Travis Watkins doesn’t feel threatened by the platoon of junior college players that arrived early this summer at Kansas University.

The newcomers, who are expected to compete for starting roles, don’t make him feel more motivated either.

“I don’t think it should take that to get you motivated,” said Watkins, a junior defensive tackle who has started 22 of 23 games in the last two seasons. “I can’t speak for anybody else, but me, personally, it doesn’t motivate me. It gets me excited. I’m going to either have some competition or have some guys playing with me that are going to be good. I don’t use it for motivation. What I use for motivation is myself. I don’t care who’s behind me or who’s ahead of me. I’m just trying to be the best player I can be.”

Kansas returns three of four starters — Watkins (6-foot-4, 285), sophomore nose guard Tim Allen (6-1, 260) and junior end David McMillan (6-3, 240) — from last year’s defensive line. But coach Mark Mangino and his staff signed three junior college defensive lineman to upgrade a defense that allowed an average of 256.2 rushing yards per game in 2002 when the Jayhawks were 2-10.

Ends Chuck Jones (6-4, 275), Monroe Weekley (6-4, 256) and nose guard Phil Tuihalamaka (6-3, 323) all will be battling for playing time when preseason practices start Aug. 4.

“We’re bringing in guys that can play,” said Watkins, who made 37 tackles last season. “It doesn’t matter if you start. When you’re in the Big 12 — or just Division I football — you have to be deep at every position. A lot of starters on some other teams play 75, 80 percent of the game. Last year we were in a situation where if a starter went down, he had to either play hurt or we had to put in a guy who wasn’t ready to play yet. We have a lot more depth. If those guys can get their stuff together, they’ll come in here and make a difference whether they start or back people up.”

Watkins sounded every bit the team co-captain, chiding Jones and Tuihalamaka for being overweight.

“Chuck Jones had a lot of moves,” Watkins said. “He needs to work on his weight. If he gets his weight down, he’ll be a real good D-end.”

If not, Jones could play tackle.

Jayhawk defensive lineman Travis Watkins (67) tackles Iowa State's Hiawatha Ruthland during a game last season.

Tuihalamaka has dropped 23 pounds since reporting to campus and hopes to slim down to 300.

If Weekley and Jones can make an impact on the outside, it could take some pressure off red-shirt freshman end Kyle Knighton (6-3, 250).

Knighton set a Missouri prep record with 222 tackles as a senior linebacker at West Platte High in Weston, Mo. He was expected to contribute last fall as a true freshman, but his season was ended by an injury.

“He’s young, and he’s fast,” Watkins said. “He works real hard. He’s got plenty of time to develop and do well. If he doesn’t shine this year as much as maybe he will later In his career, that’s just fine because he has a real good career in front of him.”

The Jayhawks hope Tuihalamaka can make an impact in the interior.

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“I know he’s supposed to be a really good player,” Watkins said. “If he gets his stuff together and loses a couple of pounds, he’s going to be really good. He’s really what we need. We need a nose guard in there that’s got some weight to anchor our line.”

Allen returns at nose guard, and senior Cory Kipp (6-4, 280) also should contribute after moving from end.

Kipp was a heralded recruit last year out of Riverside Community College in California, but he made only six tackles in nine games.

The transition from junior college isn’t always an easy one. Expectations are higher, academics are harder and players — who are often far from home — must adjust to new coaches, new schemes and new teammates.

“All the guys we brought in are good football players,” Watkins said. “It’s just a matter of if they’re going to get their grades right and if they’re going to get their attitudes right about being here and being Division I football players. But I think all the juco guys are going to make an impact this year.”

Watkins has seen his new teammates during summer conditioning and seven-on-seven drills, but he won’t see them in pads until practice starts in 18 days.

“I’m eager for the season, and I’m glad we have these guys that are ready to play right now,” Watkins said. “We’re not a team that can bring in a bunch of high school guys and sit them out and red-shirt them. We’re a team that needs help right now. We need guys that are going to go out there and put it on the line and play right away. We don’t have the luxury of having whole classes red-shirt like some teams can.

“It’s not like it’s going to be a big deal if they start. They’re supposed to start. That’s what they were brought here to do.”