photo by: Mike Yoder

FILE — Kansas receiver Chase Harrell, right, tries to hold on to a pass as defensive back Kyle Mayberry pulls down on his arm during KU's Fan Appreciation Day practice on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Memorial Stadium.

Like every assistant on the Kansas football staff, cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator Kenny Perry gets excited every time the program adds a new talented player to the roster through recruiting.

As much as Perry loves seeing KU’s secondary expand its depth, though, this month at preseason practices the fiery coach also has enjoyed spotting the improvements on the opposite side of the ball.

Amid instructing corners such as seniors Brandon Stewart and Marnez Ogletree, junior Derrick Neal and freshmen Kyle Mayberry and Mike Lee on the finer points of footwork and coverage, Perry can’t help but notice how the Jayhawks’ offense has changed for the better.

“They’ve got some guys now that last year we really didn’t get to see,” Perry explained. “Now we’re getting to see some really good receivers.”

While newcomers Daylon Charlot, the former Alabama receiver, and true freshmen like Evan Fairs and Keegan Brewer weren’t around to test KU’s defensive backs last season, Perry said some of the receivers who were on campus for head coach David Beaty’s first year don’t exactly look the same, either.

Sophomore Steven Sims Jr., Perry gave as an example, has benefited from the arrival of receivers coach Jason Phillips.

“He’s a totally different receiver,” Perry said of Sims. “I mean, he’s older, he’s faster, he’s stronger. He’s doing things great.”

Likewise, Perry said junior LaQuvionte Gonzalez — now eligible to play after sitting out a year after transferring from Texas A&M — has helped KU’s corners by making them work harder.

“If you can cover him in the slot,” the assistant said regarding Gonzalez, “you can cover anybody.”

Perry also noted red-shirt freshman Chase Harrell has shown real improvement, adding the 6-foot-4 target from Huffman, Texas, is making more plays in the air.

“Those things are huge for us, because now we’re seeing better guys,” Perry said. “It’s gonna make us better in turn.”

Running and protecting

Players don’t sign up to become running backs because they love pass-blocking, but Kansas backs know they need to care as much about the dirty part of their jobs as they do breaking away in the open field for a long touchdown.

As Beaty mentioned earlier this preseason, KU’s ball carriers have been asked to put an emphasis on protecting the quarterback on certain passing plays, as well.

While running backs coach Tony Hull wouldn’t reveal whether senior Ke’aun Kinner, sophomore Taylor Martin, junior Denzell Evans (transfer from Arkansas) or true freshman Khalil Herbert has emerged as the strongest blocker, he said certain players are separating themselves from the pack.

“Those guys are doing a great job of competing and they’re making it tough for Beaty and I to make a decision on who we want to go with,” Hull said. “And pass-blocking was a major tool that we wanted to measure them on this year. They have to be able to contribute in that area, and those guys have done a great job stepping up.”

Kinner, listed at 191 pounds (more than 10 pounds heavier than a year ago), said the backs understand the importance of pass protection, adding they are no different from offensive linemen in those situations.

“If we miss our assignment then the quarterback can get hit pretty bad,” Kinner said. “That’s one of the main reasons I gained this weight in the offseason, so I can be an every-down back. I want to be able to run the ball, catch the ball and be able to pick up protection.”

Competitive unit

KU’s offensive linemen arrived at preseason camp expecting competition in order to join the first unit, and their position coach, Zach Yenser, has happily obliged.

Senior D’Andre Banks, who appears to be the likely starting left tackle for KU’s season opener against Rhode Island, said the battle for playing time has made the group stronger.

“Coach Yenser always says he’s gonna put his best five out there at any given time,” Banks said. “Everybody wants to play, so everybody sees — if you’re a two, you see the one in front of you — you want to compete with them so eventually you can get into that best five and get some playing time in the games.”

Banks said during the first few weeks of practices the players didn’t have a set depth chart, because Yenser’s main objective was to get the players as many reps as possible.

“Everybody’s just balling out,” Banks shared, “trying to make it into that travel squad.”