photo by: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Kansas running back Devin Neal runs the ball during a game against Oklahoma on Oct. 23, 2021, in Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold said he expects the offense and defense to look different this season now that he, his assistant coaches and his players have a foundation to build upon entering their second year together.

Leipold, speaking Wednesday at Big 12 media days at AT&T Stadium, noted that things should look especially changed on defense. The Jayhawks added 12 defensive players via transfers and, with a year in the system, have been able to develop those that have been on the team to play specific roles that they have outlined.

“We were asking guys that were outside linebackers to become defensive ends,” Leipold said, referring to the decision to move Kyron Johnson, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Eagles in May, to the line of scrimmage.

“I think part of the things we’ve done in recruiting is tried to recruit a little bit more to that (plan), and what we are going to be. That limited time, and without a football, without spring ball, what are we going to be? Where do we hang our hat? What are we going to try to be good at offensively? I think we’ve been able to answer some of those questions and find ways to be more multiple on each side.”

One hint that the Jayhawks plan to adopt a more versatile offense was their addition of a pair of redshirt sophomore running backs, Minnesota’s Ky Thomas and Nebraska’s Sevion Morrison, who transferred in before the spring semester began.

They, along with sophomore running back Devin Neal, a Lawrence High graduate who was their leading rusher last season, and redshirt sophomore Daniel Hishaw, who was injured, give Kansas four options in the backfield — seemingly too many players to reliably work into a rotation.

“No, we’re not putting in the wishbone,” Leipold joked. “With those types of backs that we have, not only can you play to your strengths, hopefully, but we’re going to have other strengths on that offense.”

Neal said he’s excited by the fact that the Jayhawks don’t have to spend preseason camp learning the offense and can instead focus on being more complex schematically.

“At spring ball, we were testing a few things to see how unique we can be with our offense and dynamic with the different running backs,” Neal said. “Now, we don’t have to be running basic offenses. Now that we have that year, the coaching staff isn’t just now getting in. we’ve developed our offense and we know what to expect. Now we can build on that and get more at-bats.”

Neal, Daniels adding weight

Neal said he is up to 215 pounds following the offseason workout and conditioning program and will attempt to play at that weight this season.

“I can’t play another season at 200,” Neal said. “The next day is always sore, and obviously, just being stronger, being a running back, it’s going to help me be more dynamic.”

Neal, who is 5-foot-11, said he thinks being stronger comes with being more athletic, which means he can be more confident when he’s on the field.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels, too, put on weight during the offseason. He said he weighs 220 pounds and would like to play at a minimum of 215 during his junior year.

“For me, I just feel like my freshman year, I was way too small,” Daniels said. “I was 17 going against grown men out here. There were 23-, 24-year-olds out there. I just want to be able to keep building my body for the next level. I’m not just thinking about college. I’m thinking about the NFL. What can I do to better myself and my chances in that aspect?”

High school DT eyes Kansas

Marcus Calvin, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle from Gibbs High in St. Petersburg, Florida, shared on Twitter on Monday morning that he will attend Kansas, Vanderbilt or Liberty.

Calvin took an official visit to Kansas on June 17 and one to Vanderbilt the following weekend. He has also received scholarship offers from Marshall, FIU and Tulane, which reached out on Monday after he named his finalists, and intends to share his decision on Aug. 1.

Jarra “Bear” Anderson, a defensive tackle from Katy, Texas, took an official visit to Kansas alongside Calvin and was originally intending to announce his commitment earlier this month. He canceled visits to Colorado and Washington State after he returned from Kansas.

The Jayhawks have six players in their class of 2023: wide receivers Surahz Buncom, Jarred Sample and Keaton Kubecka, safety Taylor Davis, defensive end Tony Terry Jr. and linebacker Logan Brantley.

Single-game tickets now on sale

Tickets for home games have gone on sale through Kansas’ website or the ticket office. In addition, season tickets, family zone plans, mini plans, group tickets and student tickets are available, as are premium seats in the new Touchdown Club in the south endzone. The Jayhawks’ season opens Sept. 2 against Tennessee Tech.