Kansas University’s players and coaches have been impressed with the tight-end fleet Toledo has, particularly the No. 1 guy, senior Chris Hopkins.

Hopkins had 13 receptions for 139 yards against Iowa State in the season-opener and followed it up with 100 yards receiving on just four catches against Western Michigan. He’s currently seventh in NCAA Division I-A in receiving yards.

“A great player,” WMU coach Bill Cubit told the Toledo Blade. “One of the top tight ends in the country.”

Hopkins, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound talent out of Chicago, is considered a senior now, but he could be back in 2007. A non-qualifier when he signed with Toledo, Hopkins could get one more year of eligibility if he gets 80 percent of his coursework completed toward graduation by the start of next season.

¢ Baby Rockets: For the third straight week, KU is playing a team ripe with freshmen.

Toledo has played 10 true freshmen so far this season, including the team’s leading tackler, safety Barry Church. That’s reportedly sixth-most in Division I-A. Temple leads the way with 16 true freshmen played so far.

For what it’s worth, the Jayhawks have played four – Olaitan Oguntodu, Anthony Webb, Jake Sharp and Maxwell Onyegbule.

¢ Keeps dropping: Gamblers seem to like KU’s chances in Friday’s game.

Las Vegas oddsmakers opened the line Sunday making Toledo a 51â2 point favorite over Kansas. That quickly dropped to 41â2 and now is down to 31â2 points. Action favorable toward Kansas made the line respond by shrinking.

KU players don’t seem to pay much attention to the spreads, and KU coach Mark Mangino has said in the past that he never brings it up around his team.

“That never determines the game,” safety Jerome Kemp said. “Whoever comes out and plays their best is going to win. Being the underdog is nothing new to us.”