K-State glad it took a chance on linebacker Houlik
By HOWARD RICHMAN
The Kansas City Star
Kansas State sophomore linebacker John Houlik (right) has already racked up 11 solo tackles this season. MANHATTAN, Kan. | When he was trying to peddle John Houlik all over the country, Wichita Collegiate football coach Bill Messamore found little interest.
That included Kansas, which has a special place in Messamore’s heart.
“I’m a ku grad,” Messamore said. “It kind of kills me they didn’t take John.”
Messamore, though, can set aside his ku allegiance to commend Kansas State. The Wildcats did take a chance on Houlik, and it is looking like they made a very wise decision.
Houlik, a sophomore linebacker, may not have been front-and-center on K-State’s radar when 2007 started. But look at him now. Houlik is tied for fourth in total tackles with 15 and second in solos with 11 for the Wildcats, 2-1 and off this week.
“I told K-State it wasn’t going to be disappointed,” Messamore said. “If John had been 6-3, he could have written his ticket anywhere in the country.”
Houlik, who is 5 feet 11 and 217 pounds, was set to go to Air Force when K-State offered.
“They brought me up here for a reason, so I’m just doing my job, making my family proud, and my coaches,” said Houlik, whose brother Joseph is a true freshman wide receiver for the Wildcats.
Messamore compares Houlik favorably to linebacker Banks Floodman, a former Wichita Collegiate player who went on to be a solid player at ku.
“We felt John had some of the things Banks didn’t,” Messamore said, “like agility with footwork. John also could be our No. 1 run-stopper and shut down the top receiver if we needed it.”
If anything, colleges that passed on Houlik probably should have taken a closer look at his genes. After all, there’s some serious football history in his bloodlines.
One of Houlik’s grandfathers, Anton Houlik, was a halfback who is enshrined in Wichita State’s Hall of Fame. His other grandfather, Jack Ging, was a defensive back who lettered at Oklahoma.
Houlik, though, isn’t alone among somewhat unknown players making an impact for the Wildcats.
•Linebacker Ross Diehl. He’s second in the Big 12 with 2.5 sacks. As a redshirt freshman in 2006, he had three tackles the entire season.
•Tight end Brett Alstatt. No question this junior has been a special-teams dynamo with seven tackles and also forced a fumble against Missouri State.
•Free safety Chris Carney. Cousin of former Wildcat standout Dyshod Carter, the sophomore Carney has two tackles for losses. It can’t hurt that he’s training under senior Marcus Watts.