Kansas State got plenty of fireworks in its 71-3 win over Nicholls on Saturday, and one of the quieter developments inside that blowout may matter a lot more down the road: Darien Whitaker looked comfortable in a new spot.
Whitaker started the spring as a linebacker, but this season he’s moved onto the defensive line as an edge rusher. So far, the switch has come fast. Against Nicholls at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the sophomore finished with two tackles and a sack.
For Wildcats coach Collin Klein, the early signs were encouraging.
"I don't know if any of us know where that is, and that's a great thing, and I'm so excited for him," Klein said. "And again, he's gonna he's gonna be an impact player for a long time.
And but credit to him, his approach has been outstanding. His effort is outstanding.
He's gotten his body right, and really excited to watch him compete."
Whitaker’s path to this point has been steady. As a freshman last year, he appeared only on special teams.
Since then, he’s made major strides, especially from the spring to training camp. Now listed at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, the sophomore looks ready for a bigger role.
Kansas State’s next test comes Saturday at home against Washington State.
The Wildcats’ opener also created an unusual side note for Willie the Wildcat. While K-State kept piling up touchdowns, the mascot was stuck doing 394 push-ups during the victory, and the routine ended up getting plenty of attention online.
That came with the kind of night Kansas State fans rarely get to complain about. In Klein’s first game as coach, the Wildcats were only five points shy of the school’s single-game record. They led 36-3 at halftime and added 35 more points after the break.
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Kansas State Backfield Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Washington State
After Kansas States 71-3 win over Nicholls, Collin Klein made a few tweaks to the Week 2 depth chart, and the most notable one was in the backfield. Rodney Fields was moved to the top of the running back group, a small but meaningful sign of how the Wildcats are sorting out roles early in the season as they turn their attention to Washington State.
The rest of the depth chart stayed mostly steady, with the changes focused more on roster housekeeping than major reshuffling. Even so, the adjustment at running back adds a little extra intrigue to a group that is still taking shape, especially with snap counts and player availability already being part of the conversation heading into a tougher test. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Had The Perfect Reaction To K-States 71-Point Outburst
Kansas States 71-point outburst against Nicholls was the kind of offensive showing that still feels rare enough to draw a little extra celebration around the program. It also brought out one of the more lighthearted traditions tied to big scoring nights, with Willie the Wildcat on push-up duty for three hours after the game. Since it was the first time the Wildcats had topped 70 points since 2000, the whole thing carried a little extra weight, even if the mood around it stayed mostly playful.
Collin Klein noticed the toll it took on the mascot and said he could relate to the physical grind, a fitting response from a coach who knows exactly how much effort those kinds of nights can demand. It was a small moment, but one that captured the energy around Kansas State after an offense explosion the program does not see often, and one that left the celebration with a familiar question attached to it: what happens when the next big scoring night comes around? [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins K-State Debut Delivered The Statement Fans Wanted
Collin Kleins first game on the sideline as Kansas States offensive coordinator had the kind of clean, forceful start that usually settles a fan base down in a hurry. The Wildcats rolled past Nicholls in the opener, piling up 559 total yards while limiting the Colonels to 122, and the offense looked sharp enough from the outset to suggest the offseason changes have already taken hold.
Avery Johnson was at the center of it, completing 15 of 21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns while directing an attack that never seemed to lose its edge. The win also gave Kansas State a lopsided statement to open the year, the sort of performance that matters beyond the box score because it hints at how much room this group still has to grow once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]