FRANKFORT, Ky. – With several roles up for grabs entering the 2026 season, the Kentucky State football offense is using preseason camp to identify its best combinations while building around a simple mentality: focus on what is directly in front of you.

For the Thorobreds and the offensive staff, that approach has been summarized by one word — ONE.

"Our goal this year offensively is going to be 'one' in everything we do," Offensive Coordinator Steve Wallace said. "What does one mean? It means 'only now exists.'"

The message emphasizes a next-play mentality as Kentucky State works through preseason camp and prepares for a new season following a 2025 campaign in which the Thorobreds finished 9-3 and earned the program's first NCAA Division II playoff appearance.

Rather than allowing last season's success or the expectations surrounding the upcoming season to become a distraction, Wallace wants the offense focused on maximizing each individual opportunity.

"We want to make sure that we take advantage of every opportunity by attacking it with the mindset that this is the only thing that matters," Wallace said. "It's a next-play mentality, and that's something we're really striving for this year."

Competition Creating Opportunities
Kentucky State entered camp needing to replace significant offensive production from last season, creating competition at several positions.

That has led the coaching staff to experiment with different personnel combinations throughout camp. Players have worked alongside multiple quarterbacks, receivers and position groups as the staff evaluates how each piece fits within the offense.

"We've mixed the guys up a little bit," Wallace said. "We're mixing those groups up to figure out where everyone fits."

The approach has allowed the staff to evaluate more than just individual talent. With several positions still being determined, Wallace and the offensive staff are looking for combinations that can function together consistently when the season begins.

"The biggest thing for us is that we lost a lot of production from last year," Wallace said. "We're trying to see where everybody fits, and we're getting everybody as many reps as possible."

The competition has been particularly important in the running back room and along the offensive front. Kentucky State lost multiple players from the backfield during the offseason, opening opportunities for newcomers to establish themselves.

Several freshmen have taken advantage.

"We were able to bring in some freshmen who are making some noise right now," Wallace said.

Competition also remains ongoing along the offensive line as the Thorobreds continue evaluating different combinations before settling on the groups that will lead the offense into the season.

Details Separating the Competition
While talent is important, Wallace said one quality has become especially valuable during the evaluation process: coachability.

At the collegiate level, the margin separating players can become significantly smaller. For Kentucky State, that means execution, effort and attention to detail can determine who ultimately earns a role.

"When you're a college football player, everybody was good in high school," Wallace said. "Now, we're asking them to take the next step."

That next step can come down to seemingly small details — extending a play another yard, executing the correct footwork or responding to coaching after a mistake.

"It's eight yards, not seven," Wallace said. "It's the right footstep instead of the left footstep."

Those details have become increasingly important as Kentucky State moves deeper into camp and the coaching staff begins narrowing its rotations.

Putting the Pieces Together
With the season approaching, Wallace believes Kentucky State has the personnel necessary to field a productive offense. The remaining challenge is determining exactly where each player belongs.

"We have the pieces," Wallace said. "We just have to figure out how they all fit together."

After spending the early portion of camp rotating personnel and providing opportunities throughout the depth chart, the next phase will be about refinement.

Kentucky State must determine which players belong with the first unit, who can provide depth with the second group and which younger players are ready to contribute.

"Now, we have to fine-tune everything and see who is best with the ones, who is best with the twos, who is best with the threes and so forth," Wallace said.

As those decisions become clearer, the philosophy guiding the offense remains unchanged.

The Thorobreds will open the 2026 season on the road at rival Central State on Saturday, August 29, with a kickoff time of 3:00 p.m.

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