Dinged up

It was noticeable for onlookers at two open practices earlier this month. But until Saturday, no one in Kansas University’s football program wanted to admit that quarterback Kerry Meier wasn’t 100 percent.

Todd Reesing was announced as the starting quarterback Saturday, and in the process an undisclosed leg injury to Meier was confirmed to reporters.

“Overall, I could see on film it started affecting my throwing motion,” said Meier, who declined comment when asked if it was a hamstring injury. “I took a couple of days off to heal up, but we’re still in the process of getting it better. We’ll get healthy here pretty soon.”

It’s another frustrating turn for Meier, who missed parts of five games because of a shoulder injury last year and is starting to tread toward the discouraging label of being injury-prone.

KU coach Mark Mangino insisted Meier’s latest setback wasn’t the reason Reesing won the job. Meier appeared in good spirits when speaking to the media Saturday and said he’d take the role given to him.

“That spot is never definite in this game,” Meier said, “so I’m just going to keep working and keep elevating my game and see where it takes me.”

Practice update

After taking Thursday off for the first day of classes, Kansas had a single practice Friday and worked at Memorial Stadium on Saturday morning. Saturday’s practice wrapped up with about 25 minutes of scrimmaging, concentrating on red-zone offense.

Mangino said three or four positions were still being contested, though quarterback no longer is one of them.

“At this point in time, I like to think we’re on track,” Mangino said. “There’s still some things we have to work out, there’s still some positions up for competition, but the competition is at a high level. That’s what we like about it.”

Harris still on top

Mangino said Saturday that injured cornerback Kendrick Harper was still working on getting ready for a return, possibly for the Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas State in October.

“He’s working hard in his rehab,” Mangino said. “He’s a diligent guy.”

In the meantime, it appears true freshman Chris Harris is winning the starting cornerback job opposite Aqib Talib.

Harris worked first-team repetitions during the open practice on Monday and Mangino confirmed that he remained with the 1’s for the rest of the week.

Norman to Tulsa

Arkansas transfer Andrew Norman, who briefly flirted with the idea of attending Kansas, tells the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas that he’s going to Tulsa.

“I was up in Kansas, and it just didn’t feel right the whole time,” Norman, a wide receiver, told the paper. “Coach (Mangino) and the staff was really great and everything. I couldn’t have asked more of them. But it just felt like I was supposed to be here at Tulsa, and I feel comfortable with it.”