Here is the Cliff’s Notes version of Kansas defensive coordinator Dave Campo’s comments at his press conference today.

Full audio has been posted.

• Campo apologized for being a little late, saying he was a little discombobulated today. Joe Avezzano, whom Campo worked for at Oregon State and with at Pittsburgh and for about 14 years with the Dallas Cowboys, just passed away in Italy today of a heart attack. He was coaching an Italian football team. Campo conveyed his condolences to Joe and his family.

• Toben Opurum has a chance to be a really good football player. At this point, he’s trying to figure out where he is. He started on offense, then moved to outside linebacker/defensive line, and that’s a radical change. He had a good year last year, and the coaches feel like he’s making good progress. He has a ways to go because it’s a new position. Campo thinks Opurum should be on defense. Opurum’s an aggressive guy. Campo can’t see him having an opportunity past college football as a running back, but defense allows him to show his athleticism.

• Being at KU has been great for Campo. He had known Charlie Weis for a long time, as an admirer more than anything else. When Weis called, Campo took a look at it. Campo wanted a challenge. That’s why he’s here. Campo feels good about the move and is happy with his decision.

• What makes college exciting is that Campo thinks his strength is teaching, and you can do more of that at the college level. The guys he liked most at the NFL level where the new guys coming in who still wanted to learn more.

• Campo told his players they should know one thing: This is a tryout. It’s about running to the football. It’s about guys the coaches can rely on in the fall. The tryout isn’t just about how they play but also their mentality.

• Campo says right now, the coaches are trying to evaluate who the players are. Scheme is the least of his concerns. Campo wants to know which guys he can rely on.

• There has been a drastic improvement from first spring practice to now as far as guys understanding what the coaches want from the snap of the football to the end of the play.

• Campo says he’s going to make sure guys are accountable and make sure those guys on the field are the ones that coaches are going to rely upon to play for four quarters of football.

• The depth chart is fluid. Different guys can move to the top each day. Campo is excited that the guys are starting to realize what the coaches want.

• Campo says three defensive backs were in the facility on their day off to watch film. That’s a good sign.

• Campo told his defensive players this is a two-way street. Campo has to prove to them that he can help them get better and that KU is doing things the right way on defense. But at the same time, it’s the players’ responsibility to prove to him that they can do what he asks them to do. But the only way KU can be successful is if both sides have to buy into each other.

• Campo says his team’s speed is not the best. He says he has some guys that can run. But KU doesn’t need 30 players on defense that can run. Campo needs 11 guys that can run. KU’s 30 best speed guys aren’t as good as the top 30 at Oklahoma, but maybe the top six at KU are as good as anybody at OU. KU has to fill in from there. Then you have to find guys that do what you want them to do and do it at full speed.

• Some guys are being evaluated that might move from offense to defense or defense to offense. Campo said he wouldn’t mention names as of yet, though.

• Campo thinks KU needs to get better at defensive line. KU also doesn’t have a lot of guys there. After coming in, the coaches immediately identified that as an area of need.