Kansas State football senior VJ Payne is the only starter back in the secondary, but the Wildcats have plenty of prospects to fill the void at safety.
MANHATTAN — Call it a changing of the guard, but Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman is adamant that the Wildcats are hardly starting from scratch at the safety position in 2025.
Senior strong safety VJ Payne may be the lone returning starter at the three safety spots in a secondary that also replaces both cornerbacks, but pull back the curtain, and there are numerous options available with significant game experience.
"VJ Payne has played a lot and is a returning starter," Klieman said of Payne, who begins his third season as the starting strong safety. "Colby McCalister has played an awful lot of football for us, and maybe you wouldn't consider him a returning starter, and Jack Fabris has played a lot of football for us — probably not considered a returning starter.
"Gunner Maldonado started for three years at Arizona and probably is not considered a returning starter for us."
Still, sorting out the pieces at free safety, Jack safety, and even the nickel back is an ongoing process with the Aug. 23 season opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, just over three weeks away.
Competition remains keen for playing time
Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who also happens to coach the safeties, likes the fact that his players will have to earn their time on the field.
"I think we've got a competitive room right now," Klanderman said toward the end of spring practice. "I think we've got some guys in that room that are ready to make that jump to the next phase.
"We challenged a couple of them here since we've been done with you're not a young guy anymore. You're a guy, and your expectations of yourself need to change. You've got to go from being a guy that's OK being a backup to being a guy that's a little more greedy about what you expect of yourself, and you manifest your role in this thing."
VJ Payne back as leader of the pack
Since appearing in every game with four starts as a true freshman in 2022, Payne has been a mainstay in the Wildcat secondary. A year ago, he was second on the team in tackles with 64 and had two interceptions, both in the end zone, with the pick against Tulane sealing a victory with five seconds left.
"It's nice that we have VJ Payne in there, that's played a lot of snaps and he's a tremendous leader," Klanderman said. "He's as promising a (professional) prospect as we've had here, and that's saying something."
Gunner Maldonado another potential leader
Maldonado was a three-year starter at Arizona before transferring to K-State for a super-senior fifth season. He suffered a season-ending injury early last year, shortly after playing against the Wildcats.
Maldonado missed all of spring practice while recovering from the injury, but is about to be cleared for full participation in preseason camp and is the likely starter at free safety.
"It's nice that we've added Gunner Maldonado, who, albeit he was injured this spring, you can tell he's got maturity and leadership characteristics and has done that in another program in this league," Klanderman said.
Who else will take the next step into a starting role?
Junior Colby McCalister started three games last year at Jack safety, but like Maldonado, is coming off an injury. Sophomore Jack Fabris made two starts at the same spot as a redshirt freshman.
Klanderman also mentioned sophomores Wesley Fair and Mikey Bergeron as potential contributors, along with juniors Jet Dineen, Daniel Cobbs, and West Georgia transfer Qua Moss. Moss and Cobbs have also worked at Nickel.
A look at K-State's safeties
- VJ Payne, 6-3, 208, senior, Gainesville, Ga. (Buford HS)
- Gunner Maldonado, 5-11, 193, super senior, Chandler, Ariz. (Arizona)
- Colby McCalister, 5-10, 198, junior, Houston (Cedar Creek HS)
- Jack Fabris, 6-2, 195, sophomore, Bogart, Ga. (North Oconee HS)
- Qua Moss, 5-10, 185, junior, West Point, Ga. (West Georgia)
- Wesley Fair, 6-1, 200, sophomore, Wichita (Wichita Collegiate HS)
- Daniel Cobbs, 5-10, 190, junior, Fort Worth, Texas (Tyker JC)
- Jet Dineen, 5-10, 195, junior, Lawrence (Free State HS)
- Mikey Bergeron, 6-2, 202, sophomore, Shawnee (Mill Valley HS)
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football faces significant turnover at safety position
Category: General Sports
