Kansas State season preview: Breaking down the cornerbacks
KSO breaks down what to expect from the Kansas State cornerbacks this season.
Two Kansas State strengths
The secondary was hit the hardest by attrition and graduation. Kansas State is without a slew of defensive backs that included Drake Cheatum, Cincere Mason, Josh Hayes, Ekow Boye-Doe and Julius Brents. Omar Daniels also chose to transfer closer to home.
However, the promising part is that they have multiple quality answers because of how they recruited the spot in the last few years.
Jordan Wright was added by K-State last year and is poised to make a mark this season. Jacob Parrish saw snaps as a true freshman. Keenan Garber flashed at the position after just a week of practice on the defensive side of the ball and made a positive impact in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Will Lee and Tyler Nelome were added in the offseason.
The Kansas State secondary has also had a great set of teachers. I’m not just talking about the elite trio of coaches in Chris Klieman, Joe Klanderman and Van Malone, either. I mean the players in the past that have laid the foundation and shown everyone what it is supposed to look like on a daily basis.
Not only was it the likes of Boye-Doe, Brents, Mason and Hayes but also another pair of transfers in Russ Yeast and Reggie Stubblefield. The good thing about an amazing culture is that it has staying power and is passed down from one class to the next.
Two questions
Although they have multiple answers with a lot of pedigree and potential, K-State is short on experience. There isn’t a lot of seasoning walking through that door. A lot of career starts left with both Boye-Doe and Brents.
In fact, Kansas State doesn’t have one career start returning of anyone in the room. Zero.
Nelome started a lot of games at the FCS level. Lee was a junior college standout. Parrish was a reserve in 2022. Wright was a junior college product that barely played in year one in Manhattan. Garber has been with the cornerbacks for all of about nine months total.
Although considering it a concern is a bit steep and too deep of a grab, it isn’t necessarily ideal that there is a bit of a lack of clarity at the spot. The quicker that the Wildcats can make decisions on who to depend on, the better.
The lack of experience makes me think that the K-State starters will need as many reps as possible to become as comfortable as possible in rapid fashion.
Two keys
That brings me to the first key for Kansas State at the cornerback spot this season. Hitting the ground running will be important, and the way to do that is to identify who will shoulder the largest burdens and have them become comfortable with the role and confident.
The Wildcats have to grow up fast, whether that is Lee, Wright, Garber or Nelome. Parrish should see a heavy amount of snaps. How quickly can the K-State group be ready to defend the best of the best in the Big 12?
Pick your guys and get ready to roll for a tough slate.
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