It would be pretty easy to stereotype Kansas University’s Clark Green.

As soon as the red-shirt freshman running back flips off his shimmering blue helmet, his hair is just there, spilling everywhere.

The Tampa, Fla., native’s hairdo flows freely in much the same fashion as former Jayhawk defensive back Carl Nesmith.

But don’t expect the same trash talking that came with Nesmith a.k.a. “The Butcher,” who once tried to open his own fan-based butcher shop in Memorial Stadium.

It’s not that Green doesn’t have the potential to make a name for himself. He’s already locked in a tight spring battle with returning starter Reggie Duncan for the top running back spot.

But Green would prefer to make his name quietly.

“Nah, everyone is equal,” a soft-spoken Green said of where he thinks he’s positioned with a pack of backs that also includes juniors Dan Coke and Harold McClendon during spring drills.

But first-year coach Mark Mangino doesn’t have a problem voicing his approval for the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Green.

“It looks like Reggie and Clark have separated themselves from the pack a little bit at this point and time,” Mangino said. “Throughout the spring he has shown he’s a very physical player. He has very good speed and a real good understanding of our offense. He gets his reads really well and hits the line of scrimmage very quickly.”

Yeah, but what does Mangino like best about Green’s game?

“He’ll knock the wind out of you,” the KU coach said emphatically. “He’s probably the best pass protector that we have on our team.”

Green says he takes pride in watching his quarterback’s back, but he’s also proud of his own versatility and said he loved catching balls out of the backfield something Mangino hopes to integrate into KU’s rushing corps, in much the same way he did for Oklahoma last season when he served as the Sooners’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

Oklahoma backs not only rushed for 119.4 yards per game but also accounted for more than 75 of the Sooners’ nearly 250-yard average in the air.

Kansas would welcome the extra receivers from behind the line of scrimmage. While the Jayhawks posted similar rushing stats with the Sooners on the ground, compiling a 117.1 ypg average, KU’s top receiving back was Duncan, who had just four receptions all season.

“I like the spread offense,” said Green, who gained more than 1,400 yards his senior season at Robinson High.

Clark will have a chance to open people’s eyes tonight in Kansas’ spring game much like the freshman did in last summer’s final preseason scrimmage when he led Jayhawk runners with 40 yards on six carries. But shortly thereafter, Green received notice he would red-shirt the season.

Green, however, said “it was for the best,” and that watching from the sidelines allowed him to get ready physically and mentally and provided extra incentive for this season.

“It’s going to be like that sometimes, but you have to suck it up and continue to work harder and get better,” Green said.

Mangino has noticed.

“I’m very, very pleased with Clark’s progress, of all the running backs,” the coach said.