In which BracketCat counts down the 58th day until the 2016 kickoff with a profile of linebacker Trent Tanking.
| #58 Trent Tanking Redshirt Junior 6-2 | 220 Holton, Kan. |
Position: Linebacker
Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship |
Trenton Andrew Tanking (b. Nov. 19, 1994) is a former walk-on linebacker who has been a major factor on multiple special teams units during the last two seasons. He also spent all of last season listed as a backup linebacker.
He will continue to provide special teams support in 2016 while competing for more playing time at linebacker.
Tanking, who started for the White team in two spring games before sitting out this spring with an undisclosed injury, played in all 13 games in 2014 as a backup linebacker and special teams standout after a redshirt season.
He recorded nine tackles and was fifth on the team with seven special teams tackles. All came on kickoff coverage.
He also carded a career-high two tackles — both coming behind the line of scrimmage — against Oklahoma State.
In 2015, Tanking saw time in eight contests, totaling seven special teams tackles. He had five stops on kickoff coverage and two on punts. Tanking tied his career high with two tackles against both West Virginia and in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas, and also had tackles against South Dakota, UTSA and Iowa State.
Tanking played under former Kansas State linebacker Brooks Barta at Holton High School. He was named the Kansas 4A Defensive Player of the Year, and to The Topeka Capital-Journal and VarsityKansas.com Top 11 teams.
He led the Wildcats to a 2012 Kansas Class 4A state championship, and was named a first-team All-Kansas Class 4A performer at linebacker as a senior by VarsityKansas.com and the Capital-Journal.
Tanking was chosen to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl; named an all-league performer at linebacker as a sophomore, junior and senior; and was an honorable mention All-Kansas 4A pick at linebacker in 2010 and 2011.
A three-time all-county selection at linebacker, Tanking helped Holton to earn three consecutive league titles.
He also was a three-year letterman for the Wildcats basketball team, and an all-league and all-county pick at guard as a junior. He earned a 4.0 GPA, graduated summa cum laude and also was a FBLA Regional Champion.