Collin Klein Receiving Tutoring From Former NFL QB Jake Plummer

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas State’s indominable leader, Collin Klein, has been working with former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer to prepare for the NFL combine, which kicks off this Saturday. The Denver Post ran an interesting article on Monday focusing more on Denver’s winningest (by virtue of winning percentage) quarterback in franchise history than Klein himself, noting that Plummer is taking advantage of an opportunity to reconnect with the game he famously walked away from seven years ago. However, it also provides a look at how high Plummer is on Klein based on his coachability, skills, and willingness to work hard.

Klein, who accounted for 37 touchdowns while leading the Wildcats to an 11-2 record and Big 12 Championship in 2012, is anxious to demonstrate the progress he’s made on the delivery front over the past two months. Working in Klein’s favor during the combine will be the time he’s had to heal since separating his shoulder against Oklahoma State. The injury knocked him out of the game, and he struggled to deliver the same accuracy during the rest of the season as, say, the West Virginia game when he torched the Mountaineers by completing 19-of-21 passes for 323 yard and three touchdowns.

Klein is a prima facia perfect quarterback. Standing at 6’5″ and possessing the strength to bully defenders that get in his way, he ran around, over, and straight through would-be tacklers while operating the read option to perfection. Yet Klein was unable to quell questions about his accuracy at the East-West Shrine game, where he finished just 5-of-13 for 43 yards and an interception. However, that performance merely put him in the same boat as the other 11 quarterbacks that struggled to produce at both the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl (the two all-star games were completely controlled by defensive play). Since then he has been working diligently to prove The Jug wrong and show he’s more than just an option at tight end in the NFL. Says Plummer of his time with Optimus Klein, “I just want Collin to have success. I want him to feel good about what he can do, where he can go. He’s such a good kid. I’m having fun working with him. And he makes all the throws, and he can do some things other guys can’t. Hey, what’s not to like there?”

For more information on Collin Klein’s NFL draft prospects, visit our January draft preview here.