K-State’s Chris Klieman Calls on Senior Safety to Step Up
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman is urging his veteran players to rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters most.
The Wildcats narrowly escaped an upset in their home opener, defeating North Dakota 38–35 thanks to a late six-yard touchdown reception by Joe Jackson in the fourth quarter. While the victory avoided embarrassment, it also raised serious questions about the team’s readiness and execution.
Klieman pointed out that some of the team’s top players may be overexerting themselves, trying to force big moments instead of letting the game come naturally—particularly senior safety VJ Payne.
“Some of our best guys are pressing too much, trying to make every play instead of playing within the flow,” Klieman said. “VJ Payne comes to mind. He’s a really talented player, but I think he’s pressing a bit.”
Payne was expected to be one of the defensive standouts this year, but his start has been underwhelming. Through two games, he’s recorded just five solo tackles and a single tackle for loss. As one of the few returning starters on defense, it seems he may be overly focused on leading others rather than playing his own game.
“We know VJ’s capable—he’s made plenty of great plays before,” Klieman added. “He just needs to stop worrying about getting everyone else lined up and start playing faster and more instinctively. Keep communicating, but trust himself and play loose.”
K-State Flirting With Early Season Disaster
Kansas State’s start to the 2025 season has fans drawing some troubling comparisons—to last year’s 2024 Florida State team, which spiraled from a top-tier program to one of the worst records in the nation.
The Wildcats entered the season with high expectations and Big 12 title hopes. But after a Week 0 loss to a ranked conference rival and a narrow escape against an FCS opponent, those expectations are fading fast.
Last year, Florida State began the season riding high after a 13-1 finish in 2023, but crashed to a 2-10 record just one year later. Some fans fear Kansas State could be heading down a similar path.
Despite offseason promises of improvement and a revamped roster, the on-field results so far haven’t reflected that. The Wildcats have looked eerily similar to last year’s inconsistent team—and that’s a concern.
There’s still hope for a turnaround. Star running back Dylan Edwards is expected to return soon, which could inject life into the offense. But as of now, it’s a rocky start for a team that was considered a Big 12 frontrunner.
Quarterback Avery Johnson didn’t shy away from calling out the need for growth after the narrow win.
“If we keep playing like this, we won’t be the team we’re aiming to be,” Johnson said postgame. “I went straight to our leaders and told them we have to own this performance. That game was way too close, and we’ve got to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
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