Not all glory positions in football are manned by men in the offensive huddle. Defensive ends make posters chasing quarterbacks. Middle linebackers are lauded as the most rugged of all players. Cornerbacks live to be called “shut-down” corners.

And then there are safeties.

What exactly do safeties do?

Everything.

Asked if wide receiver is an easy position for a high school player to make the transition to the college game, Kansas University coach Mark Mangino responded in a way that revealed just how important he considers safeties.

“I wouldn’t say there is any one position that’s easier than others,” Mangino said. “Obviously, the quarterback position is difficult. I think the safety position, because they’re the adjusters on defense, is a bit more difficult. The rest of them, they’re all equally difficult.”

There you have it. Quarterbacks and safeties. Imagine the state of panic in the dormitories if the top two quarterbacks were out with injuries. Instead, KU is practicing without its projected starting safeties, senior Jerome Kemp and red-shirt freshman Darrell Stuckey, both sidelined by leg injuries.

Rodney Harris’ career ended due to a neck injury in March.

It is believed Kemp is the only one who has any chance to be ready for the opener against Northwestern State at Memorial Stadium, one week from Saturday.

If healthy, Kemp, Harris and Stuckey would have been the top three safeties. Reserves are reserves for a reason. Either they lack physical and mental tools or the experience to convince the coaching staff they are the best available options.

This rash of injuries makes the Jayhawks more vulnerable, unless a couple of players seize an unanticipated opportunity and do so well with it they keep the job forever.

Sadiq Muhammed, fourth-year junior out of Hickman Mills High in Kansas City, Mo., this is your chance. Make the most of it.

Sophomore Tang Bacheyie, converted running back from Windsor, Ontario, you’re not going to get a better chance than you have right now.

True freshman Olaitan Oguntodu, your chance is supposed to arrive in a year or two. So move the clock up. Try to make it happen now.

It’s a lot to ask to master one of the more cerebral positions on the field, even for players with academic honors earned by Muhammed and Oguntodu.

A linebacker makes the call for the guys up front, and a safety makes sure the defense is in the right coverage and has to match what’s going on up front. As the offensive formation changes the instant before the snap, it’s up to the safety to change the coverage on the fly. The safety is a huge part of stopping the run. He has to know what gaps to fill, when. Coverages have become so sophisticated, most NFL teams have two assistant coaches responsible for the secondary. In college, with quarterbacks running more, a safety’s responsibilities can be even greater than in the NFL.

A safety messes up a call and the defense will get burned. A safety has his eyes in the wrong place at the wrong time, reading the wrong keys, and disaster awaits. If he hesitates on a running play, look out.

Most students have until midterms to worry about cramming. Not the KU safeties. Every day in practice is finals day. Wish them luck.