VAN MALONE, ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/CORNERBACKS
On the team's adjustment to this situation…
"Our guys have handled the adjustments we've had to make just to be able to practice. Our guys, with being away from football and not having spring practice, I'm excited about what we've been able to accomplish so far in terms of staying safe and staying healthy and everyone going out with the right frame of mind."
On the depth at corner this year…
"I feel really good about it because of the fact that we have some youth with guys like Tee Denson and Cameron Key, and then we have some guys with definite experience in guys like AJ Parker and Kiondre Thomas, even though he's coming in as a transfer. So I think we have a good mix of guys, and I like where our group is mentally right now, as well."
On Kiondre Thomas being a guy who can start from day one…
"It's a competition, and it's an open competition. If he had to be out there, I'd feel just as well as I would with AJ (Parker) or Lance (Robinson). All those guys have shown the ability to play college football at this level. So like I said, we're still going through it. We're still earning our stripes. The guy who has consistently started at Kansas State in this program more than anybody else would be AJ, but he also understands that it's a day-to-day competition. And all those guys are in a good place with our staff and myself to be able to go out and perform on this level."
On implementing new protocols and safety measures with students back on campus…
"We definitely talked to them about the fact that this is the biggest challenge we've had so far in terms of handling your business away from the facility. We've been in somewhat of a bubble since they've been back on campus, and now when you integrate the students, we have to make sure we take the measures that they've done so well here in Vanier and take those out into the classroom setting. We have to continue to take those out into the community, because it's a different kind of community. The campus is different from what you've been accustomed to so far. But I think our guys understand that as a challenge and understand the importance of handling themselves the same way they've done the past few weeks if we want to continue down this path of being able to play football."
On if the defense is playing differently under Coach Klanderman…
"I think Joe does a great job of expressing to our guys what he wants, and the fact that we're not a new staff, so they knew his level of intensity. They knew his level of detail, so they've kind of come along and done what he would've expected as Defensive Coordinator. I think we're seeing from them what we'll continue to see. There's guys in different spots, especially at the cornerback position. They're learning and improving each day. We're excited about that, so to really answer your question, we're seeing it but understand that we still have a long ways to go to be able to say that we're a complete defense."
On what he's seen from the new transfers…
"I like the fact that those guys come to work every day. It's been exciting and refreshing. About Kiondre (Thomas) especially, he has a certain level of experience. He's played the game on this level before. But they both work hard. They're good friends, and they're fitting into the group. That's always a concern when you bring a transfer in is how long will it take for him to fit into the group? How long will it take for him to buy into the culture we're trying to build, and I think both of those guys came in with an open mind. The guys there already have accepted them, so I'm excited about where we are. I'd say to them, there's still a lot for them to learn, even with the level of experience they have there's still a lot more to learn and they're progressing rather well."
On the challenges of preparing for such a fragile season…
"There's adjustments all over. We've had to make adjustments to how we eat, how they get practice equipment, how they get dressed in the locker room, the medical protocols, so there's been adjustments all over. With all these adjustments, what do I do in Cover 3? Sometimes you can lose that, but I am excited about the commitment our guys have made to all of it, even in a sense of our staff. There are coaches who don't even know how to turn a computer on, and those guys have had to learn to operate and run meetings through Zoom in the last few months. So there's been adjustments all over. As a staff, as players, as a support staff, I'm really proud of the progress we've made. Even in those ways, those medical, equipment, nutrition protocol adjustments, I'm pleased with where we are. Our players are happy and excited about the people they have working with them every day."
On Jahron McPherson and what he brings to the table…
"I never call him Jahron. I call him J-Mac. He's a very competitive player, and like Wyatt (Hubert) said, in everything he does he's always trying to win. He wants to win, but he also inspires the younger players and is one of our players who is willing to help the younger players figure it out. He's always willing to pull a younger player aside and help him along. That's something that I'm really proud and excited for him about. When you talk about the leadership in that group, I think he would be one of the leaders in my mind. It didn't just start. He's kind of always been that guy and been that way."
On Jahron McPherson adjusting to a new position and improving over the past year…
"In our defense, that position more than the nickel position, there's a lot more responsibility on making calls and getting people lined up. When he was a nickel, someone got him lined up. And it's not like he wouldn't know what he was doing in that position, but that position is more of a listening position. Where this position he's in now, there's a lot more responsibility. I think it just fits for a guy to be a senior and be in control and command in that position. It fits right where he is and really where we need him to be."
On the impact of having a smaller amount of fans in the stadium…
"I could have many jokes about that. Our players appreciate our fanbase, and they appreciate the excitement they have on gameday. We all understand that this is a moment of adjustments. We are getting an opportunity to play, and everything is not going to be perfect. Our players understand it, and we're going to make the best of whatever situation we're dealt. If it's 25 percent capacity, 10 percent capacity, I think we're going to appeal if we can get to 70 percent capacity. That was part of the joke, but whatever it might be, our players are going to deal with it. They know where our fans stand in terms of enthusiasm for K-State Football, but we have to make sure that we keep people healthy while we do what we do. Our players are excited for any fans to be in the stands, and they understand where we are from a position of keeping everybody safe."
On getting to know Coach Stanard…
"Having the opportunity to be together as a staff has been cool. Everyone wants to get out on the road and go recruit, but again this is the moment that we're in. We decided as a staff to make the best we could out of it. Adding a new guy to the staff and having him have the opportunity to learn the defense, having him have the opportunity to learn and relate to the players, albeit Zoom, was important, so Steve got the benefit, and we as a staff got the benefit to have an opportunity to interact with him and grow to know him. I really didn't have any relationship with him before this time. I knew who he was, and different guys on the staff knew him. I didn't know him personally, but it's been great, not only with Steve but to have Joe (Klanderman) and for us to be able to spend time as a defensive staff, continuing to grow together, it's been a great moment for us, even for our entire staff. We have really good staff chemistry. Coach Klieman did a great job of assembling a staff of good men. When you have that and you're in a room of good men, it's always a great time."
On Coach Stanard's personality on the field…
"He's always teaching his players. I don't think we have a staff of guys who are loud. We just have one. I won't call any names, but he coaches the offensive line. Other than him, everybody else is pretty even keeled. That's how Steve is. He's always teaching his guys. He doesn't get too excited. I have seen him flip his wig a couple of times, but he was just yelling at me at that moment. It's fun to watch him work, to watch him coach his players. He fits right into the things that I heard about him before he came."
On working with Coach Klanderman…
"Our relationship is the same. I believe that there has to be a level of understanding and respect for authority to Joe. Joe is the defensive coordinator, and that's it. That's the end of the story. As the defensive coordinator, if he wants us to be in Cover 3, we're going to be in cover 3. That's the commitment that I made, and I think that's what you have to do. When you're defensive backs coaches, you have different philosophies, different techniques, different mindsets and thought processes. You can have conflict. Joe and I never did that before, but now as defensive coordinator, you have to stand back and watch the whole defense. As a head coach, Coach Klieman has to see the whole team. I think it's sometimes difficult for assistants to do that. Fortunately for me in this new role, I've been able to see what Coach Klieman does as a head coach. Sometimes that's a lonely place, because you have to make decisions that affect a lot of people and maybe not everyone agrees with. That's the same position that Joe can find himself in as defensive coordinator. What I try to do is support him in all his decisions and handle it that way."
On what TJ Smith brings to the table…
"He's a young player with tremendous intensity. He loves football. He plays hard. He's a vocal guy. So, I anticipate all the things that we said about Jahron (McPherson), we're going to be saying the same kinds of things about TJ as he continues on in his career. He's a very competitive and very intense young man. It's always hard to say (if he can see the field this year), but if any young man could, he definitely puts himself in position to say that. We haven't practiced a whole lot, but the things that we've seen so far would give you the clue that he could."
On Walter Neil's role this year…
"We're going to give him all the opportunities that he's had so far. Anyone who has played different positions definitely adds value. When you have a guy who's a leader, then you expect that guy - just like we talked about with Jahron - to be able to come out and contribute to your team as he's done over the years."
On the biggest recruiting/evaluating changes that this situation has caused…
"We've done a lot of video watching. A lot of evaluations. It's been, I won't say difficult, but it's been very different because we have not been able to visit schools. We have not been able to have camps and get our hands on players. So most of the things we've done have been watching extensive game film, watching camp videos. There's a lot of kids that send you video them working out in a park. So you have to be able to gather what you can from that video. Then, talking to coaches - sometimes that's a lost art, but we've had our opportunity to visit with a lot of coaches about what they thought about the player. Like I said, you lose that sometimes when you bring a kid to the campus. You may be able to get a feel for him yourself, but we haven't been able to do that. So, we've had to exhaust all options to learn as much as we could about players as we've evaluated them. I think that will help us continue to grow as a staff and as a recruiting staff to learn to exhaust all options as we gather information and research players before and even after we offer them."
HARRY TROTTER, SENIOR RUNNING BACK
On how he feels returning for his senior year and being in the top returner role…
"I feel good right now. I feel stronger and faster than I was last season. Being a senior and knowing that I'm probably going to be leaned on a little bit more, I take that responsibility very seriously. I feel like I had a good off season. It wasn't a typical, normal offseason, but I feel like I handled it pretty well. I'm just excited to get back at it with my guys."
On what he's improved on the most…
"I felt like I was pretty focused all offseason. It's kind of hard sometimes not knowing whether not you're going to play. Just staying positive and staying focused was definitely important. I think what I wanted to improve upon from last season is just being a little bit more elusive, a little bit more mobile in the open field, being able to win more one-on-one matchups. So I kind of focused more on the speed and agility side of things. I feel good right now. I'm looking forward to it."
On where he's improved in camp compared to when he last played…
"I think some of the same things I just touched on. I feel a little more faster and a little more agile. I kind of put that as my focus in the offseason as well, just being a little bit more mobile and being able to make guys miss more. I think just learning the offense and having an extra couple semesters to dive deeper into the offense and the schemes, I feel a little bit more knowledgeable. I know the offense deeper. I just feel really comfortable this year. I feel a lot more confident than I did last year. I feel with all those things tied in, I feel more confident right now"
On the younger guys in the rotation...
"First, on Tyler (Burns), he's done a great job progressing. He's a good leader and good veteran. I think Joe (Ervin) and Jacardia (Wright) have both progressed well. I think they've matured a lot and have learned the offense more. I think the freshmen are doing really well. I think Deuce Vaughn has impressed me the most. He's probably the smartest and most mature freshmen I've ever been around in my five years of college football. He's done a great job of learning the playbook. He's really eager to learn. He's always asking me questions, and with me being a veteran, I love guys like that that are eager to learn and want to learn. So I think Deuce has really impressed me just coming in as a freshman."
On having other guys behind him to rotate…
"I know it's going to be a rotation. I know that Coach Mess (Courtney Messingham) and Coach Klieman like to use a bunch of running backs. Staying healthy for all of us is a big thing. I think Tyler (Burns) is really going to have a good season as well. He's done a great job. He looks better physically than he did last year. Mentally, he's done a great job. I think Joe (Ervin) and Jacardia (Wright) are both very talented. I think they have really bright futures here. I think we all complement each other. All four of us have different things that we bring to the table. I think we all can play and know what we're doing. So I'm really excited to see what me and Tyler can do, but also those young guys. I'm excited about their futures here too."
On getting faster and stronger despite a different kind of offseason…
"During quarantine when a lot of the gyms were shut down and we weren't able to use our facility, just making due with what you can - hills, sand pits, whatever you can find to get some extra work in. It was difficult some days, but just staying positive, making the best (of it) and just trying to work as hard as you can all offseason is something I take a lot of pride on. Just trying to be as responsible as I can because, being a senior and with the position I'm in, I know I have to be responsible and held accountable for everything that I'm going to be taking part of."
On taking the young players under his wing…
"In my five years of football I've learned a lot and been a lot of different places. I think that's really important to be, just helping the young guys out, even the redshirt freshmen and true freshmen, just trying to give them as much advice as I can and help them stay positive. They've never experienced stuff like this, just like we haven't. It's tougher on younger guys because they don't know what to expect. Just keeping them positive, helping them learn the playbook and helping them learn the culture here that Coach Klieman is making. It's definitely really important to me, and Tyler (Burns) has done a great job helping me as well, and Coach (Brian) Anderson, just harping to those young guys just how important stuff is, practice is, the extra stuff you put in. I think it's really important to me to help those guys out."
On dealing with COVID-19 and keeping track of the younger players…
"It's definitely a unique situation. I think all of us as seniors have taken it upon us to help these young guys out. We can't have young guys going out to public gatherings, large gatherings. Just staying on them about that stuff, helping them to be smart and know which positions not to be in. We can't really sacrifice anything like that right now. I think we've done a great job - no positive tests. That's amazing. Just hoping we can stay like that and keep everybody on the same page, keep everybody smart. Just doing everything we can to protect the team."
On having fans at games…
"Me personally, I'm excited. It's better than nothing. Some stadiums and some colleges aren't having any fans. I'm super thankful that we get to have at least some capacity. I think as I've gotten older and the veterans on the team, whether we have fans or not, we have to go out there, execute and do as best we can. Having fans there is great. I love having fans there in any capacity. So, I'm super excited about that and excited to see how that works out."
WYATT HUBERT, JUNIOR DEFENSIVE END
On Jahron McPherson's competitiveness and leadership…
"Unfortunately, camp was only ten days this year instead of our regular 20-25 day camp, but it's still tough. It's still a grind. That competitive nature in him, he just came out to practice every single day and was consistent, that's the main thing. Doing the same thing every day over and over again, and doing it at 100 percent and doing it full speed. It's so great because he sets an example not only for the defense, not only for the offense, but it really emphasizes that for the young guys as well about how you need to be consistent, how you need to stay on track and how hard work pays off. "
On Jahron McPherson's move to safety…
"I feel like that's going to be very beneficial for him. Despite his size, he's more of the size of a safety rather than a linebacker, but he can come downhill and hit you like a linebacker. That's the thing that makes him so dangerous especially at the position that he's in with what he's doing. He's obviously dropping back in coverage a lot but he's coming down quite a bit and playing in the box too. That's just the main thing he helps us out with on defense just because of his physicality. "
On how he plans to work around teams preparing for him…
"That's a question I've been asked multiple times and it's something I've put a lot of thought and consideration into. The only two answers I can come up with to answer that question; the first one is I just have to improve my pass rush and improve my game. Now I have to learn how to pass rush with a running back running the wheel route with a little chip before I start rushing the tackle or them sliding the protection my way, how to deal with that. It's obviously going to be a lot tougher but players deal with all the time. Some players let it deplete their stats from the previous year but some players take it as a challenge and end up with better stats. Obviously that's my goal is to end up with better stats than last year with that extra challenge I have in front of me. The second answer to that question is film study. The more you know about the offense, which way they're going to slide, which type of protection they're going to have on third down. Just the overall knowledge of the offense that's what's going to be the main factor in helping me get back there and cause havoc."
On how serious the team is taking the safety protocols with students returning to campus…
"The precautions we're taking at Kansas State are I think the best in the Big 12. Just from what I've seen on social media from other schools and how they're handling it I can pretty much say that Kansas State is handling it the best way possible. We do have the option to continue our classes online even if it is not an online class, just to make the players feel safe and protected. It's tough because we can honestly say a lot of students aren't going to follow protocols and procedures to stay safe and keep the COVID down but that's something we have to do. That's something that's mandatory for us players. If we're around those regular students on a regular basis that just increases the chances of something bad happening for us and within our program. So being given that option to take classes online is definitely something that's very great for us."
On how much size he has been able to add in the offseason…
"Last season I weighed about 263-265ish, in that range. I was obviously big enough but I just kept working hard and kept grinding, I got my weight up to 270. A lot of people are kind of surprised that I will be able to play at 270, some people believe it will take away from my quickness and my speed. That's just one thing I always harped on, that was always my main focus point was that no matter what weight I'm playing at always keep my speed and agility up there with it. "
On what he was able to use in the offseason when the facility was closed down…
"I was pretty fortunate, over quarantine and that stuff I actually did not go home, I stayed in Manhattan that whole time, that whole spring semester so I could stay focused on the things I needed to be focused on. I was very lucky because one of my best friends from high school has a whole home gym at his house here in Manhattan so I just used that the whole offseason. Like I said, super fortunate and super lucky because he had all the equipment that I needed."
On his individual goals for the upcoming season…
"I just have one individual goal, well actually probably two or three. But from a personal goal I want to have better stats than last year. Marking at seven and a half sacks last year, that was okay but I want to get into double digits. I want to increase my tackle for losses, stuff like that. Another personal goal is developing my leadership. There's a lot of young guys. The competitiveness at every single position this year is a lot higher than what it was last year. Any spot can be taken at any moment this year from a younger guy and a guy stepping up. That's something that drives us older players to stand up and keep leading and being a good example."
On how many credit hours he's enrolled in this semester…
"Well I'm pretty lucky, I was supposed to graduate in the spring but due to COVID that kind of messed everything up so I'm actually enrolled in three credit hours at the moment. This will be last class until I'm a K-State grad. A lot of extra time put into football which is a good thing.
On 25% capacity allowed at games this fall…
"Having fans in the stands, that's what makes up gameday or not. Whether the fans are in the stadium or not, I think it would be such a different game if no fans were allowed. Obviously, the student body makes up such a big part of the gameday experience and playing at Kansas State. But I'm so happy they passed that rule with 25 percent capacity because obviously us players are going out there and we need our main supporters there, which are our parents, our relatives, the people who got us where we are today. Obviously, the boosters with all they do, how much they give to this program. Even the South Endzone and all that's going on with that. We wish we could have everyone there but like I said we just need our main supporters there."
On Khalid Duke…
"Khalid Duke is a baller. What makes him a baller is he has all the intangibles. He's definitely a God gifted defensive end. He's about 6'4, 240, great quickness, great size, and great football instinct. He's quick off the ball, quick off the snap. Obviously he's a young guy with not much playing experience but that will come over time. I've definitely taken him under my wing and shown him what I can show him, just from experience. How to watch film, what to do, all the keys and tendencies to catch up on that make you a better player. I'm excited for his future. I'm excited to play next to him this fall."
NOAH JOHNSON, SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
On the position he has on the team…
"I think the first thing is the growth of our group as a whole. You want to be a great group, not just one person. Whether that's a leader or a great player, especially on the offensive line you have to have all five. Right now the thing that gets me the most fired up about in our group especially is it's kind of everyone right now. Just my personality, I talk quite a bit, so I may get a little more credit than what I deserve on some of that leadership stuff, but it's really been our whole group really coming together and around each other. I'm a senior and I do play center, so naturally I do want that role of being the guy and being the leader, but it's about the whole group and the whole team."
On the offensive line…
"One thing I've been hearing since the season ended last year about how inexperienced we are. But at some point Scott Frantz had to start his first game. He didn't walk in as a thirty game starter so at some point you have to be a little inexperienced and I will gladly trade inexperience for a group of guys who are playing hungry and driven and together, and I think that's what we have. I don't think anyone in our room was satisfied with the results of last year, both personally and as a whole team. That is more important than having a few games under your belt. There's obviously going to be growing pains, and that's life. But I'm super excited to go through those growing pains with this group because I think there's a ton of talent in our room especially and I could really care less about experience. It's something that yes we are inexperienced, but we got to move on from it and I think we are moving in the right direction."
On playing center and working with Skylar Thompson during the pandemic…
"For me I had always got a taste for playing center. My sophomore year of high school I played a little bit of center and we got into contact camp and I just did awful and got moved to tackle for the rest of my high school career. When I got to Butler I was mostly playing guard and a little center and then I just stuck at guard. So the first time I got the rock in my hand was last spring here. The biggest thing is just getting comfortable with the ball in your hand because that's all it is. Snapping can get in your head, it's a hard thing to do. But for me, without spring ball and all that time to have with Skylar, I was going to handle my business because I don't want that to be a thought in my head about snapping. I just want to play fast and play confident. I have to give a shoutout to John Honas, who was a Wichita guy when I was back home in quarantine. He'd come over every night and we'd go in my backyard and just snap. I taught him a couple of the big plays we would run. He'd give me a defensive front, and give me calls. We'd do five snaps, one length of the fence down and back. Just trying to replicate game reps and I think it's really paid off. It's really exciting to have hard work pay off, you've heard that. To feel it is very rewarding."
On playing with a chip on his shoulder…
"I think that's just the offensive line. You look at any great offensive line and they are always playing hard and always playing physical and they always finish. And for me a chip on your shoulder is really more of a mental thing and that's something I always continue to focus on myself is to have a good mentality and some days are better than others. Yesterday I was practice and I was kind of thinking I'm tired of camp and then that voice in my head that you guys probably get it too when you're working out, yeah you're right it's going to suck but yesterday you were saying no man let's go, and I think that's more of that chip on my shoulder mentality, and I want to do what I want to do and compete for a Big 12 Championship and a National Championship. I don't see any reason not to reach for those goals. And for me being an undersized guy, I have to play harder, that's just how it is."
On making up for lost time…
"Missing 15 practices of getting to go against our defense like Wyatt Hubert and Khalid Duke, that's tough. Obviously you're going to get a lot better from that. When we had the month long for bowl prep, we would do these developmental sessions at the end and they would be a scrimmage sort of scenario and our group was taking the majority of those reps. I think having about a month of taking heavy reps together really put us in a good place, and obviously losing spring ball hurts, but I think so far this fall camp there have been growing pains and a lot of younger guys, but we all are still going through growing pains. There's been multiple times in camp where I'll go the wrong way, you need those reps and we still have a month to our first game, so we are going to keep chipping away at it and not have a bad practice and get down on ourselves. It's a process. Working on your first step, working on your hand placement, working on your communication. We lost those reps but we can't do anything about it and just have to move forward."
On keeping the group together over the time off…
"We would do zooms with Skylar Thompson and watch the OU game or Baylor game and we would talk, who's my guy here, who's the front guy here, what are you doing here left tackle? Or we would go back and watch fall camp from last year or a third down period in the fall. Since we are missing out on those physical reps, just getting those mental pictures for when we go live we can be that much quicker about it."
On the defensive line…
"I got to give a shoutout to Drew Wiley, I don't think he gets nearly enough credit as he deserves. That man is an absolute grinder and he's an absolute bull in a china shop. He's been doing really good, Eli Huggins has really improved and been tough to block this summer and fall. Khalid Duke's been really good, and you guys know how good of a player Elijah Sullivan is so it's always fun trying to get to that second level and block him. I think we all have that mindset. We have a group where the biggest question mark is experience, so let's go out and attack these dudes and we might get our butts kicked on a play but we are going to come back the next play. I think that's the biggest thing. Iron sharpens iron and if I'm going against a really good player in practice, it's only going to make games easier for me."
On Cooper Beebe…
"I think the first thing about Cooper is he's a super hard worker. Everything starts with that. ON top of that, that kid is really athletic for his size and explosive and fluent. He's also super coachable. Coach Riley tells him one thing to work on one day and the next day you can see he's clearly trying to improve on that. Being on the offensive line and being coachable is one of the things that makes you great, and Cooper definitely has that and he's going to have a really big year this year and I am really excited to have him in our room and I really appreciate him as a person and a player."
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