Collin Klein is 'targeting' a Texas A&M DC to join him at Kansas State
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MANHATTAN — Collin Klein is reportedly targeting a fellow Texas A&M coordinator to become the next defensive coordinator at Kansas State.
Jordan Peterson, Texas A&M’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, is “a target” to join Klein in Manhattan, according to CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz.
Peterson would become the second Aggies defensive coordinator to leave Texas A&M, joining Jay Bateman, who will leave the Aggies for the same job at Kentucky. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko has been the Aggies’ primary play-caller.
Peterson would fill the void left by Joe Klanderman, who left K-State to become Baylor‘s defensive coordinator.
Texas A&M is coming off a regular season in which it ranked No. 19 in yards allowed, giving up just 309.8 per game. The Aggies ranked first in the nation on third downs and allowed only 182.8 passing yards per game and 14.1 yards per completion, two marks that ranked among the nation’s best.
Peterson is no stranger to the Sunflower State, working for Kansas from 2020-23 on Lance Leipold’s staff. He was the program’s defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2023, and worked between being a safeties coach and defensive analyst in the three years before.
Kansas had four All-Big 12 performers in the secondary, led by Peterson, including two-time All-Big 12 first-teamer Cobee Bryant.
Peterson also spent three seasons at New Mexico from 2017-19, serving as the Lobos’ defensive coordinator in 2019. He coached at Fresno State from 2012-16.
Texas A&M hosts Miami (Florida) on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11 a.m. in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jordan Peterson could join Collin Klein at Kansas State as DC
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