Nick Reid has gone from red-shirt quarterback candidate to backup safety to starting linebacker in a matter of weeks.

The freshman from Derby, who changed positions twice during the preseason, was listed No. 1 at outside linebacker on the football depth chart Kansas University released Tuesday.

Kansas receivers work out prior to practice. The wideouts went through their ball-on-a-string drill Tuesday by the KU practice fields.

“Nick Reid is out there playing nearly every snap,” said coach Mark Mangino, who has nine freshmen on his two-deep list.

Reid has made the most of his playing time, making 10 tackles in three games. He was forced into duty during the season-opener at Iowa State when sophomore starter Banks Floodman suffered a season-ending knee injury. Junior backup Glenn Robinson was suspended for that game for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

Robinson made six tackles in the next two games and forced a fumble that fellow linebacker Leo Etienne returned for a touchdown during Saturday’s 44-24 victory against Southwest Missouri State. The junior, however, has switched places with Reid on the depth chart and is listed as the backup.

Two other true freshmen are listed as reserves at linebacker. Brandon Perkins is No. 2 behind Etienne at the other outside linebacker, replacing injured freshman Nick Clapp. Kevin Kane is No. 2 at middle linebacker behind senior Greg Cole.

There’s one other change on defense. Senior Brandon Lacy has replaced junior-college transfer Reggie Curry as backup at defensive end behind sophomore David McMillan.

On offense, converted tight end David Hurst has taken the backup role at left guard behind senior Tony Damiani.

Hurst made the switch last week and saw limited action against Southwest Missouri State.

“He’s doing well,” Mangino said of the senior, who lost his starting job to junior tight end Adrian Jones in the preseason. “He’s learning and he’s a good student. He wants to learn. He got a bunch of repetitions last week. He got his feet wet. This week we’re throwing him into the fire. He’s ready to go.”

Hurst takes the place of junior Kregg Schmidt, who made his first start at right guard against SMS. Schmidt replaced senior John Harvey, who’s listed as No. 2 at right tackle behind sophomore Tony Coker.

Harvey replaced senior Gabe Rosalis, who was didn’t suit up for the SMS game and is nowhere to be found on the depth chart.

Mangino has declined to comment on the status of three veterans Rosalis, nose tackle Brock Teddleton and fullback Austine Nwabuisi who did not suit up Saturday.

At fullback, sophomore Brandon Watkins replaced senior Jason Shumaker as backup to junior Dan Coke.

Finally, freshman Greg Heaggans was moved to the top spot as kick returner after setting a school record with 195 yards on four returns Saturday. KU had tried sophomore Leo Bookman and freshman Jon Cornish in that role.

Heads up: The U.S. Air Force will be conducting a flyover prior to Saturday’s 6 p.m. game against Bowling Green. Two T-38 Super Sonic Trainers will fly above Memorial Stadium at the conclusion of the national anthem, at approximately 5:50 p.m. The planes will fly in from the south over the Campanile and continue to the north over Memorial Stadium. Maj. Mike Means, a 1990 KU graduate, will be flying the lead plane.

In the red zone: KU has scored nine times in 11 trips inside its opponents’ 20-yard line for an 81.8-percent success rate. KU’s foes have scored 14 of 17 times inside the Jayhawks’ 20, or 82.4 percent.