Kansas State football defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman on safeties
Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who also coaches the Wildcat safeties, talks about his position group.
K-State Athletics
MANHATTAN — Call it a changing of the guard, but Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman is adamant that the Wildcats are hardly starting from scratch at the safety position in 2025.
Senior strong safety VJ Payne may be the lone returning starter at the three safety spots in a secondary that also replaces both cornerbacks, but pull back the curtain, and there are numerous options available with significant game experience.
“VJ Payne has played a lot and is a returning starter,” Klieman said of Payne, who begins his third season as the starting strong safety. “Colby McCalister has played an awful lot of football for us, and maybe you wouldn’t consider him a returning starter, and Jack Fabris has played a lot of football for us — probably not considered a returning starter.
“Gunner Maldonado started for three years at Arizona and probably is not considered a returning starter for us.”
Still, sorting out the pieces at free safety, Jack safety, and even the nickel back is an ongoing process with the Aug. 23 season opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, just over three weeks away.
Competition remains keen for playing time
Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who also happens to coach the safeties, likes the fact that his players will have to earn their time on the field.
“I think we’ve got a competitive room right now,”…
Source link : https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/cat-zone/2025/08/01/kansas-state-football-faces-significant-turnover-at-safety-position-vj-payne-gunner-maldonado/83674247007/
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Publish date : 2025-08-01 08:04:00
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