Gary Heaggans hasn’t played football with his brother Greg in four years.

That likely will change Aug. 30 when Kansas University opens the season against Northwestern. The Heaggans brothers, each a former Kansas City Schlagle standout, are being counted on to help the Jayhawks improve in coach Mark Mangino’s second season.

Gary, a junior wide receiver, watched from the sideline last year after transferring from Purdue, and watched Greg, now a sophomore, shatter KU’s single-game and single-season records for kickoff returns.

Greg had plenty of opportunities as a return man because KU opponents scored 507 points during a 2-10 season. Heaggans’ 691 yards on 28 returns broke the old mark of 531 Arnold Snell set in 1988 when Kansas was 1-10.

“It was very frustrating,” Gary said. “You want to see the team do better. Now being able to help is indescribable. I work hard every day. I want to work hard and get out there on the field and produce.”

Gary produced big numbers as a receiver at Schlagle. With Greg at quarterback, Gary hauled in 30 passes for 600 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas as a senior when he made 21 catches for 700 yards and nine TDs.

He took a red-shirt as a freshman at Purdue in 2000, then caught three passes for 30 yards in 2001.

“I didn’t feel it was a good situation for me,” he said. “I thought I had a better opportunity here. Added on to that was the opportunity to play college football with my brother.”

The elder Heaggans was so eager to come home he gave up his sophomore year of eligibility last season when he sat out in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.

Kansas University receiver Greg Heaggans, right, protects the ball from safety Brian Seymour during practice. Heaggans and his brother, Gary, are happy to play together at KU. Greg Heaggans worked out Thursday on the KU practice field.

The brothers’ relatives are glad to see them on the same team and happy that the family can focus on one program.

“They’re excited,” Gary said, “and it saves them a lot of money.”

Not only are the brothers on the same team, they’re playing the same position for the first time.

Greg was a three-year starter at quarterback for Schlagle. The all-state and all-metro selection was the top-rated player in the state by rivals.com as a senior. But Greg was more of a threat as a runner than as a passer, and he was converted to receiver at KU.

He took a red-shirt year as a freshman in 2001 and later moved to defensive back, pitting the brothers against each other during practices last season.

“We went up against each other a couple of times,” Gary said. “He was just getting started, so it’s not fair to say I beat him every time.”

Greg had other duties in practice as well, operating as scout-team quarterback. That role thrust him into action against Nebraska after second-string quarterback Jonas Weatherbie — subbing for injured starter Bill Whittemore — went down because of an injury.

“He might be a linebacker tomorrow,” Mangino said of the versatile Heaggans. “He’s trying to find his niche, and we’re trying to help him.”

Greg (6-foot, 185) hopes he’ll find a home at receiver. He made one catch last season for 23 yards on a special teams trick play.

The younger sibling doesn’t expect to make an immediate impact at one of KU’s more well-stocked positions.

“I never had a foundation at receiver,” he said. “I’m not expected to play a lot this season. It won’t bother me if I don’t play a lot at wide receiver. I’m young. I have three years left.”

Kansas returns three receivers who caught more than 20 passes last season — senior Derick Mills, junior Brandon Rideau and sophomore Mark Simmons. Those veterans will be challenged by newcomers, including Gary Heaggans, transfer Scott Bajza, freshman Moderick Johnson and red-shirt freshmen Charles Gordon and Dominic Roux.

“There is great competition this year,” Greg Heaggans said. “There are a lot of good athletes. We have returning players that are good athletes. We also have newcomers that will help the team a lot. It is going to be pretty hard getting a receiver spot this season. We are very talented in that position, and we are going to have a lot of depth also.”

Greg isn’t too concerned about playing time at his new position because he knows he’ll get the ball as KU’s primary kick returner.

“I am just really excited to get out there on the field,” he said. “I have been working out hard. I have been preparing for this season. That is what I love to do, play football. That is my position, and so I am going to go out there and make even more happen this year.”

Heaggans made things happen in 2002. He broke John Hadl’s 43-year-old record for single-game return yards with a 195-yard game against Southwest Missouri State. His 100-yard return in that game tied as the second-longest in school history.

He also had more than 100 yards in returns against Kansas State and finished the year averaging 24.7 yards per return, which ranked third in the Big 12 Conference and 14th in the nation.

“Last year was mediocre,” he said. “I’m getting bigger, stronger and faster. I always think I can do better. This year I want to prove I can do a lot better.”