PH'15: Meet the 2017 Kansas Jayhawks

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.

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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.

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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.

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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	:3star:
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

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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.

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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

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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