Kansas State Football: Is the Bill Snyder era finally coming to an end?

Defense

Defensive coordinator Tom Hayes retired after six years in the role and is replaced by former Wildcat walk-on Blake Seiler. The 2017 defense was only 78th in the country and must be improved to win close games in 2018. Snyder’s teams have always played a safe scheme that focuses more on avoiding big plays and forcing teams to move the ball 90 yards downfield versus going for sacks and interceptions.

Star linebacker Jayd Kirby is gone, and he’s taking 99 tackles (11.5 tackles for loss) and four sacks with him. Defensive linemen Will Geary and Tanner Wood are gone, too, and that’s fourteen tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks that will have to be replaced. Their production will have to be filled by returning starters Reggie Walker, Duke Shelley and Denzel Goolsby.

Returning Production

Walker could be a dominant force if he can regain his 2016 production. Over the past two seasons Walker has 16.5 tackles for loss and six sacks as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. Shelley and Goolsby are defensive backs that started a ton of games in 2017 and combined for four interceptions and 15 pass breakups last season.

Per usual, Snyder’s staff signed a few JUCO players who can contribute right away. Linebackers Cody Fletcher and Rashaan York join defensive backs Darreyl Patterson Kevion McGee as transfers that could see immediate playing time filling in the holes of departed starters.