Pokes Report Series: Big 12 Football Spring Reports - K-State

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman seems to be one of those believers in the “early bird gets the worm” or he just couldn’t stand by and watch as his former school North Dakota State and much of the rest of Division I FCS played real football this spring. Klieman had his Wildcats back on the field in February and they finished up their spring with a practice open to the public on Saturday, April 3. That was the only practice of the spring open to public and/or media.

One reason for that could be some of the changes that Kansas State is implementing. It is clear they are going to vary some like many of the other schools in the Big 12 as the Wildcats showed a 3-3-5 look to go along with the 4-2-5 base defense they have been playing since Klieman arrived. This is no surprise as the Big 12 has seen a lot of the 33 stack look and even some 3-2-6 dime looks that were born of the Iowa State defensive system with coordinator Jon Heacock.

One development that various sources, including K-State beat writer Kellis Robinette, reported was the emergence of a strong corner and safety combination with transfers Julius Brents (Iowa) and Russ Yeast (Louisville). Brents is 6-3, which is great length for a corner and he is very physical as he seems to prefer to line up at the line of scrimmage and play press. USC 

The Wildcats invested heavy in the transfer portal on defense with Charlotte arrival Timmy Horne looking like he will start at defensive tackle and Eric Munoz from Utah State looking like he is in the two deep at linebacker.

Kansas State Athletics

Daniel Imatorbhebhe had been at USC and Illinois.

On offense, the portal brough another target for quarterback Skyler Thompson in Illinois tight end transfer Daniel Imatorbhebhe. Imatorbhebhe was a star in front of the Wildcat fans in the open practice. By then they likely had heard what Imatorbhebhe’s brother had done on the Illinois Pro Day. Josh Imatorbhebhe had a 47-inch vertical jump. That combined with his performance on tape at Illinois should get him drafted. A 47-inch vertical from a receiver gets the attention of NFL folks. The hope is that Daniel can jump up his game at K-State and join his brother in the NFL.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Thompson has played against Oklahoma State at least three times.

Robinette wrote that Imatorbhebhe seemed to be positioned to be a major player in the passing game for Kansas State. The passer should be Thompson as he seems to be the clear answer at quarterback with the freshman Will Howard that was pressed into duty last season as the clear back-up.

The best news for both quarterbacks is a running game that will be more than Deuce Vaughn. The pint size, yet powerful back is good enough, but depth helps and Joe Ervin and Jacardia Wright had good springs and opened some eyes. For Ervin it was opening some eyes back up as he opted out of the 2020 season. Wright is a power back at 6-0, 230-pounds that Klieman couldn’t say enough good things about.  

“Jacardia Wright had an exceptional spring,” Klieman told the Wichita Eagle. “We need a big back in there at times, and Jacardia ran extremely hard. The game is starting to slow down for him as well as understanding not only the run reads and stuff but catching the ball out the backfield. Then, probably the most impressive and important thing, is the pass protection. I thought Jacardia did a really good job there.”

Yes, pass protection. That was an issue some last season and the offensive line was a major emphasis in the spring for the Wildcats. Noah Johnson returns as a super senior and he will be the ringleader up front. I like Ben Adler, Josh Rivas, and Cooper Beebe, who all seem to have nailed down starting jobs.

Kansas State Athletics

Knowles scoring last season against Texas.

Catching passes along with the new tight end will be returning receiver Malik Knowles, who combined for a reception that drew oohs and aahs out of the crowd in the public practice. Knowles has speed and is really explosive, but after that the receiver position is at best a work in progress and at worst a weakness for the upcoming season.

On defense the Wildcats have to replace Wyatt Hubert and I don’t have to remind Oklahoma State fans that he was a beast. I don’t think the Wildcats have anyone close to him, but Khalid Duke was pretty good in several games on the edge including giving Oklahoma State some trouble. At defensive tackle, if the transfer Horne is as good as thought, and he combines with Eli Huggins then the Wildcats could be pretty good there as well.

Oklahoma State plays Kansas State in Stillwater this year in the Big 12 opener on Sept. 25. This is a good scenario as I believe the Wildcats will be better later in the season than earlier. The Cowboys would love to take advantage of some significant turnover in Manhattan and then see some other Big 12 brethren pay for a later date with the Wildcats.