These Kansas State football players are shining for Chris Klieman at preseason camp

The Kansas State football team has held six practices since players reported for the start of training camp earlier this month.

Head coach Chris Klieman needs much more time than that to evaluate his roster before he will be ready to unveil a public depth chart on both sides of the ball. But he has already seen enough to recognize a handful of standout performers.

Here is a look at some of the players who are turning heads as K-State prepares for its season opener against Southeast Missouri State on September 2.

Three promising freshmen

When Klieman was asked to single out some of Kansas State’s top up-and-coming football players, his mind focused in on a trio of first-year players who appear on their way to making an impact.

He said freshman running Joe Jackson, freshman linebacker Asa Newsom and freshman safety Jack Fabris are all doing “some really nice things” in practice.

So much so, that he wants to see how they perform while playing against or alongside starters in the near future.

“We’ll get an opportunity for those guys to go a little bit live this week or maybe next week and see if they can put everything together,” Klieman said. “We have a lot of kids doing a lot of really good things, but those three in particular are maybe ready to get a few more reps with some of the older guys.”

Starting safeties ready to emerge

There might not be much of a position battle at safety this month.

Even though Kobe Savage is the only returning starter in the K-State secondary, two other safeties have already achieved separation from their teammates.

It seems like VJ Payne and Marques Sigle are on track to start alongside Savage when the season begins. Klieman said the Wildcats are already focused on developing depth behind them.

Remember these names at cornerback

Who will replace Julius Brents and Ekow Bowe-Doe (who is turning heads with the Chiefs) at corner this season?

It seems like Klieman already has a rotation in mind, even if he doesn’t know exactly where they will end up on the depth chart.

Klieman praised junior-college transfer Will Lee, saying “he has taken another step” since the end of spring practice. It sounds like Jacob Parrish and Keenan Garber are also playing well and using their past playing experience as an advantage. Justice James and Jordan Wright are also competing for playing time in the secondary.

Wright could be a versatile member of the defense.

“We are playing him a lot of different spots,” Klieman said, “just because he is a really good athlete.”

Jake Clifton could also help the Wildcats in a Swiss-army-knife capacity. Klieman said the sophomore linebacker has been practicing at all three LB positions during camp.

“It’s probably a little unfair to him to play all three spots,” Klieman said. “But he has taken it on, and he likes the challenge. He knows that his versatility allows him to maybe be a starter at any of the spots or the first guy that spells somebody. We are just fortunate to have Clifton. As smart of a player as he is, he can really help us.”

These receivers are really catching on

It won’t be easy for K-State to replace a pair of productive receivers in Malik Knowles and Kade Warner. But the Wildcats have already identified a pair of new playmakers in training camp.

Klieman went out of his way to praise both R.J. Garcia and Iowa transfer Keagan Johnson this week.

Garcia seems poised to build on his touchdown catch in last season’s Big 12 championship game.

“One of the guys who has made a ton of plays in the first six days of practice is R.J. Garcia,” Klieman said. “You guys saw sparks of that last year behind some of the older guys, but R.J. has learned what we are doing. The game has slowed down for him. I appreciate him being an exceptional leader in that room, too. He has been a tremendous leader.”

It sounds like Johnson could have tremendous upside with Will Howard throwing him passes.

“Keagan Johnson has really been exceptional in the spring, and it has carried over to the fall,” Klieman said.

Later, Klieman explained what has set Johnson apart.

“He is an exceptionally talented guy,” Klieman said. “He has a great feel for the game and how to get open. He high points the ball and he uses his body well to catch the ball. He is a complete receiver, and he has a chance to be really, really special.”