Chris Klieman is dreading this new requirement for K-State spring football practice
Chris Klieman is not a fan of the new roster limits that are expected to be placed on college football teams next season.
In years past, Kansas State could roster as many players as it desired. No more than 85 were allowed to be on scholarship, but the Wildcats could invite many more recruits to Manhattan as walk-ons. Those extra players have helped so much over time that K-State values them more than many teams. As such, its typical roster size floats around 125.
But that may not be the case come fall. If the House vs. NCAA settlement is approved, as expected, all college football teams will have a roster limit of 105.
That means Wildcats head coach Klieman and his coaching staff will likely have to cut around 20 players at the end of spring practices, which begin on Friday.
Klieman can’t believe that is now part of his job.
“Off the field,” he said during a news conference on Wednesday, “I still think the industry of college football is a disaster.”
Klieman would rather do just about anything than tell two dozen walk-ons they are no longer welcome in the K-State locker room.
“We have got to remove a lot of kids from the program, and it sucks,” Klieman said. “I’ll be honest with you, there are a lot of kids that want to be here and want to stay here that we can’t have in the program. They are kids that are paying their own way, kids that have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this place, kids that are invested academically.
“Now, those kids have got to make a choice. And it’s frustrating to me, because I don’t understand how the number came to be 105. Why don’t we kind of slowly bring it down? I don’t know who decided it.”
He wasn’t done.
“I’m not in favor of this at all,” Klieman said. “We have got a lot of kids that want to be in the program that are not going to be able to be in the program.”
For that reason, K-State made some changes to its spring schedule this year.
The Wildcats aren’t holding 15 practices in April. Instead, they opted for extra time in the weight room and just 10 practices. Klieman is hopeful that those changes will make the Wildcats more athletic and also give K-State coaches a chance to evaluate their walk-ons and make roster cuts in a short amount of time.
He doesn’t want to cut anyone, but he would rather make those difficult decisions now rather than wait. His hope is that anyone who doesn’t make the roster will have an opportunity to transfer elsewhere and play.
Spring football is normally low stress. It’s usually a fun time of year for everyone to feel optimistic about the future. At K-State, it is often a good opportunity for walk-ons and young players to flash their potential and impress coaches behind closed doors.
This year, it’s a tryout for certain players.
Klieman doesn’t like it, but spring football practice is about to feel like NFL training camp for players near the cut line.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.