aken over for Barnett, and freshman Kendall Adams was backing him up.Still, while may have been absent from the field, his presence was always felt. He hung around the meeting rooms, was also aro

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Something had been missing from the Kansas State defense most of last season.It only took three plays this season to realize it.On the third snap of Friday nights opener against Stanford , defensive back Dante Barnett announced his return with authority. He darted up from his spot in the secondary and met Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey, knocking him back for a 5-yard loss.One of the nations best defensive backs was back.It felt like a welcome-back moment, he said Tuesday, as the Wildcats took an early break in their schedule. They are off this week before playing their home opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 17, when they debut the latest round of renovations to Bill Snyder Family Stadium.It will be the first time Barnett has played at home since last years opener, when he hurt his shoulder against South Dakota. His status was in limbo from week to week until he pursued and was granted a medical redshirt, allowing him to return this season.He wound up making four tackles against the Cardinal, two of them for loss.I had missed so many games so being back out there in the first drive, making that tackle, it brought excitement to me, Barnett said. I was happy.So were the Wildcats, who had to press unproven youngsters into duty last season. By the time the Liberty Bowl rolled around, freshman Duke Shelley had locked down one cornerback spot, sophomore Kaleb Prewett had taken over for Barnett, and freshman Kendall Adams was backing him up.Still, while may have been absent from the field, his presence was always felt. He hung around the meeting rooms, was also around the practice field and he was on the sideline during games.It was very tough because Im a competitor, Barnett said. I hate missing games, missing games was tough on me. Im watching my friends play -- which I was proud of -- but wanting to get out there and knowing I couldnt was tough for me.In some ways, the senior had become another assistant coach.You wouldve never known he was out, Adams said. Besides not having him out there physically, he was in all the meetings and practices and talking to us before and during the game.Kansas State coach Bill Snyder welcomed his defensive captains return, knowing that Barnett could help fix a defense that allowed 285.5 yards passing and 25 touchdowns a year ago.The Wildcats only allowed Stanford to throw for 167 yards in their opener.I think it was significant to have him back in the lineup for a lot of different reasons. Snyder said. He played well. He did not really have assignment errors. He played reasonably well against both the run and the pass. I think his leadership, his guidance and his direction of his teammates was beneficial for us in the ball game.All of which was somewhat anticipated. Barnett may have missed last season, but it appears nobody forgot about him: Hes on early watch lists for the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.Snyder said this week that besides the physical presence of getting Barnett back on the field, the leadership void that opened up last year was filled -- and that may be his biggest value.Especially when the Wildcats begin playing the pass-happy teams of the Big 12.I think he brings a degree of leadership that wasnt very prolific last year, after we lost him Snyder said. I think the players had an expectation of having him back, they see that as a positive. Theyre looking for him to perform well, which he did. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. China Jerseys NFL . 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Teams spend a large portion of the offseason focused on it, then begin the year with a week of track time constantly searching for speed on a track fresh and clean.As the week goes along, the track gets slick, and by race day in February, many drivers wish they had obtained more grip versus whittling away drag, which leads to straight-line speed.Its a comfort versus speed thing, and evidence of the value of a comfortable car was watching the solo spins of pole sitter Chase Elliott and restrictor-plate master Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 500.The key to winning the Daytona 500 is a combination of speed and handling, but the key to winning Saturdays Coke Zero 400 is handling ... and handling!Keeping your right foot to the floorboard will be difficult for drivers Saturday because the track in the summer months (even at night) can be difficult to navigate.The fastest, best drafting car is virtually useless if its driver has to lift off the accelerator through the turns and will be passed by all those that qualified behind it as a result.Dark horse: With a restrictor-plate race comes the posssibility of a surprise or upset.ddddddddddddAt the top of my list is pole sitter?Greg Biffle.Greg is much like last weeks winner Tony Stewart in that he has had a brilliant career. He is in the late innings of it, but I believe there exists the potential for at least another win before he chooses to hang up his helmet.Greg may not get the attention of Stewart, or last years retiree Jeff Gordon, but he probably should get more than he has.After all, like Gordon, he has spent his entire career with one car owner. That is amazing in itself.On top of that, Greg is a former champ in the truck and Xfinity series, came within a whisker of a cup title and is a previous winner of this event.Dont underestimate the potential of Greg Biffle to find Victory Lane again. Owner Jack Roush was wise to discover him early, wise to retain him late.The bottom lineDenny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. will be strong contenders Saturday just as they were in February. But charting your course to Victory Lane will require driver comfort versus driver speed, as the historic Superspeedway wont be as forgiving as it was in February.Evidenced by Earnhardts and Elliotts solo spins in the Great American Race, nothing at this track can be assumed -- or taken for granted.A near-perfect race behind the wheel, a near-perfect day on pit road and a spotter performing as your conscience will all aid in your chance of victory.From a simplistic standpoint, your ability to keep the right pedal planted to the floorboard probably matters most. Wholesale NFL Gear Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys Throwback NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '