WRITER: Benton Smith

True freshman S Jayson Gilliom joined KU football wanting 'to outwork everybody'

Few football players fresh out of high school possess the abilities necessary to show up on campus and grab the attention and respect of a program’s veteran leader right away. But as soon as the Kansas football team’s spring practices began this offseason, Kenny Logan Jr. started to think Jayson Gilliom had what it took to play a factor in the secondary as a true freshman. Gilliom, who graduated early from ...

Unflinching true freshman RB Devin Neal impressing while learning this preseason with KU football

Lance Leipold has led enough preseason football practices in his 15 years as a college head coach that he’s come to expect true freshmen on his teams will hit a wall at some point in August. One of the many qualities Leipold appreciates about Devin Neal is the young Kansas running back is proving to be the exception to that rule. “Man, he’s taken a lot of reps and he’s not tapping out,” Leipold said ...

Steven McBride expected to make much larger impact for KU football as sophomore

If you’re looking for a breakthrough performer for the Kansas football offense this season, you’ll have to scan last year’s statistics for a bit before you find the name of one of the top candidates, Steven McBride. As a true freshman receiver in 2020, McBride ranked 11th on the team in receptions, making four while playing in six games. His position coach, Emmett Jones, foresees Year 2 playing out quite ...

KU football D.C. Brian Borland and other new staffers feel prepared for 1st season in Big 12

In just a few weeks, Kansas football head coach Lance Leipold and the assistants he brought with him from Buffalo will lead the Jayhawks into a Big 12 Conference game for the first time. Defensive coordinator Brian Borland expects the new staff members will be abundantly prepared for their first taste of what the league has to offer. “Honestly, we had every Big 12 opponent watched before we showed up ...

Notebook: As Week 1 approaches, KU football reviewing all the 'little things'

It’s nearly game week for the Kansas football team and head coach Lance Leipold. But before those final days of preparation for the opener get here, Leipold and his staff have a few things they want to get accomplished. The Jayhawks’ head coach described what they’re doing this week as methodically chipping away. During practices they’re looking at specific situations they might find themselves in on a ...

Lance Leipold considers KU football 'in pretty good shape' injury wise

Injuries have affected the Kansas football team’s preseason camp to varying degrees this month, but head coach Lance Leipold said Tuesday he considers the roster to be “in pretty good shape right now” in terms of available personnel. When asked during a video press conference about the general health of his team, Leipold said he thought the Jayhawks were headed in a good direction with a little more than ...