Kansas wide receiver Lawrence "LJ" Arnold is eager to move beyond the circumstances that led to him deciding to transfer in April, only to rescind that plan a few days later and remain on the team. Arnold, a redshirt sophomore, said Tuesday after the Jayhawks' seventh preseason training camp practice that conversations with coach Lance Leipold and his mother, O'Linda Bates-Cain, helped him recognize he had a ...
There's no denying that one of Kansas' strengths entering the season appears to be the depth it has at running back. Sophomore Devin Neal returns after a breakout first season. So, too, do redshirt junior Torry Locklin, who emerged as a multidimensional threat before a November ankle injury, and redshirt sophomore Daniel Hishaw Jr., who was productive in 2020 before missing all of last season with a hip ...
Devin Neal always knew he wanted to be different. The Lawrence High graduate grew up watching the Kansas football team struggle year after year but his interest never wavered. When he was extended a scholarship by former coach Les Miles during his junior season and accepted it in March 2020, it was only natural that he'd take it. What Neal didn't know at the time was just how different his decision would be. ...
As wave after wave of new players joined the Kansas football team in recent months, many of whom have significant experience playing at other Power 5 programs, defensive coordinator Brian Borland's messaging to those who remained has been consistent. "Make it so that I have to play you," Borland has told them. Such a challenge may be easier issued than heeded, especially because those who were recruited over ...
The Kansas football team has completed its first portion of its preseason training camp and will take the day off Saturday before beginning another four-day stretch. Between in-person observation and discussions with coach Lance Leipold, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, defensive coordinator Brian Borland and several players, several of the main questions surrounding the Jayhawks are starting to be ...
One high school quarterback who has caught the eye of Kansas' coaching staff has said he will share his college decision next week. Kasen Weisman, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound three-star quarterback from Douglasville, Georgia, plans to make his announcement on Thursday. Kansas offered him a scholarship in mid-February, and he has received scholarship offers from more than 30 schools, including Cal, Colorado State, ...
Kansas defensive coordinator Brian Borland said Thursday that linebacker Lorenzo McCaskill's transfer from Louisiana will provide the Jayhawks with an accomplished player at a position that could have benefited from the addition of someone with considerable experience. McCaskill, who participated in practice for the first time on Thursday morning, is a 6-foot, 220-pound sixth-year senior from Detroit who was ...
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels said that being named the starting quarterback by coach Lance Leipold won't affect his preparation throughout preseason training camp. Leipold said Tuesday morning, after the Jayhawks completed their first practice, that he expects Daniels to be the starting quarterback for the season opener against Tennessee Tech at home on Sept. 2. Daniels, a junior, finished last season in ...
By all accounts, Jason Bean was productive throughout six weeks of spring practice, continued to develop on his own during the summer months and had a crisp opening session of preseason training camp on Tuesday. That Kansas coach Lance Leipold said Tuesday he still expected junior Jalon Daniels to be the starting quarterback for the season opener on Sept. 2 against Tennessee Tech doesn't faze him. "It kind of ...
Kansas coach Lance Leipold said Tuesday that he is planning for Jalon Daniels to be the starting quarterback when the season opens — a role that has seemed likely for Daniels since the final month of last season. Daniels, a junior, has been battling fifth-year senior Jason Bean in a competition that appears to be one in name only. "If you want to type right now, 'Leipold expects Daniels to be the starter,' ...
Jalon Daniels knows the challenges he faces. He also believes he knows how to overcome them. As Kansas prepares to open its preseason training camp Tuesday morning, exactly one month before its season opener against Tennessee Tech, Daniels will be in line to take many of the first-team reps at quarterback. "I definitely feel more comfortable," Daniels said last month at Big 12 football media days. Coach Lance ...
Quarterback Jalon Daniels' attempt to form a bond with each of his Kansas teammates led to a seemingly unlikely friendship developing over the summer. Daniels, the junior from greater Los Angeles, has grown close with cornerback Brian Dilworth, a freshman from South Florida. "I was cool with him on his visit when he came to KU, but since he came to Kansas, me and him have been like road dogs," Daniels said ...
It wasn't until late in October that Kansas coach Lance Leipold realized the Jayhawks needed to get older. Leipold, who was hired the previous April, had too many challenges to confront during his first several months on the job to recognize what it meant to have a team full of underclassmen. The solution? The transfer portal. Since the end of last season, Kansas has added 19 players who spent last season ...
Despite the perception of improvement during the offseason and a newfound belief in the program's ability to compete, any measures of the Kansas football team's progress this season aren't likely to be seen in the standings. That doesn't deter coach Lance Leipold — or any of his players, who remain committed to the project of trying to turn the woebegone program around. "I think what we're really saying is, ...
Senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. was named Thursday to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, which honors the most versatile player in major college football. Logan had 113 tackles last season, the most of any safety in a Power 5 conference, as well as one interception and two forced fumbles. He also returned 15 kickoffs for an average of 27.9 yards while playing in all 12 games. Named to the All-Big 12 ...
There's a photo Bella Swedlund shares whenever anyone asks about her fondness for basketball. It's of her as a baby, during her first Easter, holding a bright orange ball instead of an egg. "I always tell people, 'That's kind of when it started,'" Swedlund said. "I fell in love with it pretty early." That love was tested through 5:30 a.m. workouts, countless weekends spent traveling the country for tournaments ...
After a season in which Kansas' Kenny Logan Jr. led all safeties in Power 5 conferences with 113 tackles, he has his sights set higher as a senior. "I want to try to lead the NCAA in interceptions and try to lead the conference in interceptions," Logan said. Logan was reliable on the back end of the Jayhawks' defense last season, with only Kent State's Dean Clark, who had 116 tackles, finishing with more among ...
Add one more honor to the list for Kansas' Ochai Agbaji. Agbaji was named the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year on Monday afternoon following a season in which he helped the men's basketball team win the NCAA national championship. "What a great honor to be named this among all the athletes in the Big 12," Agbaji said in a statement. "It is humbling to be listed among Heisman Trophy winners, other national ...
Although much of the conversation about Kansas' quarterbacks centered on Jalon Daniels earlier this month during Big 12 football media days, coach Lance Leipold made it known that he's still looking forward to the preseason performance of Jason Bean. "Jason Bean has a lot better understanding (of the offense) and is doing a lot better than where he was last September, so I'm anxious to see him as well," Leipold ...
Even though linebacker Craig Young only transferred to Kansas before the spring semester, safety Kenny Logan Jr. said he has already begun to take a leadership role on the team. Young, who played in 26 games over three seasons as a backup at Ohio State, is expected to be one of the Jayhawks' starting linebackers and at least compete to be their top nickelback. Logan, speaking last week at Big 12 football media ...