Why Chris Klieman remains confident in K-State kicker Chris Tennant despite struggles
Here we go again?
No one could blame Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman for thinking those words as he watched Chris Tennant miss two field goals and one extra point in the Wildcats’ first four games of the season.
The junior kicker from Shawnee went through similar struggles last year, as he misfired on five field goals and two extra points in seven games before losing kicking duties to former special teams maven Ty Zentner. Some wondered if it was time for Klieman to once again re-evaluate the kicking situation during K-State’s off week.
But that didn’t happen. Not even close.
“I thought he had a really good week last week, an exceptional week,” Klieman said of Tennant. “I was wondering how he would bounce back, and I’ve seen a different side of him from a mentality standpoint. That is encouraging.”
Tennant remains the best kicker on K-State’s roster because of his powerful leg. The Mill Valley product is one of the best all-around athletes on the team and he can send the ball through the uprights from well over 50 yards away.
He showcased his talents as a freshman by making 5 of 8 field goals, including a 51-yarder against Texas. It seemed like he was on track to serve as the team’s starting kicker for a long time until he began to slump last season.
The future appears murky for him at the moment, given that he missed a 26-yarder and an extra point last week against UCF.
“We can’t miss the PAT, period,” Klieman said following the game. “I mean, we can’t do that.”
But, unlike last year, there isn’t another star kicker on the roster for K-State to deploy in his place.
Even if there were, Tennant seems better equipped to bounce back from a few misses than he ever has before.
“He struggled last year getting over some of those difficult days,” Klieman said. “We have not seen that thus far in the last week. So I am excited about letting Chris get out there and bang them, because he has got great leg strength and great talent and he seems to not be bothered, which is good.”
This story was originally published October 5, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Why Chris Klieman remains confident in K-State kicker Chris Tennant despite struggles."