Russell Brorsen is making sure to think his way through everything he says this week. Though he’s ready for battle, he doesn’t want it to start in the newspapers.

But playing his hometown team, Oklahoma State, at Memorial Stadium today, the Kansas University defensive end is well aware that a game with the Cowboys might mean a little more than one against anyone else.

“I’m trying to be real careful not to make any bulletin-board material,” Brorsen said with a smile, “but there is motivation to play well.”

Brorsen hails from Stillwater, Okla., Oklahoma State’s backyard. He wasn’t recruited by the Cowboys, though, and bluntly admits that his recruitment wasn’t too eventful overall – despite being a standout in both football and wrestling at Stillwater High.

It was pretty much Kansas and some other smaller schools that didn’t quite compare.

His interest was lower than many of his fellow signees in the 2005 class, but Brorsen arguably has made the quickest impact. He was one of three true freshmen to play last season – along with James Holt and Tang Bacheyie – and served as the No. 2 tight end behind Derek Fine as a true freshman.

Oklahoma State cornerback Martel Van Zant, left, signs his answer to a question to interpreter Allie Lee. Van Zant was born deaf and has an interpreter help him in meetings, practices and classes.

He was naturally a defensive end, though, and moved back during the offseason. By Big 12 Conference play this season, he was starting on the line.

“He adapts very quickly,” KU coach Mark Mangino said last week. “Although he’s a little small in stature, he’s wiry and has great control of his body. It goes back to his wrestling days.”

Though Brorsen’s hometown always will remind some of a never-developed relationship with Oklahoma State, he said this week that he’s not looking back and certainly isn’t wondering what-if.

“I love it here,” Brorsen said. “It’s worked out great.”

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A long stretch: Kansas is believed to have the longest streak in Division I-A football without allowing a player to rush for 100 yards in a game.

A Fox Sports graphic two weeks ago noted that Kansas was behind only Virginia Tech in the category, but the Hokies have since allowed a 100-yard rusher, Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice.

Kansas hasn’t allowed a running back to hit the century mark in 19 games. The last was actually two runners, on Nov. 13, 2004, when Cedric Benson (161) and Vince Young (114) both did it for Texas.

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Overcoming the odds: Oklahoma State junior Martel Van Zant has been nominated for the Football Writers Assn. of America’s Courage Award, to be passed out the end of the season.

Van Zant was born deaf, and has an interpreter help him through meetings, practices and classes. So far, Van Zant has 13 tackles and one interception, starting all five games for the Cowboys.

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This, that: Oklahoma State’s other starting cornerback, sophomore Jacob Lacey, committed to Kansas his senior year of high school before changing his mind and going to OSU. He has 16 tackles and a forced fumble this season. : KU defensive coordinator Bill Young is a former Oklahoma State player and assistant coach. : The all-time series between KU and OSU is deadlocked at 28-28-2. Oklahoma State has won the last four.