photo by: Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Kansas kicker Jacob Borcila prepares to attempt an extra point during a game against Texas Tech on Oct. 16, 2021, in Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas kicker Jacob Borcila is hoping that a physical transformation over the summer will lead to a change in mental approach come this season.

Borcila, a redshirt junior, made just nine of his 15 field goal attempts last season, the worst success rate in the Big 12 among full-time kickers. That followed a redshirt freshman season in which he made six of his nine attempts.

Understanding that what he had been doing wasn’t working, Borcila set out during the offseason to add power in his legs. The plan, created by the team’s strength and conditioning staff, first required Borcila to add 30 pounds before returning for summer workouts.

Then, once he returned to campus, he partook in workouts and followed a diet meant to strip away the fat he had gained, give him with the strength he wanted and leave him with a net gain of about 10 pounds.

“Of course, last year wasn’t the year I wanted,” Borcila said, “but this offseason, I put in a lot of work bodywise and strengthwise so this season, I can be a lot more confident when I’m back in my steps kicking those balls through the uprights.”

Borcila will handle field goal and extra-point opportunities this season, with junior Tabor Allen again taking the field for kickoffs.

Kansas’ special teams have received a makeover with the appointment of Taiwo Onatolu, who had coordinated special teams with coach Lance Leipold at Buffalo, to that role in February.

Onatolu, who also coaches defensive ends, has been overseeing kickoffs. Linebackers coach Chris Simpson is overseeing punting and punt coverage, defensive backs coach Jordan Peterson is in charge of punt returns and running backs coach Jonathan Wallace is handling kickoff returns.

“I think it’s going to translate well for the sake of the team,” Borcila said. “So, I mean, everybody — those coaches know exactly what’s expected of the players and the players know what’s expected of them by each coach. We’re not settling for average. The best players are going to play on special teams and we’re going to be one of the best special teams units in the country. That’s our goal.”

Young ‘tremendous’ at linebacker

Former Ohio State safety Craig Young “fits in really well” as Kansas’ hawk linebacker, a position that incorporates the principles of a strongside linebacker and strong safety, according to Simpson.

Young played in 26 games at Ohio State over three seasons, primarily as a safety, before choosing to transfer to Kansas in December.

Simpson sees his speed — Young said he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds upon enrolling at Ohio State in 2019 — is one of his greatest attributes.

“Craig can run,” Simpson said. “He’s one of our faster guys. He’s got tremendous length, so even what there is that he may lack, he can make up for in other areas, and length is one of those things.

“Being a big, tall guy, we’re putting a lot on him and he’s killing it, OK? We’re putting a lot on him in terms of what he needs to know and he’s embracing it and even going above and beyond to make sure that he’s really locked in with whatever he’s doing. He’s doing a tremendous job for us.”

Young, who was recruited to Ohio State to play wide receiver before moving to defense, said playing hawk linebacker isn’t all too different from the responsibilities he had in the secondary over the last three seasons.

“I’m covering similar guys,” Young said. “I’m still covering receivers. The only thing that’s different is that I’m playing more in the box now here. I’m in the box now and taking on offensive linemen and fitting gaps and everything. That’s pretty much different from playing safety and moving back here to hawk.”

Open practice Saturday

Kansas will host a free, open practice at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, just shy of two weeks before the season begins.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. with the practice scheduled to begin 30 minutes later. Seating will be available on the west side of the stadium, under the press box and tower, with beverages available for purchase and restrooms open on the lower level.

Parking will be available on the west side of the stadium and gates 1, 4 and 9 will be open.

The Jayhawks began holding their preseason training camp on Aug. 2 and will complete it with the open practice. The first game of the season will take place Sept. 2 with a game against Tennessee Tech.