Kansas State Football: Spring position groups to watch prior to 2019
By John McCarty
The departure of senior Duke Shelley highlights the Wildcats’ need for others to step up and perform in 2019.
Perhaps no position groups struggles were highlighted more than cornerbacks’ issues staying with wide receivers during the game against Oklahoma. Even now, if you look closely enough, you can see Sooner receivers running free down the field.
In that game, the Sooners took a 34-7 on their way to a 51-14 win highlighted by Kyler Murray throwing for 352 yards and three touchdowns in the three quarters he played.
With Duke Shelley gone to graduation and hopefully the NFL, the Wildcats must fix what Kansas State fans may argue was the most disappointing position group on the defense.
Speed was always and issue, and that showed when corners were simply physically unable to stay with receivers. That the defense performed well down the stretch is a testament to the depth of the roster and perhaps potential of some younger players.
The group will be led by junior A.J. Parker and then the rest will be up in the air. There is depth but there are questions to simply how good the depth is. Jonathan Alexander, an early enrollee from the junior college ranks, will have an opportunity to earn playing time along with redshirt freshmen Lance Robinson and Wayne Jones.
In this recruiting cycle, the Cats landed four prep defensive backs that will look to compete for playing time and provide depth this upcoming season.