The man to beat: KU coach Mark Mangino said Kerry Meier was the “incumbent” quarterback heading into spring, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to start over Todd Reesing this fall.

“He played most of the repititions last year, but I think it would be an oversight on our part as coaches just to say that’s the way it’s going to be,” Mangino said. “Todd Reesing has done some nice things and has proven he’s capable.”

¢All accounted for: Mangino said he didn’t expect injuries to keep anyone out of spring drills, though running back Angus Quigley will be limited early on as he recovers from a torn muscle in his thigh.

The coach did say academics could hold some players out, though not any regular starters.

“I’m going to decide how much, if any, work they get in the spring,” Mangino said. “Because if they have academic issues, they’re not going to be with us in the fall.”

¢Roster tweaks: Several Jayhawks enter the spring playing different positions.

Perhaps to most intriguing is Maxwell Onyegbule, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound freshman moving from linebacker to defensive end.

“He has really looked good at that position, based on a few practices we had prior to bowl selection,” Mangino said.

Also being moved is Olaitan Oguntodu from safety to linebacker, Sal Capra from linebacker to offensive guard and Raymond Brown from cornerback to wide receiver.

In addition, two scholarship players – running back D’Marcus Lang and cornerback Mike McCoy – no longer are on KU’s roster.

¢Healthy at last: One player who will be ready to show his stuff – for the first time in a while – is junior Gary Green.

Green was highly recruited out of high school but has battled numerous injuries over his career and has played just nine games – all in 2005. Mangino said Green was healthy now.

“Gary Green looks the best has looked in a couple of years,” Mangino said. “He has looked good. His quickness is there. He’s kind of like a freshman. He hasn’t had a whole lot of repititions.”

Green remains listed as a running back on the roster, but Mangino said Green had been a cornerback for a year now.

“He seems to be comfortable there,” Mangino said. “We have some quality corners, but we still feel we have a depth issue there.”

¢Spring game change: The spring game, scheduled for April 15 at Memorial Stadium, will be played at 3:30 p.m.

It originally was scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

“We feel this accomodates us a little bit better,” Mangino said.

¢This week: Kansas will start spring practices with workouts today and Friday without pads. Friday’s practice, which will start at 3:45 p.m. at the practice fields by Hoglund Ballpark, is open to the public.

Kansas then will have a padded workout on Saturday before taking a week off for spring break. Practices then will resume on March 28.