Greg Heaggans’ junior season hasn’t even started, and the Kansas City Schlagle graduate already owns Kansas University’s single-game, single-season and career records for kick-return yardage.

Heaggans, however, has no guarantee that he will be returning kicks when KU opens the football season Sept. 4 against Tulsa.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino shook up his special teams late in the 2003 season and benched Heaggans for the final two games of the regular season.

“I just wasn’t focusing on the field,” Heaggans said. “He decided he was going to sit me out the rest of the season. I started focusing on practice and practicing hard every play. I have to go out and work hard so I can get it back.”

Heaggans was an all-state quarterback and defensive back at Schlagle, but he was a man without a position during his first three years at Kansas. After bouncing from the secondary to receiver, the fourth-year junior has settled in and is second on the depth chart behind senior receiver Brandon Rideau.

While he looks forward to being a regular contributor for the first time on offense, that special-teams role still means a lot.

“I look forward to special teams,” said Heaggans, who set a school kick-return record with 691 yards as a red-shirt freshman in 2002 and followed that with the second-best mark in KU history last year with 665.

“I was a quarterback in high school. I was making the transition to receiver, and I wasn’t expecting to play a lot at receiver. I was just trying to get on the field anyway I can, and special teams was the way. It’s very important to me. … I believe I deserve to have it. I deserve to be on every special team.”

Sophomore John Randle returned six kicks for 128 yards in the Tangerine Bowl, while Heaggans returned two for 62.

Heaggans is battling Randle and freshman Gary Green for the job in preseason camp.

Kansas University tight end Derek Fine (85) shows his nephew, Sheldon Smith, 9, and niece, Bailey Smith, 5, proper stretching technique during Kids Day. The two Gibson, Okla., youths were among a few hundred who attended KU's practice Sunday.

“Any one of us could play the position,” Heaggans said. “Whoever goes out and makes the most plays will have it. … We’re all working hard to earn a position. I’m going to do my best. I’d like to have it back.”

Heaggans (6-foot, 185 pounds) and brother Gary Heaggans (6-2, 200) are both likely to play larger roles in KU’s offense this season.

Gary Heaggans, a former Purdue player, caught three passes for 41 yards and a touchdown as a junior last season — his first as a Jayhawk after sitting out the 2002 season. The former Kansas High School Player of the Year is first on the depth chart at the receiver spot vacated by sophomore Charles Gordon, who likely will be a starting cornerback this fall.

Greg Heaggans also is moving up the depth chart. He’s filling in for sophomore Moderick Johnson, who is not expected to be academically eligible.

“I was asked to go in there and make plays and try to step up,” Heaggans said, “and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

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Kids Day popular: KU opened the final 30 minutes of its practice to a few hundred young fans and their parents Sunday. The players and coaches stayed on the field for photos and autographs after the workout.

“I think a lot of people feel good about the Jayhawk football program,” coach Mark Mangino said. “Our supporters have been great. This is just a way for our players to say thank you.”

Henry Bell, 9, of Overland Park, hits a tackling dummy held by Kansas University receiver Scott Bajza. A few hundred youths turned out at the Jayhawks' practice for Kids Day on Sunday on the field behind Anschutz Sports Pavilion.

KU’s next football event will be Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 25. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. There is no charge for admission, and marketing director Andrew Steinberg said KU would give away schedule cups, T-shirts, posters and key chains.

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Coming up: Kansas will have two-a-day practices today and Wednesday with a single practice in between on Tuesday. The Jayhawks will take a break from practices Thursday, the first day of fall classes. … KU’s next open practice will be 4 p.m. Friday at the field behind Anschutz Pavilion.