Kansas State Spring Football Review: Safety
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE KANSAS STATE SAFETIES
The biggest item that was learned about the Kansas State safety room is the new faces in the room. That room was hit hard the most by graduation. Gone are Wildcat defensive backs Cincere Mason, Drake Cheatum, Josh Hayes and TJ Smith.
Of course, Smith was a transfer that left for Georgia Southern and not a departure due to eligibility expiring. Still, that is the loss of four from one position that played significant snaps during the 2023 season.
Because of that, K-State added Tyler College safety Daniel Cobbs and North Dakota State transfer Marques Sigle. Two remain that played a lot of football for the Wildcats a year ago in Kobe Savage and VJ Payne. However, they also moved Colby McCalister from cornerback to safety.
REMAINING QUESTIONS
Multiple questions remain in the back end of the Kansas State defense. It may be the biggest unknown on the entire roster. Cobbling together a two-deep is just a guess at this point. For the most part, the group is unproven.
The proven part, Kobe Savage, is recovering from a season-ending knee injury that rendered him unavailable for essentially the entirety of the offseason. How quick can he bounce back and be 100 percent?
Payne was a pleasant surprise as a true freshman in Manhattan a year ago and started multiple games. Is he primed for a breakout season? Will Sigle make a quick adjustment to Power Five football and be ready to be a significant contributor?
What is the perceived depth behind Savage, Sigle and Payne? Can McCalister supply some snaps? How much do true freshmen Wesley Fair and Kameron Sallis play, if at all? Is Nickendre Stiger healthy and can he be counted on by K-State? Does Max Marsh earn time on the field?
AREAS OF K-STATE STRENGTH
Between Cheatum, Hayes and even Reggie Stubblefield, Russ Yeast and Julius Brents, it is hard to knock what Kansas State does on the transfer front in the secondary. Three of those players were selected in the NFL Draft.
Talent identification and the ability to coach guys up in the back end by K-State coaches Van Malone and Joe Klanderman is really the strength. Whenever there is a void or they need to enforce the current roster, they have came through with flying colors.
It is easy to assume they have done it again with the additions of Cobbs, Sigle and Tyler Nelome.
PROJECTED OUTCOME
Not all predictions are optimal ones. Unfortunately, I am just not feeling great about the Kansas State safety spot.
Everything we have heard about Savage’s recovery has been great. The feedback on Sigle has been positive. Payne played a lot and fairly well as a true freshman. The rest is unproven, and that is just an uneasy feeling.
If Kansas State was to fall short of the Big 12 Championship Game, I worry that the safety spot could be a culprit.
The post Kansas State Spring Football Review: Safety appeared first on On3.
