⚡ CFB Dashboard

Podcast: Locked On Kansas State - Daily Podcast on Kansas State Wildcats Football & Basketball Episode: RETURNING TALENT: Kansas State Secondary PRIMED with Zashon Rich, Donovan McIntosh Stability Transcript: It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Get your daily college sports fix completely ad-free with a 7-day free trial to the Everyday or Club. Listen to your favorite schools locked on podcast without tee interruptions and unlock an exclusive invite to our members-only Discord chat to talk team news 24-7 with die-hard fans. Join the club right now by tapping the link in the show notes to claim your free trial. Kansas State's secondary is loaded and it is going to be needed if they want to be successful in 2026. You are locked on Kansas State, your daily podcast on the Kansas State Wildcats, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Yes, welcome on into the show. I'm your host Christian Round. We're grooving with John Grove of GoPowerCat.com. On today's episode of Lockdown, Kansas State, it's all about the secondary on this episode of positional breakdown of both the corners and the safeties. Yes, we probably could have split this in the two shows, but this is one that we're going to dive into and give a little bit of a deep dive. Maybe a top level deep dive because there's just so many players to discuss, but this secondary room interests me so much, John, and I wanted to have a conversation with you today on this Wednesday. Make sure you hit that subscribe button for you Wildcat coverage. Like everybody else right here on Lockdown, Kansas State. Let's start right from the beginning. Let's start from the very top here. I think the secondary has always been an interesting conversation to talk about since I've begun this channel because it hasn't always been the most successful, but then yet when the season comes to an end, they still find a way to put multiple NFL draft picks into the league, but there's still question marks regarding the secondary. Can they find themselves to be a premier position in 2026? Well, the big 12 is not the easiest position group or the easiest place to have a good cornerback room because there's a lot of offense production there. However, you're bringing back a lot of returning production inside this corner back room. Let's start there. Zayshan Rich, Donovan McIntosh, two returning corners that stick around for Colin Klein. Stick around for Jordan Peterson as the new defensive coordinator as well. There's a couple other interesting names as well, but let's start there with those two players. That's huge. They're returning. It's ginormous. It's massive. In that case, it was able to retain these two prospects, especially with Donovan McIntosh with him flirting with the portal a little bit towards the end of the season, but Zayshan Rich, man, Ivan Harpen his name since the bowl game against records two years ago. I think he's going to be in a prime position to be one of the best returning corners in the big 12. Yeah, I believe it's going to be a junior season coming up, but he's snagged in interception, started at all big 12. And I know 12 games as well. And he's also earned honorable mention all big 12 as a true sophomore too. And he's going to have better experience, but will be huge for a cornerback room, but doesn't have a whole lot of proven depth. And that's where you can also add Donovan McIntosh to the mix, where he had seven where he played 11 games and started seven of them too, when it's like five pass breakups, one interception as well. So it's some really big stuff. It's some really big stuff. You got two guys here with a lot of veteran experience that can be huge again for just kind of a little bit of a little bit of a I mean, we already talked about a lot of the offense and several several key pieces as far as providing whole life depth. I'm not necessarily seeing that this year with the defense. There's going to be a few guys to step up into those leadership roles and I think Zayshan Rich and Donovan McIntosh a few years in will certainly be the first two to do it. One of the biggest things that I loved about Zayshan Rich's game last year, he wasn't always the best player on the defense. So I'll give that there was sometimes where he gave up passes, but I think it's safe to say that he was one of the most trusted defensive players from the old coaching staff. And you can tell that when you look into like his snap count, for instance, he hardly left the field. There was moments where he would play 100% of the snaps. There was moments where he'd be on the field all but one or two snaps. And you know, you're looking at a cornerback position. You're looking at a spot where you have to be on your game every single snap. That shows you one thing that they had a lot of confidence and it's not, I don't think we are saying anything remotely bad about Joe Clanerman and his defense. A lot of people were upset when he left and moved on to Baylor. So knowing that you had that from a respected defensive staff is impressive in my book. And now you're going to try and do that under Peterson in 2026 with Colin Clanerman and Newroster sticking around. And I think you're going to see that again. I would not be shocked if we go and look at these snap counts again in 2026. Especially since you mentioned, you think it's more of a top heavy type of second theory this year and Zayshan Rich is again leading the charge where he's playing 90 to 95%, maybe even 100% of the snaps in football games this year. Again, I mean, 837 snaps is simply unheard of to be completely honest with you, just with him providing that necessary experience. I don't always going to help him catapult his game furthermore. And I think the coaching staff under Colin Clan was able to indicate that too. Just with him being known as a trustworthy guy under client system, I think having some additional leadership, despite all the turmoil that took over on the defense side when Clanerman left for Baylor, I think that's a very big key for his case stay deep in this, making sure that yes, not only do you have some key playmakers, but you also got some guys who have been named the system for quite some time to the point where you have maybe a change or two, but their leadership will eventually emerge out on the scene. Hope of these next few years to come. You bringing another player from the portal that's going to play in the secondary as well at the cornerback position. And that's Illinois transfer Caleb Patterson. We've heard from him in a couple player interviews already this offseason in the spring. So it sounds like he's going to have some sort of decent role for this cornerback position. I mean, he played over the last two seasons, about 700 snaps, almost 800 snaps over the last two years that Illinois in the Big Ten. And that's impressive as well. So I wonder if what that's going to mean. If that means he can compete with McIntosh and Rich for cornerback positions, as he just served as more of a depth piece or is he coming in in his final season, senior season to make an impact right off the bat? Yeah. So you mentioned Patterson, he started 12 games in 2024. He played 10 in 2025. I think injuries sort him down a little bit, but in 2024, he was one of Illinois's best defenders. And I think you got a guy who's possessing a wealth of experience. Frankly, I think he should be a calming force and perhaps one of a better, one of a better third corners that K-State has had in quite some time. And I think chances are, I mean, you could slide him and you were corner-backs a lot, but I think he'll likely kind of buy in a little bit what Donovan McIntosh as well as filling in a void wouldn't necessary. There's a lot of younger players when it comes to the cornerback position as well on this roster. I want to get to them, just our thoughts on them and are they poised for breakouts, as well as the safeties. And there's a couple of hours listed as defensive acts because we see them as, I guess we could use the word hybrid for the moment. Let's talk about all of them next right here on Lockdown Kansas State. Hey, are you dealing with workplace chaos? Are deadlines stacking up in box over flowing in that one position you have to fill still sitting open? Well, when the pressure is on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsored jobs helps to reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for, whether that skills, experience, or location. So you're not just hoping the right person stumbles across your post. And here's the stat that says that all folks, in the minute that I've been talking to you, companies like yours have made 27 hires on Indeed, according to Indeed data worldwide. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes with Indeed sponsored jobs and listeners of this show, listeners of the Lockdown Kansas State will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help you get that job, the premium status it deserves. All you need to do is go to Indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast, Indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions apply. But if you need to hire, this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Welcome back to the show. Thanks for making Machdown Kansas State your first listen of the day. And thanks for making it the Lockdown podcast that no one supports podcast network in the world. If you want even more, consider joining the Every Dayers Club. If you are an Every Dayer, this is your next step. All you need to do is go to LockdownKansasState.supercast.com or check the show notes for more information. Regrew McJohn Grove of GoPowerCat.com. Thank you for wherever you're listening, you're watching. If it's on YouTube, make sure you hit that subscribe button. If you're on audio, make sure you hit that subscribe button and consider leaving us a review. It means a ton. Thank you for everybody who is listening. We're diving in with the corner back and secondary room on today's episode. We already talked about some of the big names when it comes to the corners, John. But when I look at some of these red shirt freshman that stuck around. We can have an entire conversation about how I'm impressed with Chris Klimans 2025 class. The majority of them are still here. How 2026 class, hardly anybody flipped. We can have that conversation. We can say it for another day if you want, but I do love how impressive it is. When I look at these red shirt freshmen for the corner back room, Sirius Stenyard, JoJo Scott, Martell Jackson, players like that, I can't help but think that there are multiple players on this roster that are poised for a spot to break out this year. Kind of what we saw from guys like Zayshan, Rich, and Dada, and McIntosh in that rate bowl game a few years ago. Yeah, no, I completely agree. I think maybe not towards the early portion of the season, but maybe towards a lot of portion is maybe what we'll see. One of these new guys step in and take a few opportunities or two to really emerge and to really solidify their positions for the years to come. And I do agree as well, touching on the transition as well. I am very impressed with how it was all done with not, without the amount of turmoil, because we can look at what happened with Iowa State and with Matt Campbell taking the job at Penn State. Nobody was still remaining in that Iowa State roster, whereas this just felt more constructive and it's gotten to the point where we're not even seeing the biggest turmoil on the defensive side. I mentioned turmoil as far as just the coaching staff is concerned, but it didn't translate as far as to a lot of players leaving. And that also applies for the prospects for the 2026 class too. So a lot of high praise for not only Colin Klein, but also Chris Klein and for making sure they were able to stick around too as well. But I would have to say as far as the guy who could really pop out early, I really like the serious stinger kid. If I'm being completely honest with you Christian, I think he's got so much potential. It's absolutely insane. He was a lead addition to the 25 class. I want to say he was right on decision day, right on the day of when they were going to sign. I think he was like right behind Lincoln cure about just joining. I can't remember where he was committed to beforehand. I want to say West Virginia, but that might be wrong. And then he found himself with Kansas State right after Lincoln cure signed. And if you remember anything about Lincoln, he was recruitment. It was the day of. It was like right after there, but the senior happened right after cure from what I remember. So he did he did flip from West Virginia as well. Yeah, my oval team this morning. That's what it was. Exactly. That's exactly what it's about. But no, I mean, this is this is a kid who certainly has the potential and certainly the upside of what could be a very, very promising cornerback. He's six foot and 180. So you got to imagine he may add to add a little bit more bulk to his game. But I think he certainly got the speed to really making things making several things possible. And as a junior, what I actually hold on looking at this, I'm looking at this. I'm all over the place. But he's been very productive in his career. He's got a whole he's got a before of track track records as well. So there's that speed indication as well. A lot of tackles, a lot of pass breakups and several interceptions as well and kind of a kind of a difficult spot to do so in the state of Florida as well. So I think personally, K States getting a dog and the fact that we were able to flip them over West Virginia, that's a pretty big sign of where things can be hitting as far as as far as this coaching staff goes, but also just seeing seeing the amount of input that that's fair amount of investment back to take to. Get several of these prospects, especially in the southeast, Christian. I mean, I mean, what we could talk about recruiting for another day, but it certainly feels like there's been a massive push lately for recruiting in the southeast. Wait, what was what the state of Florida and Georgia and it just continues to really gain some some traction there too. Yeah, it's a hotbed. There's no doubt about that. There's a hotbed. I think a lot of people like to say Texas is the biggest school when it comes to high school recruits. I'd argue that's Georgia. I'd argue that Georgia might be the best where it comes to high school recruits and in all the countries. So I'm totally okay that Kansas State's going after players in the southeast for that for sure. I think when you look at stars, you're going to get me on a recruiting conversation here. I think when you look at stars, I don't think that's a big deal. What I like to see is I like to see how many offers they got, who those offers are from, and my favorite line. When you're looking at someone's recruiting profile, you already mentioned it. If someone if someone says multiple sports athlete, that's like a winner for me. I love when somebody's not just a football prospect. To me, that just shows high sports IQ. For the most part, obviously that's not a tell all, but it's one of my favorite things to look at. Looking at this K-State spring roster, there are a few names on here that are listed as defensive backs, not corners, not safeties, so they go either way. For the sake of just this next conversation, let's just call them hybrids, even though that's the wrong term. Let's just use that just for this conversation right here. And they're all transfers at the moment. Koi Beasley coming over from Miami, Ohio, Adrian Maddox of Georgia, just on Pravard of Virginia are the three that are listed. And that's probably why they're just listed defensive backs is because they came over in the portal. Pravard is interesting. He played at Morgan State in 2024, then played at UVA last year. At UVA, he was an ACC honorable mention, 585 total snaps. You've got to love that, bring it into the defense. You're bringing in power for experience to already what we mentioned, a top heavy type of defensive staff. I will go out on a limit and saying that just on Pravard was the best player on the defensive side as far as the transfer portal goes for K-State, I think. People consider him underrated. I think he's one of the one of the one of the modified stars to be completely honest with you. He's played multiple spots for Virginia. 585 defensive snaps last season. We were already talking about, but 387, that Zechan Rich has. You're able to get nearly 600 defensive snaps with over 400 coming where he's expected to start for K-State, which I'd probably place him in the safety right now, perhaps in the nickel or the sloth, something like that. He was an honorable mention all ACC nominee. He also allowed below his completion percentage when targeted last year in the ACC as well. I think he might have also had the pass broken up against Florida State too, if I'm not mistaken. It was the overtime game early on in the season. The double overtime game. Yeah, okay. I think I distinctly remember that he had the pass break up that gave Virginia a win towards the end of the fans rest the field. I think they got a home run here with Jut-Sombra Bar and I'm very excited to see what he's able to bring to the table. Before we get into some of the safeties that have been here and what we think about them, because there are some names that I truly want to talk about, those two other names that we discussed that are coming over from the portal, Adrian Maddox. I mean, look, he played at Georgia last year. Even though he retained his red shirt, even though he played 67 defensive snaps, he played with Kirby Smart, who was a great secondary player himself when he played at the college level, and he knows how to recruit defensive backs. I think that Kirby Smart is very good at doing. So the fact that he brought him in from Alabama at Birmingham, that's impressive. And although he only got to play 67 snaps, he retained his red shirt, he got to play the entire season inside SEC, Georgia. One of the top teams in the country, that's huge. And I feel like we talked about that last year when we brought in players from the National Championship in Georgia, it's Patrick from Ohio State, and gave powers from Ohio State. How important that was bringing that type of culture and chemistry to the locker room, this alone. I mean, I'm not saying that he's not going to be helping on the field because I think he certainly will, but that portion alone, showing what a winning culture looks like is going to be impressive. Sorry about that. Oh, I'm sorry. No worries. No worries. And then you got quite be easily here from Miami of Ohio, who's played, you know, 647 snaps at the Mac level. Will that be able to jump up to the big 12 level? That'll be certainly impressive as well. On the other side, let's talk about those safeties because there are a ton, and there are a ton that I want to discuss right here on Lockdown Kansas State. Welcome back to the show and thanks for making Lockdown Kansas State your first listen of the day right here. We're group, Michon Grove, a Go Power Cat dot com on this episode. Hey, if you're listening in audio, I thank you. I was talking about it to you on Tuesday's episode, John. We're getting people from Dublin, Ireland still listening in audio. We're getting it all over the country as well. I saw a couple of Miami, Florida saw a few in San Diego, California. And of course, we're getting it across the Midwest. So if you're listening in audio, thank you so much for making lock down Kansas State. One of the reasons we do this every single day right on this show. Let's talk about the safeties next because I do think the safeties are such an interesting spot. And I. Have to start with this name. The fact that I didn't get to start the show with this name kind of itches me a little bit, but it's just how the flow of this one was. Logan Bartley, man, I am so excited to see what Logan Bartley will do in his second full season at Kansas State. I'm not going to lie to you. I thought that he was gone. I thought he was not going to be a Kansas State this season. There was the cryptic handshake thing with him and Joe Clannerman, the picture after him leaving. I thought he was a Baylor bear. He was to me. He was my mom. I was not going to lie. You cannot lose list with him. He didn't even try and play in the portal. He didn't do what Mackintosh did where he put in. We didn't hear anything about him. It was a scare tactic. Logan Bartley is an impressive athlete. He is so physical. You can sometimes say too aggressive. I don't blame him for that. I loved it. I loved what I saw from Logan Bartlett. I cannot wait to see what your cue for him looks like. To me, he screams NFL talent from the jump man. I mean, I kind of blame him one bit during that game against Arizona where he just completely went out of his way to get a targeting butt to his credit. Nobody else was willing to give a, you know what, about giving their, giving their, you know what, quite frankly, I think Logan Bartlett, not only was one of the best freshmen, one of the best newcomers on the team last year, I think he was one of the more productive safeties in the big 12 last season. And I think he has a great opportunity to start in 2026, perhaps have be starting position at one of, at one of the safety positions here for Logan Bartlett, all right, you know how it is with me with pro football focus. I'm sorry, Christian. I'm going back to one of these, but 73.8 coverage grade per football focus. I think we're going to see Bartlett compete with a handful of returners and newcomers. And maybe another one that isn't, but also isn't made talked about a whole lot. And we can kind of go towards his name as well. But Jack Faberas, he played less than 2025 than 2024. But he could be said to take a step forward as a Richard Jr. too. But maybe this could be also where a guy like Coy Beasley is able to step in too. But as far as Logan Bartlett goes, I mean, there's just a ton of upside for his game. And we saw a lot of it last season, especially early on. I think he gradually kind of faded a little bit later on in the season, but he was a guy that was just able to make some big plays early on and really, really was one of a rare guys to frankly be fired up early on in the season for Kansas State. I'm an agreement with you, Christian, as well. I'm shocked he did not go to Baylor. I'm glad for it, but I am sure. Yeah, no. And again, that just comes to tell you about the how constructive the coaching transition was from Chris Climond to Colin Cline, knowing that Climond was able to really retain the several of these prospects for Colin Cline, the coach. And I think that's certainly going to benefit the new defensive staff again. I mean, that defensive leadership, I think Logan Bartlett showed early on last season that he can certainly emerge onto a leadership escrow and really perform at a high level. And I think a lot of credit needs to go to Jordan Peterson too. I mean, especially when we're talking about this secondary conversation, I think a lot of these players want to play for him because what type of secondary type of coach he can be. And he has a lot of experience there. He's helped progress and develop a lot of really good talent at that level, not only at Texas A&M but other places as well, that we don't need to mention on this podcast. So you know something like it's really impressive for what he's done. So I'm excited to see what Logan Bartlett does. And you mentioned he's probably one of the most impressive safeties inside the Big 12 that comes. That says a lot because I don't think he was he supposed to be seen as one of the best safeties on the team last year with the editions of guys like Gunnar Maldonado and things like that that just didn't really work out because of whatever reason. I'm excited to see what Jack Faberas does as well. I was really high on Jack Faberas after leaving that rape bowl game a few years ago when we talked about Zayshan Rich and Donovan McIntosh. Jack Faberas was in that conversation for me as well. I thought he had a really good rape bowl game. He just didn't really pan out the same way that the other two did this past season. I think there was a couple of times where he had some blown mistakes, blown coverages inside the help that really took away from his playing time this past season. I'd love to see that jump back in in 2026. When you look at this safety room, you know, we've talked about it with corners. We talked about it with those defensive back names as well. If you look at the spring roster right now with the exception of Michael Graham Jr. who's a JUCO transfer from Hutch, the exception of him, they are homegrown. Every single one of these players came in from Kansas State. They have stuck around from Kansas State and that's it. From Jett Deneen all the way down to Nick McLennan who's a freshman this season, all those guys are going to be straight from Kansas State nowhere else. And that's even through the coaching change. That's impressive stuff through and through. What about Wesley Fair? Wesley Fair had a lot of playing time. What you got next from him? Because I think that's next. I think, yeah, that was certainly the guy that I was going to mention. To be completely honest, I thought we were having a proschena was going to. Wait, wait, wait, wait, we're forgetting about the fellow Kansas native, Wesley Fair. He's from Wichita Collegian and stuff like that too. But I think what Wesley Fair, you know, we talked about it with Lincoln here already in Avery Johnson. I think this is a prospect here where we need to see him take an X-Set too because there's been a lot of blown coverages throughout these past two years. And he saw 490 defensive snaps last year. He was a starter for much of 2025. And I think it's probably a good thing too but he's going to get some competition as well for him to really step up his game because I think as far as safety's go, he was one of the major pieces ago, long ago, but I don't think there was necessarily as much competition. And I mean, when you add that on to the on-field results, it was kind of, I mean, it was kind of an ice sore at times last year as well, just seeing him go up against several big 12 wide receivers as well. It was kind of daunting to witness. But I'm very intrigued to see how he's able to be used. I think he'll likely be shipped at along the lines with Adrian Maddox a little bit. Personally, I probably lean towards Maddox likely getting the starter position, but this will be an interesting area to keep an eye on too. There's just one player that I think selfishly, I want to see more a little bit as well. And I'm sure that I'm not going to be the only one of our every dayers thinking this way, Mill Valley product in Mikey Bergeron here. For why he's done the last two seasons on special teams, I want to see him get more of a potential playing time in the defensive secondary. Maybe he's just going to be one of the best special teams specialists that we've ever seen at Kansas State, which would be saying a lot. And look, we need that to step forward. Stanton Weber is really going to, I think, bring that back and make special teams back to being where it needs to be for Kansas State because it hasn't been where it needed to be over the last couple of seasons. I think that is fair to say. But even in the down years that the special teams have been over the past, I mean, let's say three, four years, has probably where special teams have been, it's truly down part. But even in those down years, over the last two, Mikey Bergeron has really stepped up. And that's something that I'd love to see. I love when players take even, some players don't take special teams serious. I think that's a true statement. That's not the case when it comes to Mikey Bergeron. To the point to where I think where if he continues this way, I mean, you might have to think about putting the captain, like one of the captain kind of patches on his chest there because of how good he does that type of special teams. I'd love to see him get more of a defensive play in time. That's a selfish conversation there. I mean, I'll tell you what, I don't think there was enough guys that really put an emphasis on special teams. And I mean, you know, I may not be taking a shot at a few guys here, they're on the show, but Chris Klimm, I didn't necessarily feel as a special teams was really a value of importance throughout these past few years. I mean, there's several great moments here there where you can look back to, but I think with Stan Weber now taking the helm, a guy who's had really good special teams at South Carolina and Toledo, I think he certainly has got several prospects here that are really going to give it all. And Mikey Bergeron, certainly, he's going to be one of these chip on the shoulder, under the radar, kind of blue card kids that we can kind of look back to and see that he's certainly capable of competing at the highest level considering that he may have been a little bit undervalued early on his career. Confidence level, let's end the show with this one. Scale of one to 10. One, you are completely petrified of this secondary room. 10, you feel like nothing is going to get by them. What's your confidence level of this secondary room heading into 2026 as we sit at the end of May after spring ball? We'll consider this conversation here. If you were to tell me before this show, Christian, I would probably say a four or five, but I really do like that safety group and several of those prospects can play hybrid as well. That is where I feel a little bit more confident as well. And then of course you got Zechon, Richard Donne of a Macintosh and Logan Bartley for that matter too, coming back one very quickly. When there were some whispers about potential transfer portal moves in the makings with the Macintosh and Logan Bartley for sure, but they decided to stay here as well. I think Jordan Peterson certainly got a good group to work with. And not to mention the times that we saw them in their practices with media availability. They were running to each position as well. And Jordan Peterson had the big megaphone and he was telling them to keep running and get into their position. I think it's not that Joe Clanneman's defense is where ever bad. It just kind of became a little bit more... I wouldn't even say predictable as well. I would just kind of say blend. And I think they just needed that fresh energy, but fresh, but fresh, fast energy. You know, that fast physical, violent energy. And I think with several of you guys that they brought in, I'm a transfer portal providing some more competition for Appispring and hitting into fall camp as well. I'm starting to light the prospects of this defense a little bit better. So I will improve that four to five to a six to seven rating as well. I said six to seven rating as well for any younger generation stujas that hold on to the joke. Kind of like how I did early on in the show. So I was a few. So yeah. Keep that stuff off the channel. I don't want to see anybody driving down the road and all of a sudden having them move their hands up and down in a certain direction because of your rating of the impressive confidence of the secondary room for sure. We got to indoctrinate the youth when we can Christian. All right. And that includes my old radio buddy who was big into that joke as well. Hey, it's better than I meet in Tide Pods. So if that's what they're going for right now, we'll let that roll. We'll let that roll for sure. And make sure you check out John Grove. We always got going on at gopowercat.com. Plenty of stuff going on. Colin Kline's recruiting class, 2728 is absolutely cooking. He's cooking over there as well. Check them out. Make sure you come back over here to lockdown Kansas State because we have multiple episodes coming out to you every single day. Please like the video. Please subscribe. We'll see you back here next time right here. I'm locked on Kansas State. Show notes: Kansas State Wildcats’ secondary is loaded for 2026, but can this top-heavy group cement themselves among the Big 12’s elite? The conversation focused on veteran corners Zashon Rich and Donovan McIntosh returning amidst transfer portal drama, while Illinois transfer Caleb Patterson adds further competition. The discussion explored emerging redshirt freshmen like Serious Stinyard, the impact of experienced portal arrivals such as Jason Prevard (Virginia) and Adrian Maddox (Georgia), and how Chris Klieman and Collin Klein’s recruiting philosophy is reshaping the defensive backfield. Key topics include Logan Bartley’s breakout potential at safety, departmental leadership under new defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson, and the role of homegrown talents like Wesley Fair and special teams ace Mikey Bergeron. Several points were raised, including predicted lineup battles, the significance of Southeast recruiting, and questions around consistency and depth. Is this the year Kansas State’s secondary becomes a true Big 12 powerhouse—or do questions remain as spring practice closes? Go AD Free and More with the Everydayer's Club! Learn More Here: https://lockedonkansasstate.supercast.com/ Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/lockedonKState Follow the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HhcfyjaoLGxYjsL1KmSZM More Coverage from Christian Rauh: https://blueprintsportsnetwork.com/ #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #KansasStateWildcats #NCAA #CollegeFootball Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Big 12 Conference: Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes, West Virginia Mountaineers