Coach Jerry Brawner enters his sixth season at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks, and while he has sustained more success in Lawrence than his predecessors, the Jayhawks still need to take that next step to compete for conference and national championships. While last year's senior class was not large in number, a few key losses, including 4-year starting quarterback Ryan Willis, will need to be replaced.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Willis leaves Lawrence as the career leader in almost every meaningful passing category, though unfortunately his legacy will be tarnished by his reputation for throwing interceptions in key moments and big games. He will pass the ball to Adam Maynard, a sophomore with a cannon for an arm that got his first start in last year's bowl game against Houston. Maynard also brings an increased threat in the run game, as the Jayhawks search for more success with more balance in their offensive attack.
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Comp Att Yards TD INT Comp
RateYards/
Att.Sacks Sack Rate Ryan Willis QB Grad 283 360 3079 24 14 78.6% 8.6 28 7.2% Carter Stanley QB Grad Adam Maynard QB 6-1, 190 So 89 20 24 243 2 1 83.3% 10.1 1 4.0% Orlando Woods QB 6-1, 194 Fr 75 Redshirt Matt Barrow QB 6-2, 208 Jr 88
Spreaking of an offensive attack, look for Orlando Woods to be used in select packages this season. While Woods does not have the passing skill of Maynard, he is one of the fastest players on the team, certainly the fastest quarterback, and so he will likely be used as a change of pace.
Offensive Skill Players
With only three returning receiving threats last season, it was expected to be a year of growing pains for the Jayhawk receiving corps last year. While Kyle Kilpatrick emerged as a top threat early in the season, now sophomore Nick Newman eventually emerged as a top slot target late in the season when the Jayhawks returned to a 5-wide passing attack. Kilpatrick will be the #1 receiver this year, and we will see if Coach Brawner rememberes how to scheme in order to get a #1 target the ball. Kilpatrick, and the #2 target Bryan Webb, are both speedsters with the ability to take a top off the defense; but can a new starting QB get them the ball?
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Touches Rushing
YardsReceiving
YardsReturn
YardsTD Yards/
CarryYds/
Catch% of Team
Touches% of Team
YardsEmmanuel Moore WR Grad 58 621 48 5 10.7 8.4% 12.4% Taylor Martin HB Grad 225 1164 128 13 5.5 8.5 32.7% 25.8% Kyle Kilpatrick WR 6-3, 190 So 89 98 22 999 1154 12 1.3 12.3 14.2% 20.4% Bryan Webb WR 6-5, 221 Sr 86 38 455 4 12.0 5.5% 9.1% Nick Newman WR 6-2, 201 So 82 50 481 2 9.6 7.3% 9.6% George Glover TE 6-4, 241 Jr 88 38 381 1 10.0 5.5% 7.6% Jason Taylor HB 5-11, 185 Sr 90 38 149 47 2 4.3 15.7 5.5% 3.9% Zach Minor WR 6-0, 202 So 81 13 128 16 1 9.8 1.9% 2.6% Anthony Brothers TE 6-3, 279 Jr 78 4 50 12.5 0.6% 1.0% Todd Jones WR 6-5, 216 So 78 1 2 2.0 0.1% 0.0% Anthony Chavez HB 6-0, 197 Jr 79
9 Terry Oliver HB 5-11, 182 Fr 79 Thomas Morris HB 5-10, 217 Fr 71 Redshirt Jeff Nash WR 6-3, 207 Fr 74 Redshirt Quarterbacks QB
126 384 5 3.0 18.3% 7.7%
Last season, Taylor Martin quietly became the first 1,000 yard rusher under Coach Brawner. So quietly, in fact, that Coach Brawner had not even noticed the accomplishment until he was asked about it after the season. Martin took his running skills to the next level, and into that slot will slide a more of running-by-committee approach, with senior Jason Taylor expected to carry the load but share some time with junior pass blocking specialist Anthony Chavez and talented freshman Terry Oliver.
Preseason All-American: WR/CB Kyle Kilpatrick
Slobs
Despite only one offensive lineman lost to graduation, the men in the trenches for Kansas will still have to replace a lot of experience, as that single player takes 51 career starts with him to the next level. Three seniors (Lee Mitchell, Joe Hill and Jacob McBride) with lots of experience are left on the line, along with a sophomore (Dionte Long) who started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman. Sophomore Mike Castillo is the only new face, earning his spot in spring practice after a battle with senior Kevin Jones.
Player Pos. Ht, Wt Year Rating Car. Starts Car. P'cakes Car. Sacks Aaron Garza LG
Grad
51 23 15 Lee Mitchell LT 5-11, 306 Sr 90 26 14 3 Mike Castillo LG 5-11, 336 So 88
Joe Hill C 6-4, 325 Sr 93 26 6 5 Jacob McBride RG 6-2, 320 Sr 88 13 4 4 Dionte Long RT 6-5, 317 So 88 13 11 6 Quincy Johnson LT 6-3, 259 Fr 79 Redshirt
Kevin Jones LG 6-3, 297 Sr 87
Brandon Kendrick LG 6-7, 262 Fr 75 Redshirt Will Marshall C 6-7, 317 So 86 2 Marcus Rush RG 6-6, 351 Jr 83
1
Marco Clark RT 6-5, 324 Jr 81
1
Preseason All-SEC: LT Lee Mitchell (2nd team)
Defensive Line
After a second season with double digit sacks, Jace Sternberger has graduated from Lawrence and hopes to latch onto an NFL team as an undrafted free agent. Everyone else along the defensive line returns, including Michael Massey who impressed in his first season of action at defensive tackle.
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec DefTD Jace Sternberger DE Grad 25 4.7% 17 11 1 Steve Atkinson DE 6-5, 250 Sr 84
Michael Massey DT 6-6, 270 Jr 89 32 6.0% 8 4 Tyrone Jenkins DT 6-1, 312 Jr 83 15 2.8% 5 1 Mike Caldwell DE 6-5, 275 Sr 87 21 4.0% 8 3
Kenneth Holley DE 6-5, 269 So 82 4 0.8% 1 Brandon Rushing DT 6-2, 302 So 82
1 Jason Hardin DE 6-4, 247 So 79 1 0.2% 0 Mike Smith DE 6-3, 218 Fr 75 Redshirt Scott Davis DT 6-5, 275 Fr 74 Redshirt
Massey, Tyrone Jenkins, and Mike Caldwell all return, and senior Steve Atkinson is expected to jump to the first team to replace the loss of Sternberger. Look for Caldwell to have a career year.
Preseason All-SEC: DT Michael Massey
Linebackers
The return of MLB Travis Bridges after a season-ending collarbone injury last season will be a boon to the middle of the Jayhawks defense, as Bridges is the most talented defender on the field this season for the Jayhawks. In the base 4-2-5, he'll have junior Nathan Wright next to him, who led the team in tackles while Bridges was recuperating. Mike Gray and Jesse Robinson will be part of the rotation at MLB, and both are talented enough to start for practically any team in the country. The talent drop off is a little larger at OLB, but junior Paul Doty continues to grow and will be called upon in select packages, and senior Keith Todd's experience is invaluable when he's needed.
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec DefTD Dorance Armstrong LEO Grad 17 3.2% 3 Kyle Whitmore MLB Grad 15 2.8% 3 1 Andrew Wiggins MLB
Xfer
8 1.5% Travis Bridges MLB 6-2, 240 Sr 95 Medical RS
Nathan Wright OLB 6-4, 240 Jr 88 58 10.9% 16 3.5
Mike Gray MLB 5-10, 255 Jr 88 49 9.2% 14 0.5 2 3 Jesse Robinson MLB 6-2, 243 So 87 12 2.3%
1
Paul Doty OLB 6-4, 246 Jr 82 15 2.8% 5
Keith Todd OLB 6-1, 225 Sr 83 6 1.1% 1
1
Preseason All-SEC: OLB Nathan Wright
Secondary
Every year, it seems, the Jayhawks take huge hits in the secondary and are forced to rebuild that part of their defense. That will happen yet again this season, with three year starter at FS, Tyrone Miller, no longer playing in Lawrence. The last time Miller was not on the field for the Jayhawks, which happened due to injury, the coaching staff was forced to move other players out of position to cover, and a losing streak derailed he 2016 season. Hopefully the defensive staff is better preparred for this year's loss.
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks Int PBU FF FumRec DefTD Shaquille Richmond CB
Grad
31 5.8% 1 1 3 Tyrone Miller FS
Grad
63 11.9% 3 3 1 1 1 Fred McGuire SS Grad 45 8.5% 3 5 2 Clint Smith CB 6-2, 193 So 86 19 3.6% 1 1 4 1 Lee Davis CB 6-2, 197 Sr 88 34 6.4% 2 2 2 Donte Harrison FS 6-1, 214 Jr 81
Steven Willis SS 6-5, 219 Jr 86 28 5.3% 2 2 1 Larry Fields STAR 6-1, 207 Fr 79 Redshirt Taylor Wheatley CB 5-10, 182 Fr 82 Redshirt Damon Gibson CB 6-0, 176 Jr 82 12 2.3%
Kyle Kilpatrick WR/CB 6-3, 190 So 89 7 1.3%
2 2
Robbie Wilson FS 6-2, 211 Sr 85 13 2.5% 1 2 Trevor Rucker FS 6-2, 177 Fr 75 Redshirt
Albert Holmes SS 6-3, 214 Jr 79
Mark Higgins SS 5-11, 166 Fr 79
Junior Donte Harrison is likely to fill Miller's spot, after beating out senior Robbie Wilson in spring practice. Harrison's speed and acceleration give him an advantage in playing the centerfield role, though if Harrison struggles, expect Wilson to get his long-awaited shot.
The other defensive backs this season are much more straightforward. Clint Smith and Lee Davis both saw significant playing time last season, so the only surprise is that Smith is being treated as the #1 corner this year, perhaps because of his youth and additional time to grow. Taylor Wheatley, as expected, will move straight to the nickelback spot after a redshirt season.
And at strong safety, after the graduation of breakout star Fred McGuire, Steven Willis will logically slide into the strong safety role, with Larry Fields expected to move into the STAR position after a redshirt season. Fields, junior Albert Holmes, and incoming freshman Mark Higgins are so close in terms of talent that Higgins will likely see playing time this season, though the coaches would have admittedly preferred to give him a redshirt season. Expect Higgins to get the bulk of his playing time on special teams.
Preseason All-SEC: CB Lee Davis (2nd team)
Specialists
With the graduation of JD Frederick, Ethan Greene now takes over the role of "most talented Jayhawk player, despite being only a kicker". Greene had a slight dip in his performance last season, hitting only 89% of field goal tries, but can be generally relied on whenever the Jayhawks get into field goal range.
Player Pos Ht, Wt Year Rating PAT FG FG Pct Punts Net Avg TB P I20 JD Frederick P Grad
21 42.4 28 K/O, 3 P 9 Ethan Greene K 6-0, 177 Sr 98 47 16 89% Marc Hines P 5-10, 231 Fr 84
Jayhawk coaches were surprised when the redshirting Shaun Jefferson elected to transfer to Missouri, presumably due to playing time, rather than take over the starting punting duties this season. Jefferson must not have believed KU coaches when they said they planned to turn Marc Hines into a kicker. Instead, Hines will stay at his recruited position of punter, and immediately play as a freshman.
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