What's next for Kansas State football sophomore defensive backs VJ Payne, Jacob Parrish?

MANHATTAN — Kansas State football defensive backs Jacob Parrish and VJ Payne both admit that on occasion last year, their heads were spinning.

But as true freshmen trying to prove themselves in the Wildcats' secondary, they also knew they had to sink or swim.

"I would say there is like a maturity thing going from high school football to college, the things that come with it," said Payne, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore safety from Gainesville, Georgia. "But with stuff like that, you've just got to overcome it and just go and attack it."

Parrish, a cornerback from Olathe North High School, felt much the same way.

"Last year I was new to the game, so it was going too fast," he said. "Now I feel like understanding the game, it's going pretty slow for me and I'm able to make plays."

With four of the five starters from last year's secondary gone — three of them to the NFL — K-State is counting on Payne and Parrish to expand their roles in year two. Both should be in the starting lineup for next Saturday's 6 p.m. season opener against Southeast Missouri State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Related: How will Kansas State football's depth chart look to start the season? Our predictions

Of the two, Payne gained the most experience as a freshman with four starts, including the Big 12 championship and Sugar Bowl, after returning starters Kobe Savage and fifth-year senior Cincere Mason suffered season-ending injuries. After working at strong safety and free safety last year, he now is slotted in at the Jack.

"We've shuffled VJ around a few positions," said defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who also coaches the safeties. "Similar to Jacob, I think when you're a true freshman, you're just caught in the moment and you're just trying to play fast, and that's still what we want him to do. But hopefully now he can play a little bit more intelligently.

"Use him as more of a communicator, more of a quarterback of what we're doing back there instead of just being a piece that listens to others. I think he's a guy that can direct the traffic a little bit more."

The 5-10, 183-pound Parrish contributed all year on special teams and as a backup corner, but played most of the Big 12 championship game, recording four tackles and breaking up a pass in the Wildcats' 31-28 overtime victory over TCU.

With two-year starters Julius Brents and Ekow Boye-Doe now in the NFL — Brents was a second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts and Boye-Doe a free agent signee with the Kansas City Chiefs — Parrish should step in at one of those spots, while junior college transfer Will Lee and converted receiver Keenan Garber fight it out for the other.

Related: Five top returning players to watch on Kansas State football's defense heading into 2023

Assistant head coach Van Malone, his position coach, wants to see Parrish build on last-year's success and also bring the other corners along with him.

"He's a focused player and he competes, and I have continually talked to him about having an understanding that everyone's watching," Malone said. "They're watching you, and there's no more lead by example.

"We need him to lead and be a vocal part of our defense, because he has the credibility to be able to do that. You're talking about a sophomore. Normally you talk about juniors and seniors, but this guy, when he's a junior and he's a senior, he's going to be off the charts with his play."

Parrish arguably has created more buzz during preseason camp than any other new starter, save possibly for nose tackle Uso Seumalo. He has packed on 10 pounds since last year, which should allow him to be more physical.

"Right now, I'm just worried about winning another Big 12 ring," Parrish said. "I feel I can be a reliable starter and just make plays for the team."

Payne, who now has worked at three different positions in his short career, said it should help him to be a more vocal presence alongside strong safety Savage and super-senior Marques Sigle at free safety.

Related: Five things to watch for as Kansas State football opens 2023 preseason camp

"With the Jack position, you've really got to know the whole defense, and you're just going up there and meeting with coach Klanderman and studying the playbook and going to watch film every day," he said. "It's really helping me to know not just my position on the field, but everybody around me."

In fact, Payne and Parrish often can be seen huddled together in the film room, comparing notes.

"VJ, that's my dude," Parrish said. "We study film and hang out together."

It already is showing up on the practice field.

"Since last year, we've just really been focusing on staying in the playbook, and not just on our opposition, but everybody else around us," Payne said. "So, we're just playing faster and more free out there and making a lot more plays."

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football's VJ Payne and Jacob Parrish ready for more