Five observations from Kansas State’s latest open football practice of the spring
The Kansas State football team allowed media members to watch a portion of spring practice on Tuesday.
Here are some observations from that window:
You don’t have to be a star to be a leader
Before K-State football players start working on positional drills or running plays against each other at spring practice, the entire team meets at midfield for a quick motivational speech.
Sometimes the speaker is Chris Klieman or strength and conditioning coach Trumain Carroll. Other times it is a team captain or a star player like Avery Johnson or Austin Moore. But sometimes it is a reserve player or even a walk-on.
On Tuesday, junior running back La’James White was chosen to address the team.
A former Air Force transfer, he has spent most of his time working in the background for the Wildcats behind stars like Deuce Vaughn and DJ Giddens. He played in seven games last season and rushed for 14 yards on three carries.
But he clearly has a voice in the K-State locker room, because he pumped up the Wildcats by reminding his teammates about how lucky they all were to be on this team and getting ready to go through a spring practice together. Then he urged his teammates to attack the day and get better.
The Wildcats then broke their huddle and walked with a boost of energy as practice began.
Spring practice is becoming a good opportunity for new leaders to emerge on the K-State roster.
Quarterbacks went through one drill as if they were running backs
K-State running backs were joined by some special guests when they gathered for ball-security drills.
Quarterbacks Avery Johnson and Jacob Knuth were right there with them, ready to work on protecting the football even though they were wearing green no-contact jerseys.
The drill consisted of players securing the football in one hand as they ran up the sideline and rammed their opposite shoulder into coaches who were holding up pads and trying to force a fumble. Then they would simulate a stiff arm after they got through the drill and sprinted into open space.
K-State running backs go through that drill at every practice, but this was the first time media members have seen quarterbacks join them. That should signal that the QB run game will remain part of the offense under new coordinator Conor Riley.
Players use pushups as practice motivation
This is hardly specific to K-State football practice, but it still has been interesting to watch so many players drop to the ground and do pushups after a mistake this spring.
It happened a few times on Tuesday. Whenever a receiver dropped a pass he immediately did five pushups. Whenever a defensive back got a drill wrong he immediately did five pushups.
No one had to instruct the players to do so, either. It was habit for them.
K-State coaches are clearly using those pushups as extra motivation to eliminate mistakes.
Young defensive backs get a chance to shine
Many of K-State’s most experienced safeties are taking it easy this spring. Instead of practicing hard every single day, they get an occasional workout off like a star NBA player. This reduces their risk of getting injured and increases the amount of time that younger players get to show off their skills.
A pair of redshirt freshmen seem to be taking advantage of their opportunities.
Both Wesley Fair and Jack Fabris were on the field with the first-team defense for scrimmage work on Tuesday and they more than held their own. Perhaps they could both become valuable reserves, or even more, for the Wildcats next season.
Transfer offensive lineman continues to show promise
Easton Kilty has only been with the Wildcats for a few months, but it doesn’t seem that way when you watch him block.
The 6-foot-6 and 296-pound senior offensive lineman joined the K-State football roster as a transfer from North Dakota in January, which meant it could be difficult for him to crack the rotation this spring. But he has been able to hit the ground running.
So much so that he appears to be taking the vast majority of snaps at left tackle.
It won’t come as a shock if he ends up starting and making an immediate impact next season.
This story was originally published April 2, 2024 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Five observations from Kansas State’s latest open football practice of the spring."