Kansas State’s backfield is starting to look like the kind of group that can carry an offense.
That’s the clear takeaway from Sean Gleeson’s fall camp comments, where the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator broke down what Joe Jackson, Jay Harris, and Rodney Fields Jr. each bring to the table. With Kansas State set to return in a few weeks, the run game is the piece fans have been waiting to see snap back into place.
Jackson is the obvious anchor. Gleeson called him “a consummate vet,” and the numbers back up why he’s the leader of the room.
He finished with 169 carries for 911 yards and eight touchdowns, plus 22 catches for 119 yards and another score. Gleeson also pointed to Jackson’s feel for the game, saying, "He's very smart, makes the right cut when you need to.
He understands the scheme and understands pass protection."
Jackson’s late-season surge hinted at even more. In his last two games alone, he piled up 435 rushing yards and six touchdowns, showing what he can do when the blocking is there. He’s expected to be the centerpiece again, and the projection is that his role only grows with a full season as the main option.
Harris gives the room a different edge. He logged 42 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns, along with six receptions for 89 yards.
Gleeson was blunt about the kind of player he is: "Jay Harris is just incredibly physical; I would not want to tackle him," Gleeson said. "I think I talked about him being on the scout team, like Ed Reed running around.
He just does everything super physical, extra effort all the time."
That brand of toughness could make Harris especially valuable in short-yardage work, and he looks like a legitimate No. 2 option. His time at Oregon was limited, but the crowded backfield there kept his opportunities down. In Manhattan, he has a chance to matter much more.
Fields brings another layer. He posted 124 carries for 614 yards and one touchdown, while also adding 28 receptions for 276 yards and a score.
Gleeson summed him up this way: "Rodney Fields Jr. is just like lightning in a bottle sometimes," Gleeson said. "I'm excited about that group for sure.
I've been around some really good backs, so I hope that carries a little bit of weight.
Fields was the leading rusher on an Oklahoma State offense that struggled last season, but his situation in this system looks different. With a smaller workload and a better fit around him, he has room to do more with fewer touches. He could be the next man up behind Jackson and another playmaker in a backfield that suddenly looks loaded.
In Other News...
Collin Kleins First K State Staff Sends A Clear Early Message
Collin Klein is back in Manhattan and this time he is building the whole operation, not just running one side of it. Kansas States new head coach has assembled his first staff ahead of the upcoming season, and the makeup of that group says plenty about the direction he wants to take the program. Klein already knows the school from his days as both the Wildcats quarterback and later their offensive coordinator, which gives this staff a familiar face at the top and a clear sense of continuity underneath it.
The early message is more about structure than splash. The assistants brought in around Klein come with varying backgrounds and responsibilities, and the 2026 salary information attached to each role offers a window into how the program is prioritizing its resources. For a staff that is still in its first stage together, the emphasis appears to be on experience, defined jobs and a quick transition into the next season, even if the fuller picture of how all those pieces fit together is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State's Backup RB Battle Could Shape The Offense Behind Joe Jackson
The backup running back race has become one of the more interesting camp storylines as Kansas State sorts out the depth behind Joe Jackson. Rodney Fields Jr. and Jay Harris, both transfer additions, are working for the No. 2 spot, and the competition matters because the Wildcats want a reliable answer ready if Jackson needs help carrying the load. Offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson said he feels good about both players during preseason training camp, which at least gives the position a solid baseline as camp continues.
Fields arrives after his time at Oklahoma State, while Harris comes in from Oregon, giving Kansas State two different backgrounds to evaluate in the same role. For a team trying to keep its backfield steady, the choice is not just about who looks good in practice - it is about who can fit cleanly into the offense and be trusted when the season starts to test the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Run Defense Question Kamari Burns Can Answer
Kansas States search for sturdier run defense has put a spotlight on Kamari Burns, the transfer defensive tackle who arrived after playing at Cincinnati. Burns has already seen game action in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and he has shown enough in the stat sheet to hint at a role beyond just depth, with tackles and tackles for loss on his resume.
Jordan Peterson and Collin Klein have both singled out Burns during spring camp, pointing to his consistency and the way he has carried his work onto the practice field. For a defense looking for answers up front, that kind of steady presence matters, and the Wildcats will be watching closely to see whether Burns can turn a strong spring into a bigger impact when the games count. [Read more 🡒]