K-State's Giddens partners with local restaurant for meet and greet

MANHATTAN (KSNT) - K-State running back DJ Giddens is stepping out of his comfort zone on and off the field.

Giddens, a Junction City native, is being challenged by his coached to be a leader despite his quiet nature.

"A lot of it [is] leading by example," Giddens told 27 News. "I've been trying to pull guys to the side, one-on-one. I'm not the type to be in front of everybody and just be yelling but pull people to the side, talk to people."

He's expanding his social horizons off the field, too. He was named to the Maxwell Award watch list on Tuesday, an honor given annually to the nation's best college football player. The breakout 2023 season doesn't only bring opportunity for awards. It also brings attention and fans all over.

He embraced that attention on Tuesday, teaming up with Ana's Burger Shack in Manhattan for a meet and greet.

"It's most definitely challenging," he said of the attention and spotlight that come with the touchdowns. "In high school I wouldn't talk to nobody... I [don't have] a problem with it, that's what comes with it. I'm going to just keep on doing it, keep on challenging myself."

It's a local athlete and a local business supporting each other.

"It means a lot just being to come out here and show some support because the fans [are] out there every weekend showing some support," Giddens said. "So it feels good to come back to the community."

Ana's Burger Shack, nearing six years up-and-running, is local to the core. Besides supporting local athletes, it gets cheese from Alma and beef from Onaga, processed in Belvue.

"It's the point- to support each other for the town," store owner Ana Vargas said.

Giddens says the spring and summer have consisted of lots of mental reps for him, as he works to know the playbook even better as a junior. His order at the local burger stand? Urban Cowboy, fries and sometimes an Oreo milkshake.