KU's five new assistant coaches (clockwise from top left: Michael Slater, DL, Todd Bradford, LB, Joe DeForest, ST, Jason Phillips (shorts), WR, and Tony Hull, RB) were out in full force during Day 1 of spring practices.

KU's five new assistant coaches (clockwise from top left: Michael Slater, DL, Todd Bradford, LB, Joe DeForest, ST, Jason Phillips (shorts), WR, and Tony Hull, RB) were out in full force during Day 1 of spring practices.

Spring football is back and the Kansas Jayhawks were out on the practice fields for the first time this spring on Sunday afternoon.

Even though it marked just the second spring under head coach David Beaty, I have to admit there was a sense of stability out there today. And that’s all the more impressive when you consider that there were five new full-time assistant coaches and a host of other new support staff members out on the field.

I think the stability I sensed comes back to what I talked about during all of the coaching chaos last month — as long as KU maintained its key coaches (head coach, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach), it was going to maintain some stability.

It looks like that has happened. Not only did things run smoothly like they would at a program with a coach who has been there for years, but they also were very crisp with getting in and out of drills and the players seemed to be very clear on who made up the first team, who made up the second team and so on down the line.

It’s just the first day of spring and it’s not worth reading too much into that. But, if given the choice, you’d much rather have things run that way to open the spring than the alternative.

Here’s a quick look at a few other things that caught my eye on a day when, I’ll admit, even I was a little overwhelmed trying to keep track of all the new faces and new numbers:

• One of the first things I saw and heard out there came from sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Booker during a warm-up drill. Booker, who looks even bigger than he was a season ago even though he’s listed at exatly the same height and weight (6-2, 195), looked around at his teammates and said, “Where’s the music? We need to get this (practice) pumpin'” Extreme enthusiasm on Day 1 is hardly a surprise, but Booker already has been more vocal than I heard him all of last season. That’s a good sign for the Kansas offense.

• Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen was sporting a pretty fierce beard, something I haven’t seen on him very often throughout the years. I’m sure part of it comes from burning the midnight oil to get ready for spring practice, but the other part probably comes from his extra efforts in helping his wife, Kristie, get her new business in downtown Lawrence ready for its grand opening.

A closer look at Ryan Willis' cast on Day 1 of spring football 2016.

• By now you’ve all heard that returning starter Ryan Willis would be limited this spring because of a wrist injury he suffered while playing pick-up basketball. For those of you who had asked, it’s the right wrist and Willis is wearing a pretty good-sized cast. That did not keep him from getting out there, though. Obviously he was not able to make any throws but he was taking mental reps and participating in as much of the conditioning stuff as he could. In fact, at one point, Beaty worked exclusively with Willis on some kind of pre-snap drill in the north end zone. It was an unfortunate accident but Willis seems determined to not let it set him back too far. With Willis out, Montell Cozart and Deondre Ford got the first- and second-team reps during the fast start period.

David Beaty and injured KU quarterback Ryan Willis going over some mental reps during Sunday's practice.

• I thought it was pretty cool to see some of the new coaches collaborating on random things. These guys have all worked at a bunch of different places and learned different ways to do things and there’s no doubt that it’ll take a few days to get on the same page. Clearly, though, they’re not shy about asking for help when they need it. Seems like a good group.

• Speaking of the new coaches, defensive line coach Michael Slater seems like he might be good for a soundbite or two. The best bit I heard from Slater on Sunday came during a D-Line drill designed to teach proper hand technique: “You’re working with razor blades not sledge hammers,” Slater shouted. He’s a vocal coach who, like his predecessor Calvin Thibodeaux, is not afraid to jump into the drill to show the proper form when needed. In fact, Slater reminded me an awful lot of Thibodeaux.

• ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe, who has done some media training with various KU teams during the past couple of years, was at practice on Sunday, soaking up the sunshine and seeing some familiar faces.

• We get to talk to Beaty after today’s practice so we’ll bring you his thoughts from Day 1 later. The Jayhawks are off Monday and will be back out there Tuesday for practice No. 2. We’ll be out there with ’em and are supposed to get player interviews after Day 2.

KU's assistant coaches set the tone for Sunday's opening day of spring practices by running from the football complex to the practice fields to lead the charge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nws6Tv33xZg