Former Kansas University standout James McClinton is in Houston for today’s East-West Shrine Game.

But after a scary incident earlier this week, he won’t be playing.

McClinton suffered a seizure on Monday – the second time he’s had one in the last year – and was held out of football this week for precautionary reasons.

The second-team All-America defensive tackle will watch today’s East-West Shrine Game from the sidelines, then return to Kansas and see a neurologist next week.

“They couldn’t find anything in the tests,” McClinton said Friday when reached by cell phone. “They told me I need to go see a neurologist.”

McClinton said he feels fine, and is optimistic that the setback is minor. He said his spirits were still high even though he can’t play in front of dozens of NFL scouts who are in Houston for the game.

Two of his KU teammates will get their shots, though. Wide receiver Marcus Henry and running back Brandon McAnderson both are in Houston, and both will play on the West squad in today’s game, which will kick off at 6 p.m. from Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus.

The game will be televised by ESPN2 (Sunflower Broadband channel 34).

McAnderson is working out as a fullback this week and isn’t getting many carries. Meanwhile, Henry is getting a lot of work at wide receiver and is earning some praise for his performance.

“Marcus is looking good,” McClinton said. “He’s catching almost every ball.”

In addition to the game, the players spent a day earlier in the week at the Shriners Hospital for Children visiting patients.

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Internal hire?: With KU defensive coordinator Bill Young accepting the same position at Miami this week, the speculation for replacements already has started.

But the answer could be right under head coach Mark Mangino’s nose. Co-defensive coordinator Clint Bowen is a possible candidate for a promotion, having worked under Young for the last five seasons.

Bowen has been on KU’s staff since 1998, and has been a full-time assistant coach since 2001. He’s coached the safeties since 2003, and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator after the ’05 season.

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One to go: KU coach Mark Mangino won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award for being the national coach of the year on Thursday.

In between recruiting visits, Mangino was in Houston to accept the honor. He’s now won eight national coach-of-the-year awards this season.

There’s a chance for a ninth, too – the Maxwell Football Club has yet to announce its recipient for the George Munger Award, given to the nation’s top coach.

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Recruiting: Rivals.com is reporting that Kansas will have a couple of official visitors this weekend.

One is junior-college running back Jocques Crawford, who’s considering KU, TCU and a few others. Crawford led the NJCAA in rushing and is one of KU’s top remaining targets.

Another, according to Rivals, is Harrisonville (Mo.) High standout Sean Ransburg, who has been committed to the Jayhawks since last April.