Kansas State is getting close to kickoff, and one of the biggest questions hanging over the Wildcats is whether the defensive front can become the kind of force the rest of the roster needs. Defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson believes new defensive end Elijah Hill is part of that answer.
Hill missed a few spring practices, but Peterson said he has been active throughout fall camp and has already shown the kind of traits that can change the tone up front.
"He's been healthy this entire fall camp. He's got really heavy hands," Peterson said in his fall camp press conference. "We talk about spilling pullers and slicing tight ends and things of that nature - they'd better bring it because he's about to headbutt them."
Peterson also pointed to Hill’s physical style and burst at the line of scrimmage.
"He does a really good job being physical at the point of attack, and he does have a really good explosion," Peterson said. "That's one of those positions where it's yet to be determined exactly what the extent of the role is and what specific situations. But despite missing some practices in the spring, he's in a good spot right now."
Kansas State is looking for a major step forward on defense, especially on the defensive line, after opponents found too much room to operate last season. The Wildcats’ front has long been one of the program’s strengths, with defensive ends taking three of the last five Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year awards.
That group included Tobi Osunsanmi and Ryan Davis last season, and now Hill joins a unit that also features Wendell Gregory. Gregory won the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award after putting up 12 tackles for loss and four sacks.
With the season set to start in two weeks, Hill’s progress has become one of the more encouraging developments in camp as Kansas State tries to get back on track under first-year coach Collin Klein.
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