2008 Kansas Jayhawks football preview

Kansas Football Overview

Football is in the air in Lawrence, Kansas as expectations are high. KU, coming off a historic 12-1 Orange Bowl Championship season, remains a favorite in the Big 12 North. No one is getting complacent here in Lawrence. National coach of the year, Mark Mangino was quoted as saying “While you guys were still hung over after the Orange Bowl, we were getting ready.” It all begins Friday, August 1 st as newcomers and veterans report to Lawrence. Picked to finish 2 nd in most preseason publications, the Jayhawks are going to have to replace a few key players on both sides of the ball. All American’s Aquib Talib (CB) and James McClinton (DT) are gone, but 9 starters return on defense, including all 3 linebackers. Leading WR Marcus Henry and leading rusher Brandon McAnderson both graduated, leaving holes on offense as well. The schedule is beefed up, featuring a tough non-conference clash with USF (9-4, bowl winners last year), and a Big 12 slate with the likes of Texas, Texas Tech, and OU. KU has a lot to prove this year, and needs to play the “no respect” card again, with many doubting their chances to mirror last season’s success.

2008 Kansas Quarterbacks

KU is set here with the return of 5’11’’ sparkplug, and Heisman Trophy contender Todd Reesing. Reesing, who threw for 3,486 yards and 33 TD’s last year ignited a KU offense that averaged almost 43 points per game last year. Reesing’s ability to scramble and throw on the run is crucial to KU’s success. “The Orange Bowl doesn’t mean anything this season. We have the players we need to be great,” Reesing says. Clearly, motivation is not an issue with KU’s QB and leader. He is backed up by all-everything Kerry Meier, perhaps the teams best athlete, who will also star at WR.

2008 Kansas Running Backs

Potential, potential, potential is the key ingredient here for KU. Lawrence native and last year’s leading rusher Brandon McAnderson is off chasing his NFL dreams, leaving behind his third leading rushing yardage in the Big 12 last season. Jake Sharp, the Salina Junior with sprinter’s speed returns after rushing for 821 yards last year with a healthy yards per carry average. If he can’t be the every-down back, KU has another nice option. Jocques Crawford committed to KU after being the National Junior College Player of the Year last year. He rushed for 1,935 yards at Cisco (TX) Juco last year, and does not lack for confidence. At KU’s spring game this year while watching from the sidelines, Crawford said he “liked his chances” to be the feature back at KU this year. Few would argue, as Crawford showed up at 6’1’’ 230 pounds of ripped muscle, and ran a 4.6 40 yard dash. Carmen Boyd-Anderson and Angus Quigley, a Crawford clone, ooze potential and await in the wings.

2008 Kansas Recievers

With Marcus Henry, last year’s 1,000 yard leading receiver doing this thing for the New York Jets this year, KU will lean heavily on senior Dexton Fields, Sophmore Dezmon Briscoe, and “slash” Kerry Meier. Fields returns as KU’s leading yardage receiver, and can be a reliable possession receiver, with adequate speed to go deep occasionally. Briscoe has superstar written all over him, as the 6’3’’ speedster from Texas caught 7 TD passes as a true freshman last year. Kerry Meier, the Kansas native from Pittsburg, is arguably the team’s best true athlete. At 6’3’’ 220 Meier has TE size, and WR speed. He is one of KU’s 10 fastest players, with great hands, strength, and explosive speed. Kerry could and should have a big year for KU this year, as he looks to join his brother Shad in the pro’s eventually. Bradley Dedeaux will have to fight off 2 or 3 newcomers (Tanner Hawkinson, Tim Biere, Nick Plato) to win the starting TE job this year.

2008 Kansas Offensive Lineman

The Jayhawks take a massive hit here, losing All American left tackle Anthony Collins to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL draft last year. The loss of 4 year starter OT Cesar Rodriquez on the other Tackle side doesn’t help matters either. Both played key roles in the Orange Bowl. There is a bright spot, however, as the replacement at LT, Jeff Spikes, has as high a ceiling as anyone that has come through KU since Mark Mangino has been here. Spikes, a 6’6’’ 316 pounder, was a basketball player in high school, and has an amazing combination of agility, strength, and length. Mangino has been quoted several times saying that Spikes could eventually be the best OL he has ever coached at Kansas. Matt Darton will probably man the RT position, and filled in admirably in the Iowa State game which he started last year. Ryan Cantrell is an intelligent center, who should compete for All-Big 12 honors this year. Chet Hartley, a JUCO transfer from last year, returns at guard. He was heavily recruited out of Butler CC and had a solid year last year. Look for Ian Wolfe to play a big role somewhere on the OL as well, as he has beefed up and has massive potential.

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2008 Kansas Defensive Lineman

KU has yet another All-American to replace here when James McClinton graduated last year. He was the team’s spiritual leader, as well as a powerful run stopper in the middle. Caleb Blakesly returns from last year, as the Ottawa native had a big game in the Orange Bowl. He doesn’t have as much explosiveness as the other DT candidates, but is a strong run stopper with great size. Two young DT’s from last year that have enormous potential include Jamal Greene, and Richard Johnson Jr. Greene, at 6’4’’ 300 lbs has all the physical tools, if he can just increase his motor every play. Johnson Jr. has been compared to McClinton frequently. Two freshman sleepers who could contribute include 325 Wichita monster Darius Parish, and 6’4’’ 303 lb Duane Zlatnik from Rossville. Parish chose KU over Wisconsin, and Zlatnik was an all-state and all-american high school wrestler who has put on over 30 pounds of muscle before arriving at KU.

2008 Kansas Linebackers

This position should be the strength of KU’s defense as all 3 stellar linebackers return from last year’s squad. Joe Mortensen, the All-Big 12 pick from a year ago, returns after leading the team in tackles. Mike Rivera, a Shawnee native, has perhaps the best combination of size and speed, and is a future NFL pick. James Holt is the speedy OLB who excels in coverage, and is a sure tackler in the flat. Holt is a very underrated player for this stout defense. Justin Springer, Drew Dudley, and Arist Wright are all tremendous athletes, and would start on many teams in the Big 12, and nation. Wright, who excels in the weight room, was mentioned as an “all-workout warrior” player in a recent article on ESPN.com.

2008 Kansas Defensive Backs

You guessed it, KU has to replace another stud all-american in the defensive backfield, if they hope to keep up their stellar defense of a year ago. 1 st team all American Aquib Talib was the 20 th overall pick in the NFL draft of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he will be missed sorely, KU has a Talib part II waiting to explode this year. He is Chris Harris, last year’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The 6’0 185 lb Harris had a pick in the Orange Bowl last year, and is a strong tackler as well. Kendrick Harper, another JUCO transfer should start at the other corner. Harper may be KU’s most physical corner, as he had perhaps the hit of the year last year at Texas A&M (YouTube It!). Another potential future star could vie for a starting spot in Isaiah Barfield, from tiny Haven, Kansas. Darrell Stuckey is an athletic SS with range, and FS Justin Thorton tied Talib for the team lead in incerceptions last year with 5. Patrick Resby, the hard hitter from H-Town (Houston) could be a quality piece at safety as well.

2008 Kansas Special Teams

Marcus Herford is the most notable returnee here, as he was the Big 12’s special teams player of the year last year, after gaining 888 return yards. JUCO All-American Alonso Rojas must be a good replacement at punter, while Stephen Hoge looks to be the kicker. Don’t rule out Kerry Meier if those two struggle. Freshman Daymond Patterson could vie for return duties, as he was a Texas all state player as a WR/returner.

Final Notes for the 2008 Jayhawks:

• KU Opens their new 32 million dollar football facility August 1st, which should rival most Big 12 schools facilities
• New DL coach Joe Bob Clements arrives from San Diego State. He worked under Mangino at KSU in the mid 90’s, and played DE for them.
• Lawrence native Clint Bowen takes over the D-Coordinator position as Bill Young accepted the role at the University of Miami.
• KU moved its huge non-conference game with USF to Friday night, September 12, to accommodate ESPN. The bulls finished 9-4 last year, and will be extremely tough this year with All-American candidates on both sides of the ball (Matt Grothe QB, George Selvie DE).
• The Jayhawks Big 12 South Schedule last year (Texas A&M, OSU, Baylor) is replaced with OU, Texas Tech, and Texas, all arguably top 15 teams this year.

Final Note:

• Mark May, on his College Football Live show, recently picked KU as one of his two “busts or letdowns” of the year this year. This has to be good news to Jayhawk fans, as May continuously picked against KU multiple times last year, only to watch them win most of their games.

By Derek Meuller
Big 12 Fans Kansas Correspondent

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