CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACH

Opening statement…

““We had a good practice yesterday. It was our first practice in pads. The guys flew around and did a nice job. We knew it was going to be a little rough after a week off, but, overall, we were really pleased as a staff. We just got done watching it all. There was good energy, good emotion. There was a lot of good carry over. Obviously, there were things that they forgot over a week, but the trajectory or how we wanted to practice as far as getting a couple done before spring break so they can just learn how we were doing things. Now we will get the ball rolling here for the next three and a half weeks with 12 more practices. We have a little bit of a break right now. We won’t practice again until Friday, but then we will have the remaining three weeks, and we will kind of wrap everything up. But, I was excited about the guys performed yesterday. It was some good contact. It will increase once they start learning more of what they are doing, obviously. That’s the biggest challenge right now - just the installation and the brain overload of all the things that we are putting in.”

On the team learning the new installations…

“We should have most of the install in by practice six, and we just finished practice three. We had a good amount of time before spring break where we were kind of hammering on, ‘Hey, this is going to be (practice) one, two and three, because we know there’s a big break between practice two and three. We had some walkthroughs. We had a number of things where those guys had to be challenged to make sure that they could have some retention. Obviously, it wasn’t all there. Take defense for example, we only had a couple of defenses in, so I thought the retention was pretty good. It’s just getting back into the football mode of running to the football and making sure you can keep your mental state about you as there are motions and shifts, because that’s something our offense does an awful lot of, is shift, trade and motion. So that’s probably the biggest challenge. It was yesterday for us.”

On wide receiver Hunter Rison…

“Hunter has a bright, bright future here. I have been impressed with him in the first couple of days. He made a couple of nice catches yesterday. He is a pretty dynamic receiver. I’m learning a little bit more about him. I like his demeanor, I like his mentality on how he attacks the game. I am excited to see what he can do. We are pretty blessed to have a number of wide receivers. So, where can we find spots for him to be successful?”

On running back James Gilbert...

“James is getting an opportunity. He has played a lot of college football, which has really helped James in the fact that he has a lot more experience than anybody else at running back back there just from his experience at Ball State. He is picking up a new offense just like all the other backs are, but I have been pleased. He has great quickness, great acceleration and sees the hole well. Obviously, we haven’t done tackling or anything like that. So, we’ll see how that plays out over the next couple of weeks, but I am really pleased with James.”

On running back Harry Trotter…

“He is a pure running back. That’s what I like about Harry. I don’t think any of that stuff rattles him, as far as what system he had at Louisville or came to here or those things. I think he is just a pure running back. I think he’s pretty special with the ball in his hands. He has to continue to evolve, whether it is catching the ball out of the backfield or pass protection or learning the new system. As running back, it should probably be the easiest of the transitions. It’s a lot easier than o-line or secondary or something. But Harry is going to be in the mix there, and once we get into some scrimmage situations, we will see what he can do, we’ll see what Tyler Burns can do, we will see what James (Gilbert) can do, all those guys. It is a pretty wide-open competition there.”

On player comparisons to Harry Trotter…

“We had a player at North Dakota State named Chase Morlock that was pretty similar. He was 215-plus pounds, had enough speed, had enough burst and ran through arm tackles. It will be interesting to see if Harry has those attributes of being able to block, being able to protect and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield, which I knew he has the skill set to do, we just haven’t evolved to that offensively.”

On players who have caught his eye...

“Defensively, Justin Hughes is just a really good football player. As a linebacker, you’re learning a new system and he still plays the game really fast. You look at any of the guys up front, because even though things change, you’re a defensive lineman a lot of things stay the same. But as a linebacker, I watch Justin Hughes play, he’s just a really good football player, he has really good instincts. Offensively, Dalton Schoen is just a really good football player. He knows how to get open, uses his hands well, physical guy. There is a number of guys like that, that you can just tell when you flip on the video and 20 plays or so go by and you say, ‘Ok, that guy has played Big 12 football,’ and there is a number of guys like that. So, we are really pleased. It’s just trying to get everybody up to speed with the new stuff.”

On unifying the new coaching staff…

“It takes time. I mean, we’re learning each other, how we coach on the field, who’s leading meetings, whether it’s special teams or offense, defense. I am impressed with Coach (Courtney) Mess (Messingham) because I have been around Courtney so much, how he has integrated Collin (Klein) in and wanting input from what Collin sees as a quarterback. Even though it’s new to Collin, he’s having some great ideas in there. It has helped on offense, we have so many guys that have been a part of this system before. On defense, it’s neat to see just all the personalities. There is a lot of coordinator experience on the defensive side, and Coach (Scottie) Haze (Hazelton) has done a nice job implementing some different ideas, whether Buddy (Wyatt) or (Mike) Tui (Tuiasosopo) or Joe (Klanderman) has to try and make us better. But we’re also learning each other’s strengths and learning each other’s weaknesses. The one thing that I have been really impressed, sitting in on both offensively and defensively, we watch practice tape or anything, there’s not any egos in the room, which is something that I didn’t think there would be, just with the people that I hired, but it is just neat to see how they all work well together and have a great respect for one another.”

On when he will have a depth chart put together...

“Probably sometime in August. We’re really not going to scrimmage much, and depth charts are so fluid. I look at it more of, who are the 17-22 guys that can help you on each side of the ball that you know early in the season, because you are always going to have another 10-12 that you hope help you later in the season. Then the special teams part is so critical for us because we’re not doing the schematic things on special teams this spring as we are just drill work, simply because, from a coaching staff perspective, I think it gives all of these young players an opportunity to compete and show what they can do. I don’t know a lot of these kids’ skill sets, and when you have a competitive drill like you do in special teams, often times the competitive nature, the ability change direction and be physical usually shows out. So, it won’t be any time this spring for the depth charts.”

On process of working together on special teams…

“It’s the way I have been a part of it in the past. I want multiple people involved, not that there hasn’t been multiple people when you have a special teams coordinator. For us, it’s great, because Van Malone is going to be in charge of the punt return. Well, he going to talk to a bunch of wide receivers and running backs that are going to be on that. That gives those guys a perspective on coaching, on dealing with adversity, whatever it may be, so that those young student-athletes can take what Van tells them and take it on later in life, whatever it may be. But I want multiple people in the front of the room. That’s important to expose those guys to some different coaches. So, I think I have four coaches, Coach (Courtney) Mess (Messingham) will be in charge of the punt, but he has three or four guys helping him. Coach (Joe) Klanderman will be in charge of kickoff with some help. Coach (Brian) Anderson will be in charge of kickoff return with some help, and Coach Malone will be in charge of the punt return with some help. (Mike) Tui (Tuiasosopo) will have the PAT/field goal block, and Conor Riley will have the PAT/field goal. But then within each of those segments, somebody has a left side and somebody has a right side, somebody has an interior. So, multiple guys, and I think that the more people you can have coaching and developing athletes, the better you are.”

On what his focus has been on during practice...

“Early on, I’ve probably been a little bit more on defense to try to help out there just because we’re trying to teach linebackers. Coach(Scottie) Haze (Hazelton) has the inside linebackers as well as the nickel, so I’ve been focusing more on the nickel position or the safety position because I have really good familiarity within the system at those two spots to help out either Coach Haze or Coach (Joe) Klanderman. Especially during these first five or six days during the installation, it’s hard to have one coach have eyes on everybody. So I’ll do that early on. With meetings, I sit with the quarterbacks a lot in meetings. I’ll go sit with the safeties or linebackers a little bit. I want to make sure that I have the opportunity to be around a lot of guys. I’ll go with the o-linemen here in another week or so. I just think it’s really important for me to continue to build relationships with everybody.”

On how his focus during practice compares to when he was at North Dakota State...

“It’s very, very similar. I’m going to get to know everybody. That’s the key for me - to get to know everybody and build relationships with all of them. But, they all know too that my background has been on defense. I’m not going to go tell Coach (Conor) Riley how to coach an offensive tackle where it’s easier for me to help and coach a secondary player."

On the offensive line...

“It’s a work in progress. I’m really pleased that we have so many returning guys. Experience is hard to beat on the offensive line because they see so many different pictures, from blitzes to different run fits. For us, early on into practice, we’re going to emphasize running the football. Later on in practice, we emphasize throwing the football. So, for those guys to be able to separate the two and understand some of the run reads, run fits and blitz reads as well as then getting into a third-down period or pass setting, I’ve been impressed with those guys. I will reserve a little bit on where we are at once we get a little more contact in. The other thing that is pretty special for those guys, and I say the same to the defensive line, is you get to go against guys that have played an awful lot of football. It’s not like a guard is going to just dominate Trey Dishon the whole time or Trey is going to dominate Tyler Mitchell the whole time. I think that’s the neat thing - competition brings out the best in all of us. I think those guys on both sides of the line of scrimmage don’t take for granted that they are getting great work on each day.”

On handling the official visit period opening in April...

“That’s new to everybody, I think it just started last year. In the past, I haven’t used it or didn’t need to use it at the FCS level. I don’t think it was used a whole bunch in FBS just being on the committees that I’ve been on. It’s kind of sporadic. David Shaw hasn’t used it at Stanford, (Pat) Fitzgerald hasn’t used it at Northwestern. Some schools have used it. For us, we will pick and choose our spots to be able to use that. Obviously, you’d like to wait until the fall when you get a gameday environment. I think that’s the best sell. But in the same respect, not everybody is waiting until the fall. So, you try to get these guys on an unofficial visit right now. That’s why we have these Junior Days, and we have a number of them throughout the spring just to try to get those guys to come on campus. It’s still the big key - how do you get them on campus? - whether it’s through an official or unofficial visit. We’ll kind of keep playing that out as April continues on.”

On knowing everyone’s face and name by having names on the back of practice jerseys...

“I feel pretty good, it’s just sometimes when you’re far enough away and you’re like, ‘Who’s that number compared to that number,’ because maybe the bodies look that same. It’s helped our other coaches. I’m probably around all of them the most, so I feel pretty good, but if you’re Coach (Courtney) Mess (Messingham) and you’re trying to figure out the DBs, and somebody makes a great play on a route, you don’t want to say, ‘Hey, good play 12.’ You want to say, ‘Hey, great play AJ.’ Those are the things that still make it a personal touch here. I feel pretty confident in knowing all the guys now, but I know from an assistant standpoint - because I’ve been there - you get locked into your position and you don’t get to know somebody on the other side of the ball. Well, now you can still get a name with a face and maybe if somebody splashes a play, at least you can look and say, ‘Hey,’ because we don’t see them as much with the obviously helmets on, so those coaches can be able to say, ‘Good job,’ and make sure they know their name.”

On safety Marcus Hayes...

“You know, he’s a real competitive guy. He’s got really good athleticism. I don’t know if people remember or recall, but he led that country in punt returns last year at New Mexico, so he’s a special talent. We’re playing him at free safety right now. It’s a different system than what he did at New Mexico, so he’s learning on the run like everybody else. I like his confidence. He’s got a little swagger to him as a defensive back. He’s a really good communicator, which is what you have to be in the secondary. For us, we need to have a quarterback in the secondary, and he’s done a really nice job of that right now.”

On Marcus Hayes’ eligibility for the 2019 season...

“He has to sit out, but we are applying for a waiver. We’ll see what happens here this spring.”

On March Madness starting...

“Hey, I’m excited that we get to watch some hoops on Friday afternoon before our practice that starts at 4:30. So, the timing works out pretty well. Good luck to both the men and the women. I think we’re in for a great March Madness. This is a great time of year.”

HUNTER RISON, SOPHOMORE WIDE RECEIVER

On the coaching change…

“It is different. I was going to see how it went. We had trust in the program that they were going to bring in a good guy, and they brought in Coach Klieman. You know what he is doing. We have great energy now and are excited for the season and what it brings.”

On spring practice…

“It has been going really well, just learning the new offense. It is a pro-style, but they are bringing it on to us very well. We are in the third practice. We just finished that yesterday, so things are going well. Mistakes are going to be made, but we are really working on them.”

On his redshirt year last season…

“In the spring, I came in and was able to practice and I played in the spring game. Then I ended up feeling some pain in there. I was born with the hip impingement, so it was really just nagging me. I felt that I might as well get this done now and be ready for the season next year. It turned out that I only participated in about three and a half weeks of camp and then ended up sitting for the rest of the season. I could not play anyway, so I just really got that hip right for now.”

On his expectations for next season…

“We are taking it day-by-day. I do not want to get ahead of myself, but I am really confident in this team and what we are doing. We have a lot of confidence and the energy is great. I am just excited to see what comes.”

JUSTIN HUGHES, SENIOR LINEBACKER

On his season last year…

“That is one of my best assets - being able to learn and pick up things really fast so I can help others. I remember in grade school my teachers used to tell me that I am so smart that I distract others after I am done with my work. That is one of my things. I am just a smart player and I like to communicate. I like to get other players involved and get other players on my energy level. I think that is my duty as the leader of the defense - to get other guys up to my level. I think last year I really got my feet wet and really got me some experience going into my senior season. I thank all the coaches for that, for giving me the opportunity. I made the best of it last year, but I have to really shine this season. I have to get my teammates on board with everything - the new coaching staff and the new defense. We have to get in the film room. I know Denzel Goolsby and I have talked about that a lot. I am a perfectionist. You can ask any of the guys on the defense. I am yelling if we make a mistake. If guys do not do things right, even if I do not do things right, I am going to be mad at myself and will hold other players accountable on the field. I want everybody to be up to par. Perfect and crisp.”

On the new coaching staff…

“Coach (Scottie) Hazelton has had a lot of experience in football. He has been with the Jaguars, he has been at Wyoming - one of the best defenses last year. You learn different things from different people. Coach Haze has taught me a lot so far. Elijah Lee and I talk a lot of times because he runs a similar defense at the 49ers. He and I talk all the time and communicate because he had a talk with Coach Haze, as well. He learned a couple things from Coach Haze. I appreciate everything that they have instilled in me and have taught me since they have been here this short time. There are just little things that you pick up to make your game that much better.”

On what held him back before last season…

“I guess it was guys before me. Elijah Lee, Charmeachealle Moore, Trent Tanking. You have guys that have just as much knowledge and just as much athleticism as you, so you have to wait your turn. I was not the most experienced sophomore or freshman, so just having that experience in my junior season helped me be able to shine. Having those guys in front of me, like the Mike Moores and the Elijah Lees and the Trent Tankings - those guys are great players. They are great players, and being behind those guys teach you a lot. So, it helps you broaden your game out.”

JAMES GILBERT, SENIOR RUNNING BACK

On what changes he has encountered at K-State…

“Just the resources around here. I am not used to the food being good, the indoor facility, the weight room. There are so many facilities that I am utilizing just for the year I have left here. I am pretty excited.”

On Coach Klieman…

“He is a defensive guy, so being an offensive player, he can kind of tell you what defense you are looking at. For example, if the running back is in a different stance this might be a pass, but you want to keep your stance the same as when you are running the ball or pass blocking or anything so you cannot tip off the defense and let them know what you are trying to do on offense.”

On being the only veteran running back on the team…

“Since I have the most experience and I have played a lot, I feel like giving what I know to the younger players and helping them out the best. Just being a leader. I remember coming in at Ball State. I was one of the younger guys. And now, being at K-State, I am the older guy. So it is funny. Now I have to help the younger players out.”

REGGIE WALKER, SENIOR DEFENSIVE END

On the influence he has made on this program…

“The coaches really set that at the top, that you have a voice. That is one of the best things that really happened to us, too, since the new coaching staff has been here. The energy and really giving us that chance to go out and do what we have to do as players. I really enjoy this program.”

On what he hopes to accomplish this spring…

“Really just get better every day. Try to learn each and every coach. Learn what they want from us. Just try to lead the team the best I can from what I hear from them, especially myself. I have to lead myself before I lead them, so I am trying to do a good job of doing that.”

On who has taken a step forward on defense…

“We have so much energy. People are flying around, especially the d-line. The d-line is going to be pretty good this year. Me, Wyatt (Hubert), Trey (Dishon), Joe (Davies), (Jordan) Mittie. But inside, with the ends, we are going to wreak havoc this year. I am liking it right now.”

HARRY TROTTER, JUNIOR RUNNING BACK

On the decision to transfer to K-State...

“This is my home state, home school. They said they had an opening here, that I could make a big impact here, that was important to me. Coach (Taylor) Braet made it feel like home. It just felt like a good decision to come home closer to family so that they could make it to more games. I feel like I can have a good impact here, so I’m pretty excited about it.”

On what he brings to the table...

“I’m just an all-around back, can run inside, outside the tackles, catch it out of the backfield, as well as pass protect. They needed some depth as well. I got carries in four or five games out there (Louisville). I think they just liked the all-around skillset, being able to do a couple different things for them.”

On the new coaching staff...

“They’ve been great. They bring a lot of energy, a new environment. Coach Klieman and Coach (Brian Anderson) have been great, they bring a lot of energy. It’s great getting to work with Coach Anderson, he’s got a lot of experience been a lot of different places. I’m looking forward to picking his brain and getting as much knowledge as I can from him.”