Rapid Recap: Most improved Kansas State defenders

Most improved Kansas State defenders

After Kansas State offensive coordinator Conor Riley revealed Will Anciaux is his pick for most improved offensive player, defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman was asked by Derek Young of KSO to do the same.

One player Klanderman thinks isn’t getting enough credit is safety Colby McCalister. The sophomore does most of the dirty work for the K-State defense. He is not always around the ball because he is doing his job on the backside.

Austin Romaine is the leading tackler for the Wildcats so far this season. He is in another stratosphere from where he was a season ago, though some of it is just having more experience under his belt and being healthier.

Nose guard Damian Ilalio is also playing at a very high level.

Praise for a true freshman

One player who has seen more action due to injuries in the secondary is Kansas State true freshman Zashon Rich. He has played in every game on special teams, but last Saturday was his first time playing major snaps at cornerback.

It was always in the game plan for Rich to play more at Colorado, though he probably played more than K-State anticipated due to injury. On a play in the second half, he got through a pick play and disrupted the timing on it by displaying excellent physicality.

Rich continues to gain confidence from seeing extra time and could be a future stud at the position.

Injury report

Despite all of the injuries last week, there was some positive health notes Thursday. Klanderman believes all of the defensive players who were banged up in Boulder will be able to play Saturday at West Virginia. That would include Jacob Parrish, Justice James and Marques Sigle.

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