Notebooks: Spring ball updates on Kansas State defense

Throughout spring ball we were able to meet and chat with every Kansas State coach, including the boss Chris Klieman and coordinators Matt Wells and Joe Klanderman. Each time we provided the updates and information through notebooks.

Our second session was a discussion on the Wildcats with the K-State defensive coaching staff, which had zero turnover once again. Klanderman led it off by talking about that side of the ball as a whole of course, but he also shed light on his position group at safety.

A handful of players on his side of the ball have caught his eye in terms of making significant strides.

LINK: Defensive players making charge

Everyone knows the Kansas State defensive line has a chance to be the special. Nobody would argue with anyone that said it was the best position group on the entire team. However, assistant Buddy Wyatt was ready to praise a specific few.

LINK: K-State defensive end with the best spring

Part of that Kansas State defensive line isn’t just the edge but also the interior. Making it more complex to forecast and project this year is the possibility of playing less odd fronts. That could bring other players inside this season.

Mike Tuiasosopo shared why the Wildcats are much further along right now than the same time last year.

LINK: Growth of the interior defensive line

It was an uneventful spring for the linebackers. Some of that is just the sheer amount of guys that were sidelined following the 2024 season. Many sat out practices and did only the walkthroughs. That allowed for more coaching from K-State assistant Steve Stanard.

But the leadership of the past has been a big help.

LINK: Leadership of past paying off in linebacker room

Knowing when a young player is ready is more difficult than it seems on the surface. It’s a conflict that coaches deal with every year, including those at Kansas State. Assistant Van Malone used Zashon Rich as an example to explain what goes through their minds.

LINK: Malone’s approach on playing freshmen

That is just a taste of what can be found in our K-State team and recruiting content on a weekly basis throughout the calendar year. There has never been a better time to join the largest community of Kansas State fans on the internet that converse and discuss the Wildcats on a daily basis.

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