TOLEDO, OHIO ? With the University of Toledo football team pinned back on its own 2-yard line Friday, Kansas University cornerback Aqib Talib jawed some heated words of encouragement toward the Jayhawk defensive line – an attempt to fire the squad up, perhaps like only the free-talking Talib can.

Two plays later, the Jayhawks sacked UT quarterback Brandon Summers in the end zone for a safety. Though Kansas eventually lost the game, 37-31 in two overtimes, there’s no doubt Talib’s return lit a fire under KU’s defense – and not a moment too soon.

Talib, perhaps KU’s brightest star, sat out the Jayhawks’ first two games while serving a disciplinary suspension. He stood on the sideline in those contests, often secluded, watching as teams like Louisiana-Monroe conducted clinics on how to shread a Talib-less KU secondary.

Toledo didn’t have so much luck. Talib was his solid self Friday, officially being credited with six tackles and three pass break-ups. But his impact was even bigger. The Rockets had just 136 yards passing and a staggering 32 incompletions. They had 28 total yards and no first downs in the second half. And just maybe, Talib’s confidence spread across the secondary – the defensive backfield in general wasn’t such an obvious liability at the Glass Bowl like it was against Louisiana-Monroe.

Asked if there were any cobwebs on KU’s prized cornerback, Jayhawk coach Mark Mangino was at a loss for words.

“No,” he finally said. “He looks pretty good to me.”

One clutch play may have shown Talib’s impact the most. On 4th-and-goal in the first overtime, Toledo had a potential do-or-die stab at the end zone from 24 yards out. Toledo quarterback Clint Cochran lofted a pass to the right side – Talib’s side – toward Stephen Williams. With flawless coverage, Talib timed his jump perfectly and broke the pass up..

Such plays – referred to by coaches as “getting to the ball at its highest point” – have been a bugaboo for KU’s other cornerbacks. Blake Bueltel couldn’t break up a similar pass at the end of the first half, leading to a critical Rockets touchdown. Similar jumpballs rocked KU’s defense against Louisiana-Monroe.

But with Talib back, the Kansas defense seemed to edge closer to hitting full stride Friday – something badly needed, especially against the pass.

“I think we did a lot of good things,” linebacker Mike Rivera said. “We had some misplays in there, but I thought we played really well.”