Most crucial Jayhawks 2015: No. 7 – OL Larry Mazyck
photo by: Nick Krug
Kansas offensive lineman Larry Mazyck warms up with his teammates during spring practice on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.
Back to the list after some significant news out of preseason camp, we find one of the biggest dudes on the team who plays one of the most important positions in the lineup at No. 7.
Here’s a look.
7. Larry Mazyck, 6-foot-8, 343-pound Sr. Offensive Lineman
At his size and blessed with long arms and big hands, Mazyck (rhymes with physique) has the look of an NFL prospect. Through this past spring’s practices, Mazyck hadn’t brought the passion or attention to detail to suggest that he was terribly interested in making a career of playing football. The most passion he showed last season came when he talked about how he was “unstoppable” as a basketball player.
Dogged by false-start penalties throughout the year in 2014, the hope for Mazyck in 2015 is that this season’s simpler offense will make it easier for Mazyck to play with the discipline needed to avoid such penalties.
Mazyck has done a nice job of losing weight and was able to withstand the challenging summer workouts that included more running than he ever had been asked to do.
A native of Washington, D.C., Mazyck is in his sixth season since graduating from Friendship Academy. He spent a year at a prep school, a year at Div. I New Mexico, two years at Iowa Western Community College (one as a redshirt), and is in his second season with Kansas. If the motor doesn’t rev consistently throughout fall camp, Beaty won’t hesitate to relegate him to a reserve role by handing the job to a smaller, hungrier player, even if he can’t match Mazyck’s potential.
It’s late in the game for Mazyck to earn anything with potential. If he can bring senior urgency and begin to tap that potential, he can have a significant impact in the passing and running games.
Most Crucial Jayhawks 2015: