Coach Jerry Brawner enters his fifth season at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks, after a bowl victory capped an eight-win season. Last year's offense was very senior heavy, and the wide receiving corps will need a total rebuild. However, the defense made several promising strides last season, and most of the defense returns. Will 2017 be defined by the rebuilding offense, or will the defense carry the day?

Quarterbacks
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Comp Att Yards TD INT Comp
Rate		 Yards/
Att.		 Sacks Sack Rate
Ryan Willis QB 6-4, 201 Sr 97 330 432 2952 22 29 76.4% 6.8 16 3.6%
Carter Stanley QB 6-2, 196 Sr 94 42 61 441 5 2 68.9% 7.2 2 3.2%
Matt Barrow QB 6-2, 206 So 84
Adam Maynard QB 6-1, 190 Fr 83 Redshirt
Ryan Willis continues to struggle with interceptions, and those interceptions nearly derailed the Jayhawks season. Willis threw 7 INTs in one game last season, and every Jayhawk loss was heavily influenced by Willis interceptions. As the season went along, Jayhawk coaches relied more and more on the running game, and the confidence that came from effectively running the ball was able to help the junior quarterback. Now a senior, Willis is not an ideal running quarterback for a read option offense, but is enough of a threat to keep the defense honest.

Adam Maynard, the young redshirt freshman, is expected to get mop-up playing time this year to prepare Maynard for competing for the starting job next season, and Matt Barrow will be the third quarterback after not getting on the field last season. Carter Stanley is also available if something happens to Willis this year.

Offensive Skill Players
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Touches Rushing
Yards		 Receiving
Yards		 Return
Yards		 TD Yards/
Carry		 Yds/
Catch		 % of Team
Touches		 % of Team
Yards
Derrick Neal WR Grad 82 735 6 9.0 12.7% 15.3%
Bobby Hartzog Jr WR Grad 67 669 1 10.0 10.3% 13.9%
Darious Crawley WR Grad 55 615 5 11.2 8.5% 12.8%
Tyler Patrick WR Grad 29 213 20 2 7.3 4.5% 4.4%
Jordan Darling TE Grad 2 0 0.3% 0.0%
Pat Chambers CB Grad
1190 1
Emmanuel Moore WR 6-0, 190 Sr 89 12 101 2 8.4 1.9% 2.1%
Bryan Webb WR 6-5, 220 Jr 83 34 371 0 3 10.9 5.2% 7.7%
Kyle Kilpatrick WR 6-3, 190 Fr 85 Redshirt







George Glover TE 6-4, 238 So 82 71 588 7 8.3 11.0% 12.3%
Taylor Martin HB 5-9, 196 Sr 88 155 782 88 6 5.6 5.9 23.9% 18.1%
Jason Taylor HB 5-11, 183 Jr 85 18 69 6 4.3 3.0 2.8% 1.6%
Anthony Chavez HB 6-0, 197 So 74 12 44 7 1 4.9 2.3 1.9% 1.1%
Anthony Brothers TE 6-3, 278 So 72








Nick Newman WR 6-2, 201 Fr 77 Redshirt
Zach Minor WR 6-0, 201 Fr 77 Redshirt
Todd Jones WR 6-5, 213 Fr 73 Redshirt
Quarterbacks QB
111 510 7 4.6 17.1% 10.6%
Five seniors, including four wide receivers and one tight end, graduate this season, taking with them over 230 catches, 2200 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Two receivers, senior Emmanuel Moore and junior Bryan Webb, return with starting experience and will be the top two receivers on the field, but the Jayhawks will have as many as four redshirt freshmen receivers on the field at one time. The top returning receiver, sophomore tight end George Glover, will return after gaining over 500 yards during his freshman season. Kyle Kilpatrick is a heavily hyped redshirt freshman that will lead the way, with Jayhawk coaches spending the entire summer trying to come up with different ways to get Kilpatrick the ball.

The heightened use of the running game last season ran through Taylor Martin, the #1 HB last year, who nearly had 900 total yards last season. Martin returns this season, and hopes to be the first 1,000 yard rusher under Coach Brawner. Both of Martin's backups, Jason Taylor and Anthony Chavez, return as well.

Slobs
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Car. Starts Car. P'cakes Car. Sacks
Apa Visinia LG
Grad
39 13 15
Dan West RT Grad 25 5 12
Lee Mitchell LT 5-11, 306 Jr 86 13 2 1
Aaron Garza LG 6-3, 328 Sr 89 38 12 11
Joe Hill C 6-4, 320 Jr 81 13 4 1
Jacob McBride RG 6-2, 319 Jr 83 Redshirt

Dionte Long RT 6-5, 310 Fr 84 Redshirt

Kevin Jones LG 6-3, 296 Jr 82
Will Marshall C 6-7, 311 Fr 81
Marcus Rush RG 6-6, 346 So 78
Mike Castillo RG 5-11, 332 Fr 82


Marco Clark RT 6-5, 323 So 78


Two seniors, including a three-year starter, graduate and move on, but three of last year's starters on the offensive line return, including three-year starter Aaron Garza, who will have a chance to start over 50 games in his Jayhawk career. Lee Mitchell will return to left tackle, and Joe Hill returns at the pivot position as well. JUCO transfer Jacob McBride will step into the right guard spot after a redshirt season, and heavily hyped redshirt freshman Dionte Long will step into a starting job at right tackle.

Defensive Line
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec
DJ Williams DT Grad 22 3.9% 4 3
Josh Ehambe DE Grad
0.0%
Lay Trion Jones DT Grad 9 1.6% 5 1
Jace Sternberger DE 6-4, 230 Sr 83 31 5.6% 18 10 2
Michael Massey DT 6-6, 268 So 84
Tyrone Jenkins DT 6-1, 309 So 79
Mike Caldwell DE 6-5, 273 Jr 82 23 4.1% 8 2


1
Steve Atkinson DE 6-5, 248 Jr 75
Brandon Rushing DT 6-2, 299 Fr 78
Kenneth Holley DE 6-5, 262 Fr 78 Redshirt
Jason Hardin DE 6-4, 241 Fr 75 Redshirt
In last year's preview, we mentioned that the talented Jace Sternberger would bring an ability to go sideline-to-sideline that the Jayhawk defensive line hadn't previously had, and Sternberger lived up to the prediction, becoming the first player under Coach Brawner to register double-digits in sacks. Sternberger returns this season with another year of strength training, and may be the most talented player on the Jayhawk defense.

The interior of the defensive line will be fully replaced this year, with the graduation of two senior defensive tackles. Michael Massey will slide from his backup defensive end spot to the 3-technique, and Tyrone Jenkins will man the nose guard spot. At the opposite defensive end, Mike Caldwell will look to continue his steady play, though he doesn't get the attention or accolades of his counterpart Sternberger.

Preseason All-American: DE Jace Sternberger

Linebackers
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec
Marcquis Roberts OLB Grad 71 12.7% 14 3 3
Travis Bridges MLB 6-2, 238 Med 90 56 10.1% 12 1
1 1
Mike Gray MLB 5-10, 253 So 84 20 3.6% 1 1
Nathan Wright OLB 6-4, 238 So 83 7 1.3% 2




Kyle Whitmore MLB 6-0, 224 Sr 88 14 2.5% 5
Paul Doty OLB 6-4, 244 So 77







Andrew Wiggins MLB 6-0, 239 Jr 81
Dorance Armstrong LEO 6-4, 222 Sr 83 16 2.9% 3 1 1
Keith Todd OLB 6-1, 223 Jr 79 5 0.9% 2 1



Jesse Robinson MLB 6-2, 240 Fr 82 Redshirt






The graduation of starter Marcquis Roberts left an experience hole in the Jayhawk linebacking corps, and then middle linebacker Travis Bridges was lost to a season-ending collarbone injury during spring practice. But youth, while lacking experience, is readily available at both positions. Sophomores Mike Gray and Nathan Wright both gained playing time last season, and both will take on starting roles this season.

With the move from a 3-4 standard down defense to more usage of 4-2-5, there will be less playing time for linebackers this year, but senior Kyle Whitmore, senior LEO Dorance Armstrong, sophomore Paul Doty and redshirt freshman Jesse Robinson all stand ready if they're called upon.

Secondary
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec
Matthew Boateng CB
Grad
42 7.5% 3 1 1
Pat Chambers CB Grad 39 7.0% 2 1 5 4 1
Shaquille Richmond CB 5-11, 183 Sr 85 26 4.7% 3 1 2 1
Lee Davis CB 6-2, 197 Jr 83 30 5.4% 1
Tyrone Miller FS 6-0, 183 Sr 92 36 6.5% 2 4 1
Fred McGuire SS 6-4, 230 Sr 84 55 9.9% 7 4 1
Steven Willis SS 6-5, 219 So 81 32 5.7% 6 3
Clint Smith CB 6-2, 192 Fr 82 Redshirt
Damon Gibson CB 6-0, 174 So 72







Robbie Wilson FS 6-2, 211 Jr 79 21 3.8%
Donte Harrison FS 6-1, 214 So 77 2 0.4% 1




Albert Holmes SS 6-3, 214 So 74 Redshirt






While this year's rebuild for the secondary isn't as dramatic as the past two season, the Jayhawks do lose two starters, four-year(!) starter Matthew Boateng, and impact player Pat Chambers, whose loss will be felt on both defense and in the return game. This will actually be Coach Brawner's first team without Boateng on the field. Shaquille Richmond and Lee Davis are both experienced, playing nickel and dime roles last season, and will move to the starting corner roles this year. That will leave redshirt freshman Clint Smith as the likely nickelback, though Kyle Kilpatrick, yes, the wide receiver, is expected to get some playing time at cornerback this season.

The biggest return this season is free safety Tyrone Miller, who returns to the deep centerfield role in the Jayhawk defense. Miller was among the leaders in tackles, but equally as important he provided a challenge in the passing game, frequently stopping deep passes over the middle. Miller will be backed by Robbie Wilson and Donte Harrison for the second year.

The most surprising defender last season was Fred McGuire, who was a relatively unassuming addition to the Jayhawk defense last season, and ended up nearly tying MLB Travis Bridges for the most returning tackles, and nearly having the team lead in interceptions as well. If McGuire can improve on last year's performance, the Jayhawk secondary will move from just average to possibly the strength on this team. Steven Willis was an important cog as the second strong safety last season, and will probably have an even bigger role this year. Converted cornerback Albert Holmes is the third SS on the depth chart after redshirting last year.

Preseason All-SEC: FS Tyrone Miller, SS Fred McGuire

Specialists
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating PAT FG FG Pct Punts Net Avg TB P I20
Ethan Greene K 6-0, 174 Jr 89 39 19 95% 1 K/O
JD Frederick P 6-3, 196 Sr 93
13 41.2 17 K/O, 1 P 9
Senior punter JD Frederick, for the third and final year, will be the most talented Jayhawk, even those fans and coaches alike would prefer he never takes the field. Frederick will also continue to serve as the kickoff specialist.

After two straight seasons of hitting more than 90% of his kicks, junior Ethan Greene was rewarded with All-American recognition going into this season.

Preaseason All-American: K Ethan Greene