Kansas State keeps finding reasons to lean on Simon McClannan, and the senior punter keeps answering.
That’s become a familiar pattern in a season where the Wildcats have spent too much time in bad field position. Even so, McClannan has turned those extra reps into one of the Big 12’s best punting seasons, and coach Collin Klein has made sure to notice. Klein opens each week with a long rundown of what he saw from Kansas State in the previous game, and if McClannan gets mentioned, it stands out.
“Simon continues to do really good work punting the football,” Klein said on Monday, “and getting field position flipped. Even when we were in not good field position early in the game at times (against Colorado) he punted the ball well.”
The numbers back that up. McClannan is averaging 48.4 yards per punt on 30 punts this season, which ranks second in the Big 12. Sixteen of those kicks have traveled more than 50 yards, and 15 have been downed inside the 20.
His best outing came in last week’s 27-24 overtime loss to Colorado, when he averaged 53.7 yards on six punts. The Ray Guy Award has already recognized him twice this season as a top eight punter nationally.
For McClannan, the jump has been about finding a level he can repeat every week.
“The main thing for me right now is consistency,” McClannan said. “Last year in practice, I feel like I was able to do my job pretty well.
In games, sometimes it didn’t translate. So putting me in situations in practice that have kind of moved over to the game similarly have helped me a lot.
When I get in the game I am comfortable in the spots I am put into.”
He said the offseason work with former K-State punters/kickers Devin Anctil and Ty Zentner helped him take another step, and he also pointed to new special teams coordinator Stanton Weber as part of that growth. McClannan credited former head coach Chris Klieman too.
When McClannan first got to Kansas State, he wanted to kick field goals and spent most of his practice time on that job. But Klieman saw something bigger in his leg and pushed him toward punting instead.
That decision looks pretty sharp now. McClannan is on pace for a career year and is in the mix for all-conference recognition, with an All-Big 12 spot very much in play if he keeps stacking up the kind of weeks that earn Klein’s praise.
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