Kansas University assistant football coach Earnest Collins has coached for 10 years and played four more as a defensive back at Northern Colorado.

He has never – not once – dealt with a 6-foot-3 cornerback until now. Raymond Brown, an extra-tall corner out of St. Louis, is playing plenty in the Jayhawks’ secondary – and giving Collins a first as a college coach.

“I never have,” Collins said. “That was the question, whether he was going to be able to move his hips and things like that. To his credit, we came to him with the proposition, and he responded with it and worked hard to get himself prepared to play.”

Except for 6-2 Aqib Talib, KU’s cornerbacks in the Mark Mangino era have been lucky to crack 6-foot, which isn’t uncommon in college football. At KU, that has changed this year with Talib, Brown and Blake Bueltel (6-foot) atop the depth chart.

Bueltel and Talib are natural cornerbacks. Brown is a converted safety who physically doesn’t really fit the cornerback mold.

It has worked, regardless.

“We needed some people over there (at safety) to come play for us,” said Collins, who coaches the cornerbacks. “We needed to get some bodies over there that could run. He was a good candidate for it.

“He’s not your prototypical corner being as tall as he is : but he was able to move around and make it a good fit for him.”

Brown played primarily on special teams last year while backing up a safety position. With Charles Gordon, Theo Baines and Ronnie and Donnie Amadi all leaving the program, someone had to move over to cornerback and help.

The 6-3 guy ended up being the best answer. Brown started against Northwestern State and graded out well, according to Mangino. He’ll continue to play plenty.

“Nobody tries harder than Raymond,” Mangino said. “He’s a guy who works at it. It’s important to him.

We’re pleased with Raymond. Raymond will be a factor for us.”

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Webb emerges: Another cornerback forcing himself into the mix is Anthony Webb, a true freshman out of Dallas who was KU’s highest-rated recruit last year.

Webb played primarily on special teams last week, while Brown and Bueltel started at corner. Webb, though, is continuing to challenge for playing time.

“He’ll get a little bit more work this week,” Mangino confirmed.

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One guy: While the Jayhawks have no players from the state of Louisiana, there is one Kansan on ULM’s roster – cornerback Quintez Secka. A Wichita South High grad, Secka played two years at Coffeyville Community College before heading to Monroe. He’s a projected starter at corner.

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This, that: Kansas hasn’t lost a game at Memorial Stadium since falling to a Vince Young-led comeback against Texas in 2004. : Ten out of KU’s last 13 opponents have failed to gain 100 yards rushing. : The Jayhawks committed just two penalties in their opener against Northwestern State. : Brian Murph is just one score away from the school record for punt returns for touchdowns. Donnie Shanklin returned three from 1966-68.