2011 was an excellent season for the Kansas State Wildcats, despite losing in the Cotton Bowl to Arkansas. As Kansas State looks to build on that success in 2012, they'll lean heavily on their secondary, which figures to provide defensive strength for the Wildcats.

K-State returns both cornerbacks from a year ago in Nigel Malone and Allen Chapman.

"The good news is that we have them back," said Hayes, K-State's defensive coordinator and coach of the secondary. "The bad news is we just got them from City College of San Francisco, and now they have only one year left. Nigel really had a nice year last year, and Chapman grew as the season went on."

Kansas State also has youth in the secondary, which will serve as depth for 2012 -- and, consequently, translates into experience for 2013 and beyond.

Depth at the position will come from youngsters in redshirt freshman Morgan Burns (5-11, 195) from Wichita's Trinity Academy, plus Donny Starks (5-11, 180, Fr.) from Crosby, Texas, and Randall Evans (6-0, 190, So.) from Miami, Fla.

A deep and talented secondary can certainly translate into success, and can allow the defense to have more exotic blitz packages, knowing the secondary can do its job.

For the latest on Kansas State, head over to Bring On The Cats.