Notebook: KU loses RB Daniel Hishaw Jr. for the season

photo by: Associated Press

Kansas' Daniel Hishaw Jr. (20) breaks the tackle by Texas Tech's Tre'Jon Lewis (77) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

The depth within the Kansas football team’s running back room took a substantial hit during the preseason, when an injury forced sophomore Daniel Hishaw Jr. to undergo season-ending surgery.

Plus, the Jayhawks were down another potential rusher for at least one game, with redshirt freshman Amauri Pesek-Hickson out Friday due to an undisclosed injury.

Hishaw had missed practice time recently, leading up to the team’s opener, but KU didn’t announce the longterm injury until Friday evening, a little more than an hour before kickoff.

Pesek-Hickson’s setback, per a KU spokesperson, is considered week to week, depending on how the recovery process goes.

Junior receiver Kevin Terry, a former Texas Tech walk-on who transferred to KU earlier this year, also will be out for an extended amount of time. Terry had drawn praise during the preseason and looked to be on track to be a part of the two-deep before getting hurt.

Hishaw, a powerful, 5-foot-10, 220-pound back from Moore, Okla., was KU’s second-leading rusher in 2020. As a true freshman, Hishaw averaged 4.4 yards per carry and ran for 229 yards and two touchdowns while appearing in eight games, mostly as a backup.

Senior reserve linebacker Takulve “TK” Williams, who moved over to the defensive side of the ball after playing receiver earlier in his career, also was out.

Burt hurt early

After joining backup quarterback Miles Kendrick, defensive end Kyron Johnson and receiver Kwamie Lassiter II as a captain for the opener, super-senior nose tackle Sam Burt suffered an injury early on in the first quarter.

After KU’s trainers attended to Burt, who hurt his right arm while helping make a play in the middle of the action, he walked off the field with his arm supported in what looked like an air cast.

Self stops in for pep talk

On the day before the Jayhawks’ season opener, they heard from a different head coach than usual. Men’s basketball coach Bill Self dropped by the football team’s indoor practice facility Thursday morning to speak to the team and deliver a pep talk.

In a clip posted to KU football’s social media accounts, Self told the football players the most fun he ever had during his career came years back, when he was building a program.

“And you have an opportunity to do this right before our very eyes. You have an opportunity on the ground floor,” he told them.

Self’s speech included him encouraging the Jayhawks to “really care for each other” and be willing to make a play for a teammate.

“The real stud is the guy that takes on a double-team every time to allow somebody else to make a play — that’s the stud. And you guys know it,” Self said.

The head coach of the athletic department’s marquee program also told the football players they make people at KU proud, even if they didn’t realize that.

“But go do something special,” Self added. “Everybody’s undefeated. There’s an air of optimism. There’s nothing better on this campus than getting off to a good start in football, because it creates buzz. It creates energy that we all want and strive (for) and this place needs. You’re gonna get the credit for doing that. Enjoy making it happen.”