Stepping up

As Kansas University freshman football cornerback Chris Harris talked to reporters, junior standout Aqib Talib walked by the scrum and shouted, “That’s my young’n right there!”

Talib has taken Harris under his wing. By Sept. 1, they could be KU’s two starting cornerbacks.

Harris has impressed the coaching staff enough to get first-team work at cornerback in the absence of injured junior Kendrick Harper. He’s beating out incumbent Anthony Webb, Gary Green, Phillip Strozier and others.

“At first I was trying to play to get in that top three to be in that nickel (defense),” Harris said. “When Kendrick went down, it was, ‘Oh no, I’ve got to play to start now.'”

Harris, a 6-foot, 180-pounder out of Bixby, Okla., was a safety in high school but was recruited to KU as a wide receiver. When the Jayhawks signed receiver Rell Lewis from nearby Muskogee, Okla., Harris then projected to be a corner at KU.

If early playing time is any indication, it looks to be the right spot for him.

“I’m blessed,” Harris said. “I thank God every day for just giving me the opportunity to play. I feel like I belong. I feel like that’s my spot.”

Depth chart shifts

A couple of other intriguing changes in first- and second-team work Monday gave clues as to possible lineups on Sept. 1.

The right-guard position appears to be more competitive than originally thought. On Monday, junior Rameses Arceo worked with the first team, while junior-college transfer Chet Hartley – the starter after spring drills – was on second team. KU coach Mark Mangino said the competition was ongoing.

In addition, true freshman Dezmon Briscoe received extensive work on first team as a wide receiver and is a possibility to join Marcus Henry and Dexton Fields as starters.

“He’s going to be out on the field. He’s going to play. He’s competing for a starting job,” Mangino said of Briscoe.

One position change was seen Monday. Senior Marcus Anderson, a former offensive lineman who has yet to play a down at Kansas, was working on the defensive line.

Transfer to Kansas?

An Arkansas transfer has narrowed his new list of schools to two – and one is Kansas.

Andrew Norman, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver from Springdale, Ark., is expected to choose between two schools in the next couple of days, according to the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.

Robert Norman, Andrew’s father, did not return a phone call seeking comment. But he told the Morning News, “It’s either Kansas or Tulsa. There were some other schools that called, too, but it’s basically either Kansas or Tulsa. It should be determined no later than Wednesday.”

Norman was one of four standouts out of Springdale (Ark.) High to sign with Arkansas out of high school in 2006, although only one remains a Razorback. Two others, quarterback Mitch Mustain and receiver Damian Williams, already transferred to Southern California. Norman decided to transfer from Arkansas earlier this month.

Kansas is the big-conference school, but Tulsa’s offensive coordinator is Gus Malzahn, Norman’s former coach at Springdale High.

Wherever he chooses to go, Norman will have to sit out this fall in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. He would be a red-shirt sophomore in 2008 and have three years to play three seasons.