It didn't take long for first-year defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to figure out who would be playing middle linebacker for K-State.
He knew shortly into spring practices that senior Zach Diles had all the necessary physical and mental abilities to play in the Cover 2 defense. Morris showed how much he valued Diles by selecting him with the first overall pick in the 2006 Purple-White Spring Game Draft.
"Raheem jumped on the Zach Diles membership committee right away," coach Ron Prince said. "He was a big fan as soon as he got here. He said, 'He (Diles) is going to be our mike (middle) linebacker.'"
Diles has started all 10 games for K-State. He ranks second on the team in tackles with 75 and second on the team in sacks with three.
Prince said one of the most important jobs of the middle linebacker is to be the defensive signal caller. Diles relays the play calls from the K-State sideline to his teammates and then makes sure they are all in the right position.
"They trust me, and I trust them," Diles said. "It's a good relationship out there.
"We all have fun with each other, and I think I've taken a pretty big leadership role."
But despite his role on the team now, Diles admits he's learned a lot since graduating from Tulare Union High School in Tulare, Calif. Academically, he did not qualify for a Division I-A university after high school, so he went to Fresno City College instead.
"It was pretty difficult, because I knew I messed up my opportunity," Diles said. "I was just being lazy in the classroom and wasn't working hard. I screwed up."
After starting 22 games in two years at Fresno City, Diles said he was recruited by Utah, K-State, Colorado State and several Pacific-10 Conference teams. He originally committed to Utah, but he didn't qualify academically in January 2005 so he had to find another university.
Diles said his choices left were Colorado State and K-State. He committed to K-State in May 2005.
"My junior college coach called me and told me Kansas State wanted to talk to me," Diles said. "(The coaches) liked what they saw on film and offered me a scholarship."
Diles was forced to watch from the sidelines a lot last year as Ted Sims' backup. Diles finished fourth on the team in tackles with 50 despite not starting a game in 2005.
"It was difficult, but I knew the situation I was getting into," Diles said. "Coming here, Ted was a senior and produced here, and I had to wait my time and not get frustrated with it."
Diles said he has plans to pursue business in Los Angeles if an NFL career doesn't work out. According to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Diles is one of the most underrated college linebackers and a legitimate NFL prospect.
"I definitely think I have the game to play at the next level, but you just have to keep working hard because good things will eventually happen," Diles said.
- Jeffrey Rake contributed to this article
