5 Kansas State Wildcats to Watch This Week Against Auburn

Sep 7, 2013; Manhattan, KS, USA; Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns tight end Ian Thompson (85) is tackled by Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Jonathan Truman (21) during the Cajuns

#21 Jonathan Truman, 5-foot-11, 219 pounds, Senior, Linebacker

Kansas State always seems to have a linebacker that runs sideline to sideline and is involved in nearly every tackle. You might remember Arthur Brown, Zac Diles, Terry Pierce and Mark Simoneau – all of which were drafted into the NFL.

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This year’s version is Jonathan Truman.

Truman recorded 89 total tackles last season, which ranked second on the squad, after spending his first two seasons on campus in a reserve role. He started all 13 games for K-State last year and compiled 4.5 tackles for a loss and forced two fumbles.

The senior is one of the strongest players on the Kansas State roster pound for pound. According to an August 2014 story by Associated Press writer Dave Skretta, Truman benches 430 pounds, hang clings 400 and squats 540. For a man that weighs in shy of 220 pounds, that is extremely impressive.

“Mentally and physically, there’s no doubt. He’s a freak,” defensive end Ryan Mueller said. “And that’s a good thing, to be known as a freak in football. And in the weight room, yeah, he’s pretty crazy. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.”

Oh, and guess what. Truman, like Mueller, is a former walk-on.