4. College Football News Preview 2020: Kansas State Wildcats Defense 3 Things To Know
– There weren’t enough sacks, there weren’t enough big plays, and no defense in college football was less effective in the red zone. And now it has to undergo an overhaul, at least on a defensive front that loses three starters.
Fortunately, junior Wyatt Hubert is one of the Big 12’s best playmakers in the backfield. start with him, expect veteran Drew Wiley to play a bigger role on the inside, and then it’s an open casting call from there to fill out the rotation.
– The linebackers in the 4-2-5 alignment are really, really small, and they can really, really move. The 6-0, 210-pound Elijah Sullivan led the team with 65 tackles from his spot in the middle. 219-pound Cody Fletcher will get the first look at the outside spot, but coming up with a steady rotation – especially against the thumping teams – is a must. There are options, but outside of sophomore Daniel Green, there’s not a whole lot of experience.
– The secondary lost a bit of its depth to the transfer portal, but it’s bringing in corner Kiondre Thomas from Minnesota and safety Hunter Henry from Rice. The starting five, though, should be fine in some configuration, with Wayne Jones a rising star at one safety and Jahron McPherson able to move around where needed.