K-State expects comeback story for Kobe Savage now that he is ‘full go’ after injury

JULY 19, 2023 10:19 AM
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman was in tears when Kobe Savage went down with a torn ACL during a road game against Baylor last season.
The unfortunate injury sent the Wildcats’ starting strong safety to the sideline with two weeks remaining in the season, meaning Savage would not be available to help his team in important games against West Virginia or Kansas. Nor would he play in the Big 12 championship game or the Sugar Bowl.
Ouch.
Still, Klieman was able to find a silver lining as a dark cloud formed over Savage.
“I knew there was a kid that would work his tail off to be full go by August 1,” Klieman said. “Turns out he was full go on June 15. He’s cleared for everything, and we need him to be cleared for everything because we lost Julius Brents, Ekow Boye-Doe, Josh Hayes and Drake Cheatum. He’s the lone soldier back there who has to be a great leader.”
Savage was driven to recover from his injury.
After spending his first three seasons of college at Texas A&M-Commerce and then Tyler (Texas) Community College, he felt like he had already missed out on enough big-time football. Few players are more thankful for what they have.
“One thing I will tell you about Kobe is he has an appreciation for everything that he has at Kansas State,” Klieman said. “If somebody wants to complain about what the meal was, he will say, ‘Go to (junior college) and see what meals are like there.’ He can get guys to go, ‘Oh wow, I don’t realize how fortunate I am.’”
That mindset also helped Savage mentally as he recovered from his injury.
Even though he was bummed about his status, he tried his best to be a student coach as he hobbled up and down the sideline on crutches.
“At first I was sad for myself,” Savage said. “But then I realized that I was being selfish, because we still had a season to finish. I quickly threw all that away and felt happy for my teammates. Seeing them accomplish the goals we set out for the season meant more to me than crying about my ACL. I would rather tear my ACL and win the Big 12 than stay healthy and not win anything.”
Savage got a taste of major college football as a redshirt-junior and he made the most of his debut season with the Wildcats by making 58 tackles and grabbing three interceptions. Turns out he was Division I material.
He was far from a perfect player, but no one on the roster hit harder than Savage. It seemed like all of his tackles caused a reaction from spectators.
“I could have been a lot better last season,” Savage said. “I would rate it as maybe a C-minus. I left a lot out there. There’s a lot of things that I can correct. I can make more tackles and more plays. I feel like I have a lot more to show this season.”
Even though his season was cut short by four games, he still did enough to earn All-Big 12 second team honors.
Building on that is his primary goal for 2023. He is already counting down the days until preseason camp begins in August.
“I am really excited for that, because it will give me that feeling that I’m back,” Savage said. “I can’t wait to get back around the guys like nothing is wrong and just play.”
His role will be different this season. Last year, he was just a cog in K-State’s secondary alongside standout defensive backs like Brents, Ekow-Boye Doe and Hayes, who are all currently on NFL rosters. Now, he will be expected to lead.
As the only returning starter at defensive back, it is now his job to teach VJ Payne, Jacob Parrish, Marquis Sigle, Keenan Garber and others how to work together and defend as a single unit.
He is up for the challenge. This is what he’s been working for since he got injured.