2008 Kansas Jayhawks Preview

Don’t ask the Kansas Jayhawks to reminisce about their stunning 12–1 season that included a legitimate run at a national championship, or their victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Mark Mangino’s players aren’t interested. “We’re not even going to talk about last year,” cornerback Chris Harris says. “We don’t want to get complacent. It’s time to rebuild and get ready for a new season.”

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Jayhawks

Kansas’ 12–1 record in 2007 will be nearly impossible to repeat. Replacing Big 12 South foes Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Baylor on the schedule are Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. Throw in a tough non-conference road game at South Florida and a neutral site tilt with Missouri, and it’s very likely that Kansas’ record will not be as rosy. It also doesn’t help that Kansas’ top two underclassmen (Aqib Talib and Anthony Collins) left early for the NFL Draft, or that the Jayhawks graduated a trio of superstars in James McClinton, Marcus Henry and Brandon McAnderson. Still, that’s not to say Mark Mangino’s squad won’t contend for a Big 12 North title. Nine starters — including all three linebackers — return for a defense that was one of the conference’s best last season. Quarterback Todd Reesing is back after receiving some Heisman mention as a sophomore. Tailbacks Jake Sharp, Jocques Crawford and Carmon Boyd-Anderson should help make up for the loss of 1,000-yard rusher McAnderson, and the Jayhawks return a pair of standout receivers in Dexton Fields and Dezmon Briscoe. Kansas touts one of the best kick returners in college football in Marcus Herford, but special teams could still be a problem with a new kicker and punter. Bottom line: Kansas should be strong again in 2008. But perhaps not as strong.

“Rebuilding” may be too strong of a term to describe the state of this year’s Kansas squad. With nine starters back on defense and one of the country’s top quarterbacks in Todd Reesing, the cupboard in Lawrence is far from bare. Still, with a beefed-up schedule and a handful of stars lost to the NFL Draft, repeating their 2007 heroics will be a tall task for the Jayhawks.

Not that they aren’t up for the challenge.

“Things aren’t just going to happen for us,” Reesing says. “We have to show up and make them happen. The Orange Bowl doesn’t mean anything this season. We have the players that we need to be great. We just have to make it happen.”

Quarterbacks

A team is nothing without a strong quarterback, and Kansas has one of the best in Reesing, who earned Heisman consideration after throwing for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. At 5'11", Reesing doesn’t have the imposing frame of a Tim Tebow or a Sam Bradford. But his ability to elude tacklers and throw on the run enabled Kansas to average a league-best 42.8 points in 2007. Reesing threw only seven interceptions last season, the fewest in the Big 12. “When you’re that size and that good, you learned how to play a long time ago without height being an issue,” offensive coordinator Ed Warinner says. “He learned how to find windows and how to see through defenses and anticipates things. He plays above his height.” Obviously, Reesing needs to stay healthy if Kansas hopes to maximize its offensive firepower. But it’s not as if the Jayhawks would be in a world of hurt if backup Kerry Meier were thrust into duty. Meier started for Kansas as a freshman in 2006 and completed 25 of his 29 passes in reserve duty last fall.

Running backs

The competition to replace Brandon McAnderson — the Big 12’s third-leading rusher last season — should be stiff. The good thing is that the Jayhawks have plenty of viable candidates. Former high school track star Jake Sharp gained 821 yards as a sophomore in 2007 and will be No. 1 on the depth chart when two-a-days begin in August. At that point he’ll be challenged by Jocques Crawford, who earned National Junior College Offensive Player of the Year honors after rushing for 1,935 yards at Cisco (Texas) Junior College. At 6'1" and 230 pounds, Crawford runs with more power than Sharp, a scat back with sprinter’s speed. No matter who wins the job, both players should figure prominently into Kansas’ plans, along with Carmon Boyd-Anderson, one of the gems of the Jayhawks’ 2007 recruiting class.

Receivers

Even with the loss of 1,000-yard receiver Marcus Henry, this appears to be one of KU’s better positions. Senior Dexton Fields has amassed 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last two seasons — and he may not even be the Jayhawks’ top threat. That honor could go to Dezmon Briscoe, who finished second on the team in touchdown receptions (seven) as a true freshman in 2007. The 6'3" Briscoe was one of the stars of KU’s spring game with eight catches for 92 yards. The biggest surprise of last year’s receiving corps also returns. Upon losing the quarterback job to Reesing, Meier requested some action at receiver, and the move paid off in the form of 26 catches, two touchdowns — and a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Look for Bradley Dedeaux to replace the always-dependable Derek Fine at tight end.

Offensive linemen

Kansas took a hit in the trenches when left tackle Anthony Collins left for the NFL with a season of eligibility remaining. But Mangino said he wouldn’t be surprised if Collins’ replacement, 314-pound redshirt freshman Jeff Spikes, ended up being the best lineman he’s coached at Kansas. The loss of four-year starter Cesar Rodriguez at right tackle was also a blow, but Matt Darton was impressive enough to win the job in the spring. The best thing for Kansas is that All-Big 12 candidate Ryan Cantrell returns at center, along with guard Chet Hartley, a 310-pounder who chose the Jayhawks over Florida State out of junior college a year ago. Look for Sal Capra and Ian Wolfe to play major roles as well.

Defensive linemen

The Jayhawks have to feel good about their big uglies considering both of the Jayhawks’ defensive ends — Russell Brorsen and John Larson — are on the watch list for the Lott Award. Still, as good as those players were in 2007, the leader of line was tackle James McClinton, a first-team All-Big 12 pick who graduated in May. Caleb Blakesley doesn’t have McClinton’s explosiveness or star power, but has played a significant number of snaps in his career. It also wouldn’t be surprising if 325-pound incoming freshman Darius Parish were asked to provide immediate help.

Linebackers

This has been one of Kansas’ strongest positions during the last four years, and 2008 should be no different. All-Big 12 pick Joe Mortensen returns, along with Mike Rivera and James Holt, to lead a defense that ranked second in the conference against the run. Mortensen, who missed spring drills because of a knee injury, garnered most of the hype last season after racking up a team-high 106 tackles. But the 255-pound Rivera is the player who creates the most buzz among NFL scouts because of his size and speed. He also seems to be at his best during big games. Arist Wright, who made 10 tackles in the spring game, will also see extensive action in a backup role along with Justin Springer.

Defensive backs

Kansas’ ascension in last year’s national rankings brought attention to some of its biggest stars — namely cornerback Aqib Talib, who became the first Jayhawk since Bruce Kallmeyer in 1983 to earn first team All-America honors. “It’s weird now, because when we used to walk into the locker room, (Talib) was the star,” Harris says. “It’s time for new stars now.” Indeed, with Talib in the NFL, the Jayhawks need other players to step up, and no Jayhawk seems more ready than Harris, last season’s Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of Year. Harris started 10 games as true freshman in 2007 and intercepted a pass in the Orange Bowl. The other corner will be manned by Kendrick Harper, who never regained full form after sustaining an injury during August two-a-days that sidelined him for five games. Starting safeties Darrell Stuckey and Patrick Resby also return, but their jobs may not be safe as long as Justin Thornton is lurking in the background. Thornton tied Talib for the team lead in interceptions last season with five and filled in admirably when Resby was injured near the end of the season. Safeties Olaitan Oguntodu and Phillip Strozier could also play significant roles.

Specialists

Marcus Herford was named the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after tallying a school-record 888 yards in kickoff returns. He’ll be back in 2008, but other than that Kansas’ special teams are a huge question mark. Placekicker Scott Webb has graduated, along with Kyle Tucker, a four-year starter at punter. Kansas signed one of the top junior college punters in America, Alonso Rojas, to replace Tucker. But Webb’s replacement, Stephen Hoge, missed a 34-yard field goal in the spring game, and Rell Lewis muffed a pair of punt returns. True freshman Daymond Patterson is expected to challenge Lewis and others for that job.

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