Kansas State Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

There’s a new era being ushered in with Kansas State football as Chris Klieman has taken over. Who will be his first batch of breakout candidates?

It’s hard to imagine a sideline in Manhattan not being paced by the legendary Billy Snyder, but Kansas State’s famed head coach has stepped down from the position he held on and off for two decades, leaving the job to former North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman.

Before you knock the hire from the FCS level, just know that Klieman knows how to win, and it was evident in just five years as the head coach of the Bison. In fact, he finished his five-year career with NDSU by winning four FCS national titles, making the semifinals the only year he didn’t win and compiling a 69-6 record. I’d say he knows how to win.

Kansas State will be a different beast with expectations that he’s not used to. No one is expecting him to win national titles right away but he will need to build a winning atmosphere.

If he wants to win right away, he’s going to need help from some up-and-coming players poised to make names for themselves.

Who could break out for the Wildcats this spring?

Denzel Goolsby will be back for his senior year starting at one of the safety spots, but with Kendall Adams’ departure, there’s an open spot in that secondary. Who fills the role? Incoming JUCO transfer Jonathan Alexander could be a viable option.

Although Jahron McPherson could push for starting snaps, Alexander was brought in to compete and he has the experience at a higher level already to make an impact. He’s enrolled early and has already been drawing some praise from his new head coach.

Alexander has tremendous size at 6-2 and 209 pounds, so that’s not an issue, but adjusting to the aerial attacks of the Big 12 could be.

The JUCO transfer is off to a good start and he could become a household name this fall thanks to a strong spring.