Why Collin Klein is bringing extra physicality to K-State football this spring
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Klein is taking advantage of all 15 allowed spring practices this year at Kansas State.
- Klein is requiring players to wear full pads for 12 of the 15 spring practices.
- Klein said increased padded practices help evaluate transfers and build depth.
The biggest change that Jay Harris has noticed during his transition from Oregon to Kansas State, aside from unpredictable weather, has been the intense nature of spring football practice.
Some coaches do their best to avoid contact at this time of year. Not Collin Klein.
Harris, a 6-foot-1 and 215-pound running back who spent the past two seasons fighting for yards with the Ducks, realized that much shortly after he joined the Wildcats as a transfer in January.
“It’s been physical,” Harris said. “On Day 3, we put on pads. Ever since then, we’ve been hitting. These are the days when we aren’t supposed to be tackling, but guys are out there tackling. You have to be ready to compete and ready to get after it.”
He likes bringing that mentality to spring practices.
“As a running back, it makes me better,” Harris said. “It keeps me with a physical mindset. It’s a good reminder this is football, not just tag.”
But this is a new approach for K-State.
Former head coach Chris Klieman valued spring practice, but his main objective was usually to avoid injuries. Last season, he went so far as to only hold 10 spring practices when 15 were allowed.
Klein is not only taking advantage of all 15 practices ahead of his first season in charge of the Wildcats. He is requiring his players to be in full pads for 12 of them.
Why? Because he wants to create a physical culture at K-State. And he wants to properly evaluate the dozens of new transfers that are now on the roster.
“That’s why we’re going to be in pads,” Klein said, “because it’s hard to evaluate defensive linemen in shorts and T-shirts, as good-looking as they are. So we’re going to get in shoulder pads and figure out what we’ve got.”
He went on to say that the Wildcats are “going to be very aggressive” this month.
“We’re going to have a lot of competitive periods and let the guys play,” Klein said. “We want them to develop so we can build depth. That competition will bode well for the fall.”
K-State defensive end Jordan Allen says that plan seems to be working. He feels like the players at his position have bonded over the past few weeks of hard work.
Running back Joe Jackson is also a fan. He thinks Klein’s physical approach to spring practice has given the team a spark.
“The juice is really cranked up,” Jackson said. “I feel like it’s a lot more competition coming within practice. It is just making everybody better. So I love every bit of that.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Why Collin Klein is bringing extra physicality to K-State football this spring."