Chris Klieman valuing what DJ Giddens brings to rushing attack
Kansas State running back DJ Giddens carries the ball during the first quarter against UCF Saturday September 23, 2023 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
LAS VEGAS — Last year the running back had to split carries in the backfield, and still rushed over a 1,000 yards in the regular season.
Coach Chris Klieman is preparing to unleash DJ Giddens on the Big 12 again, but this time around he believes the junior rusher will be more lethal. And that’s saying a lot, considering Giddens put together six 100-yard games in 2023, including four in Big 12 play.
The Kansas native has a rare blend of speed and power, which makes him one of the most explosive players in the conference. Klieman loves how Giddens is versatile too, so he can use him in a variety of ways on any given play.
“DJ is just a phenomenal football player that’s a great kid, great pass protection, great out of the backfield catching the ball, he’s going to have a dynamite year for us,” Klieman said. “We’ve surrounded him now with some more talent that we don’t have to rely on him that much.”
Although Giddens running mate last season Treshaun Ward left the program, Klieman was able to lure in Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards to help with the ground game. Edwards led the Buffaloes in rushing yards, and caught 36 passes out of the backfield last year. Klieman is confident Giddens and Edwards will be a dynamic duo this fall. In Klieman’s eyes both running backs should be able to take some of the load off quarterback Avery Johnson.
“So we’ve got another tailback in Dylan Edwards that’s a really good complement to DJ with some speed as well as electricity elusiveness in the open field,” he said. “That’s probably the thing that excites us the most offensively, we have a lot of guys around Avery.”
After receiving no All-Big 12 consideration in 2023, Giddens will approach this upcoming season with a chip on his shoulder. The league is stacked with elite rushers though, so Giddens may have to go above and beyond to avoid being a needle in a haystack.
However, depending on the opponent’s defense, Klieman will use Giddens accordingly. The 20-year old has workhorse capabilities if necessary, but Klieman doesn’t want to overuse him. Instead he’ll utilize the depth in the running back room, which should be beneficial when the Wildcats navigate through the Big 12 gauntlet. That doesn’t mean Giddens won’t receive valuable touches.
“It will probably be similar in the fact that DJ can carry it 30 times, and he did that a few times for us last year,” the 56-year old said. “He can carry it 20 times, DJ is an every-down back and underrated in our league.”
Over the past three seasons Kansas State has produced a 1,000-yard rusher. It appears that’s not going to change because Giddens is lightning in a bottle, and has some of the softest hands of any running back in the league. The six-foot-one, 212-pounder won’t be sneaking up on anyone, and will have a big bullseye on his back.
Which is why Klieman has some special packages designed for Giddens to keep opposing Defensive Coordinators guessing. There’s no doubt in Klieman’s mind that Giddens is due for an All-Big 12 caliber campaign in 2024, and feels the best is yet to come for the running back.
“We’re going to give it to him (Giddens), and he’ll be ready for it.”
