Fast, Violent and Relentless
Feb 16, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
He brings five years of defensive coordinator experience and has spent six years with Big 12 Conference teams, and now first-year Kansas State defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson, upon assembling talented players from the transfer portal and evaluating current players, knows what he wants the identity of the Wildcats' defense to be in the fall — and beyond.
"It better be a fast, violent, relentless effort," Peterson said. "You ought to be able to feel it on tape when you're watching it. The first reaction should be, 'Wow, these guys play hard, together and with a level of confidence and swagger about them.' That's the first thing I want people to say about this defense."
First-year K-State head coach Collin Klein hired Peterson after their two years together on staff at Texas A&M, which reached at least 11 wins for just the third time in history in 2025.
Klein, a 36-year-old, served as the offensive coordinator who guided one of the nation's most powerful offenses — one that ranked 19th in averaging 33.8 points per game, and that ranked 23rd in averaging 444.5 total yards per contest.
Peterson, a 38-year-old, oversaw an Aggies' defense that ranked first in the country in third down defense, second in sacks, third in tackles for loss, 16th in passing yards allowed, 19th in total defense and 22nd in fourth down defense.
It helped to culminate in an 11-2 record for No. 7 Texas A&M, which resulted in a berth into the College Football Playoff.
"We had several conversations just about our goals in the profession," Peterson said. "Obviously, Collin is a really sharp individual, a big-time competitor, and as we kind of talked through and worked together for two years, I'm glad to see it came together."
Peterson spoke to reporters for the first time late last week — nearly one month after he was introduced to the nickname that K-State historically has bestowed upon its best defenses in history, and a title that traditionally must be earned by the players.
"If you want to be the 'Mob,' you'd better come with the "Mob' mentality," Peterson said shortly after arriving in Manhattan. "We're going to play fast, physical, violent freaking football. That's what it's going to be."
A Texas A&M alum who faced K-State as a player (2005-09) and then as a member of the coaching staffs at Texas A&M (2010-11) and at Kansas (2020-23), Peterson maintains a deep appreciation for the Wildcats' storied lineage of standout defenses.
Peterson also got a hefty dose of Klein, as well.
Peterson served as graduate assistant when Klein, a junior, scored the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak in the fourth overtime of a 53-50 win by No. 17 K-State over Texas A&M on November 12, 2011, in Manhattan.
Klein, who ended his K-State career as a 2012 Heisman Trophy Finalist, threw for a career-high 281 yards, added 103 yards on the ground, and accounted for six touchdowns against Texas A&M, as the Wildcats rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes of regulation to force the first overtime game in the 44-year history of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"K-State is gritty," Peterson said. "You know it was going to be a four-quarter battle. You knew it was going to be a fist fight. It's about just trying to figure out who's going to come out of the phone booth alive. My first year as a GA was the four-overtime game here. Every experience was some version of that. That's the outside perception of it. You get here and you understand why.
"You get to know the people and understand the culture of what this place is and it's everything you want."
A native of Lexington, Texas, Peterson's journey as a position coach began at Fresno State, first as a defensive secondary coach in 2012-14 and then as outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator in 2015-16. He coached safeties and served as defensive passing game coordinator and the defensive coordinator at New Mexico between 2017 and 2019, then reached the Power 4 level at Kansas.
In 2020, he coached safeties at Kansas. In 2021, he was senior defensive analyst. In 2022, he coached defensive backs. In 2023, he served as defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
"I know the battles we lost a lot of times on the other side of things," Peterson said. "This means a lot to me. My family loves the state of Kansas."
Upon his hiring at K-State, Peterson said, "Collin Klein is undefeated against me, so if I can't beat him, I have to join him. So, here we go."
Peterson's initial assignment on the K-State staff in late December — days after Texas A&M ended its season — entailed a 36-hour whirlwind trip to see current K-State players. Then it became watching film of every available defensive player in the transfer portal.
"As a collective, it was hair on fire," Peterson said. "I feel like I watched 2,000 guys between the portal and what not. We feel like we retained a good chunk of pieces we feel really good about, and we've tried to supplement that with guys we brought in. We're in as good of a position as we could possibly be given the amount of turnover and attrition and the staff turnover."
Asked if he might focus some of his energy as defensive coordinator on his baby — the defensive backfield — Peterson pointed to co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and Jeremiah Johnson, who both will work with the defensive backfield, as well.
"I always thought that the NFL had it right where you want to have a coordinator who has an area of expertise that's his baby," Peterson said. "The secondary is my baby. But to make decisions for the betterment of the team as a full unit, by taking your bias of a certain position group out, you can make decisions that's best for the unit. Although I'm obviously going to be heavily involved with the back seven, Coach Woodson and Coach Johnson — we have an unbelievable staff that allows me to take a big-picture view and make sure I'm making decisions that are right for the unit."
One strength of Texas A&M's defense under Peterson was its ability to utilize multiple defensive fronts and disguise coverages in the back end.
Peterson plans to bring that to the Wildcats.
"It's funny because I've worked with and around people and every schematic defensive set-up, whether it's 3-4, 4-2-5, 4-3 or 3-3-5," Peterson said. "I've been around the whole block. We're going to be very multiple in what we do. We don't want a team to be able to 100% know what we're going to be in all the time. As you package a defense together, you want it to be multiple to the offense but simplistic enough to the defense so the guys understand what they're doing. It's making sure they have to prepare for multiple things, not only from a front standpoint but from a coverage system."
Peterson likes what he sees from his newly assembled defensive room.
"It's awesome," he said. "There's a hunger here. Obviously, we brought in a decent chunk of transfers in the signing class, so we're in that process of making sure there's cohesiveness and that you're building that brotherhood, but at the same time these guys, whether they were here or are transfers, they're hungry. They're looking for opportunities to get better and trying to find opportunities to learn, they're working their butts off in the weight room and in the strength and conditioning department. From that standpoint, it's been really, really nice, and you get to switch gears.
"You take the job and it's all recruiting and putting together and solidifying a roster, not only the guys you're retaining from the previous staff but going out to get transfers. When you put all that together, it's been nice to focus on the football part of things and getting to know and build relationships with our current players."
He brings five years of defensive coordinator experience and has spent six years with Big 12 Conference teams, and now first-year Kansas State defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson, upon assembling talented players from the transfer portal and evaluating current players, knows what he wants the identity of the Wildcats' defense to be in the fall — and beyond.
"It better be a fast, violent, relentless effort," Peterson said. "You ought to be able to feel it on tape when you're watching it. The first reaction should be, 'Wow, these guys play hard, together and with a level of confidence and swagger about them.' That's the first thing I want people to say about this defense."
First-year K-State head coach Collin Klein hired Peterson after their two years together on staff at Texas A&M, which reached at least 11 wins for just the third time in history in 2025.
Klein, a 36-year-old, served as the offensive coordinator who guided one of the nation's most powerful offenses — one that ranked 19th in averaging 33.8 points per game, and that ranked 23rd in averaging 444.5 total yards per contest.
Peterson, a 38-year-old, oversaw an Aggies' defense that ranked first in the country in third down defense, second in sacks, third in tackles for loss, 16th in passing yards allowed, 19th in total defense and 22nd in fourth down defense.
It helped to culminate in an 11-2 record for No. 7 Texas A&M, which resulted in a berth into the College Football Playoff.
"We had several conversations just about our goals in the profession," Peterson said. "Obviously, Collin is a really sharp individual, a big-time competitor, and as we kind of talked through and worked together for two years, I'm glad to see it came together."
Peterson spoke to reporters for the first time late last week — nearly one month after he was introduced to the nickname that K-State historically has bestowed upon its best defenses in history, and a title that traditionally must be earned by the players.
"If you want to be the 'Mob,' you'd better come with the "Mob' mentality," Peterson said shortly after arriving in Manhattan. "We're going to play fast, physical, violent freaking football. That's what it's going to be."
A Texas A&M alum who faced K-State as a player (2005-09) and then as a member of the coaching staffs at Texas A&M (2010-11) and at Kansas (2020-23), Peterson maintains a deep appreciation for the Wildcats' storied lineage of standout defenses.
Peterson also got a hefty dose of Klein, as well.
Peterson served as graduate assistant when Klein, a junior, scored the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak in the fourth overtime of a 53-50 win by No. 17 K-State over Texas A&M on November 12, 2011, in Manhattan.
Klein, who ended his K-State career as a 2012 Heisman Trophy Finalist, threw for a career-high 281 yards, added 103 yards on the ground, and accounted for six touchdowns against Texas A&M, as the Wildcats rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes of regulation to force the first overtime game in the 44-year history of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"K-State is gritty," Peterson said. "You know it was going to be a four-quarter battle. You knew it was going to be a fist fight. It's about just trying to figure out who's going to come out of the phone booth alive. My first year as a GA was the four-overtime game here. Every experience was some version of that. That's the outside perception of it. You get here and you understand why.
"You get to know the people and understand the culture of what this place is and it's everything you want."
A native of Lexington, Texas, Peterson's journey as a position coach began at Fresno State, first as a defensive secondary coach in 2012-14 and then as outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator in 2015-16. He coached safeties and served as defensive passing game coordinator and the defensive coordinator at New Mexico between 2017 and 2019, then reached the Power 4 level at Kansas.
In 2020, he coached safeties at Kansas. In 2021, he was senior defensive analyst. In 2022, he coached defensive backs. In 2023, he served as defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
"I know the battles we lost a lot of times on the other side of things," Peterson said. "This means a lot to me. My family loves the state of Kansas."
Upon his hiring at K-State, Peterson said, "Collin Klein is undefeated against me, so if I can't beat him, I have to join him. So, here we go."
Peterson's initial assignment on the K-State staff in late December — days after Texas A&M ended its season — entailed a 36-hour whirlwind trip to see current K-State players. Then it became watching film of every available defensive player in the transfer portal.
"As a collective, it was hair on fire," Peterson said. "I feel like I watched 2,000 guys between the portal and what not. We feel like we retained a good chunk of pieces we feel really good about, and we've tried to supplement that with guys we brought in. We're in as good of a position as we could possibly be given the amount of turnover and attrition and the staff turnover."
Asked if he might focus some of his energy as defensive coordinator on his baby — the defensive backfield — Peterson pointed to co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and Jeremiah Johnson, who both will work with the defensive backfield, as well.
"I always thought that the NFL had it right where you want to have a coordinator who has an area of expertise that's his baby," Peterson said. "The secondary is my baby. But to make decisions for the betterment of the team as a full unit, by taking your bias of a certain position group out, you can make decisions that's best for the unit. Although I'm obviously going to be heavily involved with the back seven, Coach Woodson and Coach Johnson — we have an unbelievable staff that allows me to take a big-picture view and make sure I'm making decisions that are right for the unit."
One strength of Texas A&M's defense under Peterson was its ability to utilize multiple defensive fronts and disguise coverages in the back end.
Peterson plans to bring that to the Wildcats.
"It's funny because I've worked with and around people and every schematic defensive set-up, whether it's 3-4, 4-2-5, 4-3 or 3-3-5," Peterson said. "I've been around the whole block. We're going to be very multiple in what we do. We don't want a team to be able to 100% know what we're going to be in all the time. As you package a defense together, you want it to be multiple to the offense but simplistic enough to the defense so the guys understand what they're doing. It's making sure they have to prepare for multiple things, not only from a front standpoint but from a coverage system."
Peterson likes what he sees from his newly assembled defensive room.
"It's awesome," he said. "There's a hunger here. Obviously, we brought in a decent chunk of transfers in the signing class, so we're in that process of making sure there's cohesiveness and that you're building that brotherhood, but at the same time these guys, whether they were here or are transfers, they're hungry. They're looking for opportunities to get better and trying to find opportunities to learn, they're working their butts off in the weight room and in the strength and conditioning department. From that standpoint, it's been really, really nice, and you get to switch gears.
"You take the job and it's all recruiting and putting together and solidifying a roster, not only the guys you're retaining from the previous staff but going out to get transfers. When you put all that together, it's been nice to focus on the football part of things and getting to know and build relationships with our current players."
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