Soon-to-be junior Daniel Sams gave K-State fans a taste of his infamous sideline high-step Saturday at the annual Purple/White Spring Game. It was about the only thing that was the same from last season.
Sams made news this offseason when he moved from quarterback to wide receiver, realizing that quarterback Jake Waters was the Wildcats’ go-to signal caller entering his senior year. The transition to a new position isn’t easy, but Sams’ willingness to make the switch has garnered the respect of his teammates.
“Daniel is a team player,” senior wide receiver Curry Sexton said. “Daniel just wants to be on the field and help the team any way that he can. You guys know how good of an athlete he is, and what kind of player he is and how many plays he can make. Daniel saw that Jake (Waters), toward the end of the season, was kind of the guy and Daniel just wanted to help the team out in some way because he is capable of helping the team wherever he goes.”
Waters, who could be found on last season’s game days throwing passes alongside of Sams, praised his former position mate as well.
“With a guy like Daniel, he just wants to get on the field and help the team,” Waters said after Saturday’s game. “He’s not about his ego or being the starting quarterback. He just wants to help the team any way possible, so as a guy playing with him, I respect that a ton.”
Will that respect carry over to the field? It’s a question that still remains. Sams did haul in two passes for 9 yards Saturday, while also getting experience returning punts. His teammates said he’s come along way in just a few short months of spring ball.
“Starting out, you could tell he had plenty of athletic capability, but the fundamentals were lacking because he never played the position really,” Sexton said. “Toward the end of this spring, he started coming into his own, really doing some good things for us.”
Sams will have to prove himself to see time this season. Twelve Wildcat wide receivers had two or more receptions Saturday, and that was without senior wide receiver Tyler Lockett suited up. It’s a dynamic group that features several pieces that could make a big splash come kickoff on Aug. 30 against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.
For now, though, Sams has the backing to complete this difficult transition, and fans can at least rest comfortably knowing he still has the high-step as well.
