Jerome Kemp arrived at Kansas University in 2002 as the latest in a long line of prep running-back sensations from Wichita, the Air Capital of the World.

“At Wichita Southeast, I was a star running back. I came here and expected to play right away,” said Kemp, who, after gaining a city-best 1,290 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns, was lumped by many in the same group as former Wichita greats Barry Sanders, Laverne Smith, Curtis McClinton, DeAngelo Evans, Jeff Smith, Rashad Washington and Dan Calhoun.

“Things didn’t happen the way I planned them to work out. It was kind of hard, but it’s just something you learn to take as a high school player going into the collegiate level.”

The 5-foot-10, 207-pound Kemp hasn’t been a bust in college.

He just hasn’t starred at his favorite position.

He currently is running first team at strong safety entering his junior year.

“I’m definitely glad I made the switch,” Kemp said of jumping from offense to defense his red-shirt freshman season. “Of course my heart is at running back, (but) if you followed me during high school, you know I’m a hard-hitting safety, and it’s something I enjoy doing. Like everyone else, I want to get on the field and play. At the time, our defense was struggling. I wanted to get on the field and help the defense out.”

Kemp

Now entering his fourth year in the program, Kemp is being counted on for stability in the defensive backfield.

KU lost safeties Rodney Harris and Tony Stubbs, with Kemp and Rodney Fowler the current starters at strong and free safety. Aqib Talib (SS) and Raymond Brown (FS) also are vying for playing time.

Talib actually finished the spring atop the depth chart, but safeties coach Clint Bowen said the difference between Talib and Kemp was minimal.

Not that Kemp minds. The more able bodies, the better.

“I don’t think it’s a question mark on our team,” Kemp said of the safety slots. “We have guys before us who got the job done, and we were behind them. Now it’s our time to get the job done. If the coaches didn’t think we were capable enough to fill their shoes, they wouldn’t put us in this position.”

Kemp feels fortunate to be a contributing member of the team. He has spent much of his first two seasons on special teams, which also is coached by Bowen. By this point, Bowen knows Kemp well and has plenty of faith in him.

“You know you can trust him,” Bowen said. “You’ve got to be able to trust who you throw on the field that they can get it done. If (Kemp) had an assignment, he put a great effort in and got it done.”

Still, it wasn’t fulfilling enough for Kemp, and he admits there were times early on he considered hanging up his spikes.

“That goes through everybody’s mind,” Kemp said. “It went through my mind in my younger years. I didn’t want to be a quitter. You’ve got to go through some things and let life take its course.”

A turning point came after last season — a year in which he played in 11 games and had nine total tackles, including a career-high three against Nebraska.

“The difference between now and a year ago basically is, I was what you want to call a hot head with attitude, somebody who thinks he should be playing in front of guys in front of him, not looking at the big picture of being assignment sound and fundamentally sound,” Kemp said.

“It’s where I am today. I know the defense. I know where I’m supposed to line up. I know where I’m supposed to fit, who I’m supposed to cover. I am more wise about the way the game goes.”

He was asked what flipped the switch for him mentally.

“I listened to what the coaches were telling me,” Kemp said. “They said you have the talent to play, but it’s your attitude. And so I set on my own to try to turn my attitude around and pay attention. I basically made a 180-degree turn in listening to what coaches were telling me.

“I’m glad I didn’t quit or give up. If I did, who knows where I’d be.”