David Beaty: Backup QB Miles Kendrick has ‘it factor’; position battles continue

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas sophomore quarterback Miles Kendrick pulls back to throw during practice on Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

Ahead of Saturday’s season opener, Kansas football head coach David Beaty has a message for his counterpart at Nicholls State, Tim Rebowe.

It came when asked during his Tuesday press conference to elaborate on his declaration the night before on his “Hawk Talk” radio show that backup quarterback Miles Kendrick will play this week, as well as in “every game” this season.

“That’s the only thing I’m going to give you, Coach Rebowe, is that he will play against you. That’s it,” Beaty responded, upon being asked whether Kendrick would play in a limited role or rotate into the lineup, back-and-forth with starting QB Peyton Bender.

“I’m not going to be able to tell you much more than that,” Beaty added, “and, hopefully, you understand that’s something that we are not going to just tell you the whole plan.”

Kendrick didn’t show enough during preseason camp to win the starting job, but Beaty said the sophomore dual threat QB understands the rules of the offense “pretty well” entering KU’s 2018 debut (6 p.m. Saturday, at Kansas David Booth Memorial Stadium).

“We’ve just got to keep his package small,” the coach said of the plays Kendrick may be asked to run, “until he can absorb a little bit more of it.”

A 5-foot-10, 200-pound QB from Morgan Hill, Calif., Kendrick started nine games at College of San Mateo (Calif.), as a true freshman in 2017. He passed for 1,889 yards and 18 touchdowns, with nine picks, while rushing for 417 yards and five TDs.

Since joining KU in January, Kendrick has received positive reviews from both Beaty and offensive coordinator Doug Meacham.

KU’s fourth-year head coach explained a few days before the season why he thinks Kendrick can help the team now, even though he’s not the No. 1 QB.

“He’s got it. He’s got a little it factor to him that we really like,” Beaty said. “He can throw the football really well.”

Why the ors?

KU’s first public depth chart of the season, released Monday, included the word “or” in 20 spots, indicating a job, either on the first or second team, was undecided.

Asked whether that was to try and conceal potential matchups from Nicholls coaches or an indication of ongoing battles for playing time, Beaty pointed to the latter.

“Yeah, you know, for us, and for most people across the country, it’s that way because it’s called competition,” the coach said. “It’s really what helps you, and it’s true. We still have some time in preparing for these opponents. Not every one of these things are settled.”

In that regard, Beaty doesn’t mind having an “or” next to a position on the depth chart in the midst of week one preparation.

“We’ve got some depth there, which is good. I’m fired up about those corners,” Beaty added of spots where the second-string personnel remains undetermined. “We have got so many new guys back there that have played a lot of ball, and we are very simple in what we are doing, so I look forward to seeing those big, long dudes help us.”

COMMENTS

Welcome to the new LJWorld.com. Our old commenting system has been replaced with Facebook Comments. There is no longer a separate username and password login step. If you are already signed into Facebook within your browser, you will be able to comment. If you do not have a Facebook account and do not wish to create one, you will not be able to comment on stories.