Five questions about Kansas State’s defense as football season approaches

With Kansas State football players set to begin training camp on Friday, here are five important questions the Wildcats need to answer on defense over the next month as they prepare for their first game against South Dakota.

Can K-State improve at linebacker despite losing these two starters?

The Wildcats will miss Jayd Kirby and Trent Tanking in the middle of their defense. At least that’s what you would normally expect as they try to replace a pair of starters who led the team in tackles a year ago. But K-State may have the personnel to reload instead of rebuild.

Expected starters Elijah Sullivan and Da’Quan Patton won’t be able to match the knowledge and fundamentals that Kirby (99 tackles) and Tanking (97 tackles) brought to the field, but they may be able to make up for that with speed and athleticism.

Sullivan, a 6-foot, 219-pound junior from Tucker, Ga., seems poised for a big season after making 28 tackles as the team’s third linebacker last year. Patton, a 6-1, 221-pound junior from Cedar Park, Texas, also seems ready to pile up tackles after spending last year on the scout team with a redshirt.

They will need to stay healthy, as depth is an issue here. But they are two of the most physically imposing players on K-State’s roster, and they capable of making more plays than their predecessors. Time will tell how quickly they can master Blake Seiler’s defense. But once they do, linebacker shouldn’t be a question mark.

Will Reggie Walker bounce back?

Reggie Walker burst onto the scene as a freshman by making 39 tackles, including 11 1/2 for loss, and six sacks. He seemed poised for an even bigger season as a sophomore, but his production dropped in every category. Without Jordan Willis playing on the other side of the defensive line, Walker made 36 tackles, six for loss, and two sacks. Big 12 coaches still thought enough of him to vote him a second-team all-conference player, but he clearly took a step back.

Can he rebound as a junior? Or will fellow defensive ends Kyle Ball, Bronson Massie, Wyatt Hubert and Chase Johnston pass him in the rotation?

Ball had 17 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks last season, and teammates say he has only gotten better over the summer. Massie started the regular-season finale against Iowa State and seems to have a high ceiling. Hubert and Johnston are also capable of making an impact. Defensive end has the makings of an underrated position battle.

Who joins Kendall Adams, Denzel Goolsby and Duke Shelley in the secondary?

The Wildcats appear set at both safety positions with Adams and Goolsby, and at cornerback with Shelley. All three could contend for all-conference honors. The rest of the secondary features question marks.

A.J. Parker seems poised to take over for D.J. Reed at the open cornerback slot, but he could see competition from Jonathan Durham. Walter Neil might be the leader in the clubhouse at nickelback, but the Wildcats have talented young defensive backs capable of pushing him.

K-State’s new-look secondary will be tasked with improving on last year’s numbers against the pass, which weren’t pretty. The Wildcats allowed a Big 12-worst 309.1 passing yards per game.

Who will join Trey Dishon at defensive tackle?

K-State football coach Bill Snyder praised Dishon throughout the spring for evolving as a defensive tackle and providing much needed leadership in practice. After two strong seasons, he will be the Wildcats’ go-to defender up front.

But who will play beside him and take over for Will Geary?

Drew Wiley and Joe Davies seem like the most logical candidates to start against South Dakota. But don’t count out Texas State transfer Jordan Mittie, who could factor into the mix.

Whomever wins the job will have big shoes to fill. Geary was K-State’s top run-stuffer last year, and he also led the team in sacks with 4 1/2.

How much different will the defense operate under a new coordinator?

Tom Hayes retired after six years as K-State’s defensive coordinator, making way for Blake Seiler to take control of the defense. A former K-State player and assistant coach, he seems ready for his first coordinator job.

Snyder has warned fans not to expect “wholesale changes” on offense, and the same can likely be assumed on defense. Seiler is unlikely to do something wild like switch to a 3-4 defense this season. But we could see more significant tweaks on this side of the ball.

More than anything, Hayes geared his defense against stopping the run. And he succeeded in that regard. Under his guidance, the Wildcats regularly ranked near the top of the Big 12 in rush defense. But that came at a cost. They were often bludgeoned through the air.

Returning starters have hinted at tweaks like more press coverage on passing plays and more blitzes on early downs. We won’t find out what Seiler demands until the season begins, but the Wildcats can start working toward his goals on Friday.