photo by: John Young

Kansas coach David Beaty hands the ball off to junior running back James Sullivan as they run through drills during practice on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016.

While Kansas football coach David Beaty and his assistants ran their players through drills and plays on a sweltering Thursday afternoon, they hoped to get an early impression of the Jayhawks’ resolve at the first preseason practice.

Between the speed demanded of them and the sheer number of Day 1 tests the KU coaches threw their way, Beaty walked away impressed.

“We pride ourself on being able to, so to speak, revel in the strain, when you’ve got a combination of elements and a high volume of repetitions and straining-type training. I thought those guys handled it pretty well today,” Beaty said, after complimenting strength and conditioning coach Je’Ney Jackson, who worked with the Jayhawks all offseason, for having the players ready to roll.

Similar to last year, Kansas coaches utilized two practice fields simultaneously in order to get players as many snaps as possible. That design should especially figure into the race for the team’s starting quarterback, which Beaty described as wide open.

Without naming a leading candidate at QB, Beaty admitted incumbents Montell Cozart, a red-shirt junior, and sophomore Ryan Willis — both starters during a winless 2015 season — should have an advantage.

“They’ve got some experience,” said their coach, who now calls KU’s plays and consistently works directly with the group, “and I thought both of them looked really good at times today.”

As the second-year KU coach sat down to meet the media after practice, he brought with him a long, narrow sheet of paper filled with names of players who had impressed him during the the previous couple of hours. Beaty’s kudos began on the defensive side of the ball, and he proceeded to list off every defender that caught his attention: senior safety Fish Smithson, sophomore defensive ends Josh Ehambe and Dorance Armstrong Jr., senior linebacker Marcquis Roberts, senior safety Tevin Shaw and senior defensive end Anthony Olobia.

“I think the big thing that stood out to me today is, as I looked over there on that defensive side, every single guy on that first group has experience,” Beaty said, “and they have quite a bit of it now, which is good.”

Latest additions

While Thursday’s practice marked the first of the preseason for every Jayhawk, it also served as an introduction for three players that just got added to the roster the day before: junior running back Denzell Evans (a transfer from Arkansas), freshman cornerback Mike Lee (who reclassified to graduate from high school a year early) and junior kicker Gabriel Rui (previously of Northeastern Oklahoma A & M).

All are expected to be eligible to play immediately, though Beaty said he has yet to get official clearance on the matter. Asked specifically about Evans and Lee, the coach hoped both could find ways to help immediately.

“They’re gonna be no different than the rest of the guys on our team. They’re gonna have to earn it,” Beaty said, throwing in a favorite phrase. “Now both of them are talented, there’s no doubt about it. But we’ve got some talented guys on this team already, and they’ve got some experience. These (returning players) aren’t gonna give anything to anybody. “

Self pep talk

The night before KU’s first practice, basketball coach Bill Self visited football camp as a guest speaker. According to Beaty, Self preached valuing possession, as well as toughness, key attributes in both sports.

“… And if you aren’t the toughest dude, then you have a hard time winning, and you’ve gotta answer that question,” Beaty related of Self’s speech. “It’s not something that you can walk away and shy away from. If you’re not tough, you know it. He talked about that at length, and it was just really good to hear a new voice, I’m sure, for our guys. Plus they all respect coach and they love him. He’s done so much for us already and they know him. But every time he goes in there, they perk up, and I don’t blame ’em. Hell, all of us coaches were taking pictures like we were looking at a celebrity. He’s such a great guy.”