Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman keeping a close eye on o-line and linebackers

MANHATTAN — Two practices are in the books, and Kansas State’s football team is off on spring break before going back to work next Tuesday.

There are new faces, both on the roster and coaching staff, plus different players taking on expanded roles as the Wildcats go through their 15 allotted spring practices as a precursor to the 2024 season.

The team will practice 13 more times, culminating with a morning session on April 13.

Here are five things we learned last week that coach Chris Klieman and his players are looking for over the next month.

Related: Kansas State football creates new position to help navigate roster management challenges

Offensive line, linebacker positions of interest

Klieman said he is intrigued by a pair of position groups and to see where they stand in the spring.

One is the offensive line, where the Wildcats are replacing four starters, but still have some experience.

“I’m just kind of interested there to see who’s going to be that guy that was the KT (Leveston) or Gilly (Hayden Gillum) or Beebs (Cooper Beebe) that were really (vocal) leaders,” Klieman said. “I think we have potential to have some really good players there from a leadership standpoint.”

Kansas State football senior Hadley Panzer is the lone fulltime starter on the Wildcats’ offensive line.

Seniors Hadley Panzer and Carver Willis, plus super-senior Taylor Poitier all have starting experience.

The other group is linebacker. Super-senior Austin Moore and junior Desmond Purnell are returning starters, but a rash of injuries meant numerous others saw significant playing time, namely Jake Clifton, Austin Romaine, Asa Newsom, Beau Palmer and Rex Van Wyhe.

“There’s some experience back there with Des and Austin, and then some of those other guys that either were injured, that we’re hoping to at least get some reps, or at least learn what…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-state-football-coach-chris-090252490.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2024-03-08 09:02:52

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