Kevin Kane is inexperienced and undersized.

That didnâÂÂt stop the freshman linebacker from notching a team-high 12 tackles in Kansas UniversityâÂÂs 64-0 loss to Kansas State last Saturday.

âÂÂHeâÂÂs very smart,â KU coach Mark Mangino said of the former Rockhurst High standout. âÂÂHe understands how to play football. Even when heâÂÂs outmatched, he finds a way to make a tackle. He plays with leverage. He plays downhill. He really understands what this game is all about. HeâÂÂs a very intelligent guy and has a great grasp on how to play this game as a true freshman.âÂÂ

When last weekâÂÂs game got out of hand and Mangino gave additional playing time to some of his young backups, Kane responded. After recording eight tackles in eight previous games, his 12-tackle performance gave him 20 for the season, 13th-best among KUâÂÂs leaders.

âÂÂIt gives me a lot of confidence going into this week,â Kane said. âÂÂI need to prepare well for this game, and hopefully IâÂÂll do the same thing.âÂÂ

Kane (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) will have added motivation at 12:30 a.m. today when the Jayhawks play at Nebraska. His father, John, played linebacker for the Cornhuskers in the 1970s.

âÂÂIâÂÂm sure my dad will be happy to go back up there,â Kane said. âÂÂHeâÂÂll be rooting for the Jayhawks.âÂÂ

Kane has heard plenty of Lincoln lore from his father but heâÂÂs never seen a game at Memorial Stadium, where Nebraska has won 62 of its last 64 games. TodayâÂÂs homecoming game will be the Huskersâ 254th consecutive sellout.

âÂÂIâÂÂm sure itâÂÂll hit me when I get up there,â he said. âÂÂHe says IâÂÂll enjoy it. ItâÂÂs an experience youâÂÂll never see anywhere else.âÂÂ

Kane had a good experience at Rockhurst. He was a two-time all-metro and all-state performer for the Jesuit preparatory school in Kansas City, Mo. After helping Rockhurst win the Missouri state title as a junior, he had 116 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior.

He had plenty of college options but stayed close to home.

âÂÂIt could be a turnaround,â he said. âÂÂI wanted to be part of something good here. I know the past hasnâÂÂt been all that great, but hopefully with new coaches in a couple years weâÂÂll turn it around. I wanted to be part of it. Everybody wants a challenge to face, and thatâÂÂs one of them.âÂÂ

Kane wasnâÂÂt deterred by the fact Kansas looked set at linebacker with Greg Cole, Leo Etienne and Banks Floodman returning from last yearâÂÂs squad. When Floodman was injured in the first game of the season it opened the door for Kane and fellow freshman Nick Reid.

âÂÂWe have taken these kids and put them on the field to compete in the Big 12 when last year at this time they were playing for their high school team, getting ready for the homecoming dance,â Mangino said. âÂÂSo, that says a lot about those two kids.âÂÂ

Reid is KUâÂÂs fourth-leading tackler with 54 and is tied for the team lead with four sacks and two forced fumbles.

âÂÂTheyâÂÂre a great asset to our team,â Cole said of the freshmen. âÂÂTheyâÂÂve been working hard since day one. TheyâÂÂre going to be good players in the future.âÂÂ

KaneâÂÂs future will include gaining about 15 pounds. He said heâÂÂd like to weigh about 230 as a sophomore.

âÂÂItâÂÂs been an experience,â he said. âÂÂItâÂÂs a drastic change going from high school up to the college level. ThereâÂÂs a lot of bigger guys coming at you. I enjoy the experience IâÂÂm getting. ItâÂÂs going to help us in the long run. The guys are so much bigger and faster at this level. You have to get used to that.âÂÂ

The speed bothers Kane more than the size.

âÂÂIâÂÂve been surprised with how well IâÂÂve done so far,â he said. âÂÂThe (biggest) difference I see is the speed of the linemen. TheyâÂÂre so much faster than in high school. Strength-wise I think IâÂÂm hanging in there with them.âÂÂ

Kane has filled in at middle and weak-side linebacker, but Mangino said the freshmanâÂÂs future was in the middle.

âÂÂThatâÂÂs what his skills seem to be most suited for,â Mangino said. âÂÂWhen you take a true freshman and you play him at two different linebacking positions his first year, that says a lot about the young man and his ability and his intelligence and his toughness.âÂÂ