip flexibility and ankle flexibility, and he studies the game. You can do all those things, but if you don't study the game, you're not going to be very good, and he studies the game."
Last season as a true freshman, Rich had two tackles in his first appearance on defense at Colorado, and he had two tackles against Arizona State and broke up a pass against Cincinnati. Then — boom — Rich had a season-high four tackles and two pass breakups against Rutgers in the Rate Bowl on a season-high 39 defensive snaps. His final tackle against the Scarlet Knights came on a fourth-down attempt with less than two minutes left to help preserve the win.
"Last year, him being a young guy, I really kick myself because I didn't play him more," Malone says. "I would imagine Coach Klieman would say the same thing: 'We got to get him in the game and play him more.' But you just don't do it with a freshman because you're so scared of scarring them. But I think if I would've played him, he would've continued to get better as he's doing this season. Once we rolled into this season after going through the spring with him, I just knew with the things he was doing, he'd be able to do something.
"I'm pleased with where he is and not at all surprised."
Rich, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was 5 years old when Shan, his father, put a football into his hands for the first time.
"My whole family played football and didn't want to let anybody down," Rich says. "I started out as a running back. Dad set things up in the yard, I jumped through tires, and as the year went on, I fell in love with the game.
"But basketball was really my first love. Dad was a basketball coach. He coached me a lot. I really wanted to be in the NBA."
Shan couldn't teach his son to grow to 6-foot-7, but he did teach his son many virtues along the way.
"He always taught me to be confident in anything I do, to always feel like I'm the best at it," Rich says. "I've carried that everywhere I've been."
A first team all-state honoree by the Associated Press his senior year at North Community High School, Rich was shocked to discover that he was ranked as the 103rd best cornerback in the nation in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports.
"I was most-definitely undervalued," Rich says. "I don't think there are 102 cornerbacks better than me at any moment. I carry that around with me."
Klieman and the K-State coaching staff did due diligence.
"I know some of the coaches in those high schools," Klieman says, "and they spoke very highly of him."
Malone recalls the recruiting process vividly.
"Coach Brian Anderson has worked in Minnesota, and the guys on our staff with North Dakota State influence have ties, and we all have recruited Minneapolis one time or another," Malone says. "It's ended up being a place we jumped into. Zashon and his dad came to a camp, we watched him perform, and we offered him a scholarship."
Adds Rich: "I had 10 offers, some FCS offers, committed to Wyoming in October, and K-State offered me a few days later. I took a gameday official visit, the snow game against Iowa State, in Manhattan, and I just felt love. I felt like this is where I needed to be. Everybody was nice and it was a loving community.
"I wanted to be a part of that."
And now, Rich appears to be following a proud K-State lineage of standout cornerbacks under Malone — a list that includes several All-Big 12 cornerbacks in Malone's six seasons on staff, such as AJ Parker (2019), Julius Brents (2022), Ekow Boye-Doe (2022) and Jacob Parrish (2024).
"Zashon was kind of the Jacob Parrish of his freshman year, playing special teams, learning, getting spot time here and there, but that valuable experience sitting behind Jacob Parrish, like Jacob had sitting behind JuJu Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe, he just got the game and understood," Klieman said. "Playing last year gave him the confidence this year to continue to ascend and be that No. 1 corner for us."
Malone has seen the proud lineage continue to progress through the years.
"The cool thing that I've seen over the year in coaching Jacob and Ekow and now Zashon, is that when Julius was here, I remember Jacob watching and trying to pick up things from Julius and Ekow," Malone says. "Then I see Zashon doing the same thing with Jacob. That's why we bring them here. That's the allure to get them here, is the fact that you can fall into steps."
With each day, Rich is following those steps.
"It makes me feel great about myself," Rich says. "Those guys came here, laid the foundation, and I'm trying to follow them and keep it better for the next players."
Today, Rich is the No. 1 cornerback for the Wildcats. He is a sophomore bursting with potential. He carries NFL aspirations. And he's still learning and progressing every day.
Each week, opposing Big 12 offensive coordinators are learning something as well.
They learn it's probably not the wisest decision to throw the ball toward Rich.
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