photo by: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

San Francisco 49ers offensive linemen Dominick Puni, left, and Jarrett Kingston take part in drills during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 10, 2024.

Training camps are getting started around the NFL, and that means some of the most important weeks of several former Jayhawks’ football careers.

NFL Draft selections Austin Booker (fifth round, Chicago Bears) and Dominick Puni (third round, San Francisco 49ers) face somewhat lower stakes, given that their new teams have more invested in their development. For undrafted free agents Jason Bean, Kenny Logan Jr., Mike Novitsky and Craig Young, though, the weeks ahead could determine whether they have a chance to pursue their professional dreams further as practice-squad additions or perhaps even earn 53-man roster spots.

Booker, Novitsky and Puni have already reported for training camp, while Logan gets started on Wednesday and then Bean and Young the following day.

photo by: AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jason Bean throws during NFL football practice at the team’s headquarters Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Indianapolis.

Jason Bean

The most salient aspect of Bean’s listing on the current Indianapolis Colts roster is that it has a slash: quarterback/wide receiver.

“For my mindset, I feel like I’m a quarterback,” Bean said, per The Indianapolis Star. “But I’m very willing to do whatever they want me to do.”

It makes sense that a pro team would try to leverage Bean’s speed — he was often touted as the fastest player on the field during his time with the Jayhawks. Head coach Lance Leipold revealed in an interview with On3 in March that when Bean made the decision to return to KU after the 2022 season, he did it under the assumption that he would play receiver as much as, if not more than, quarterback. And at Hula Bowl practice in January, Bean was listed as an athlete, even though he worked primarily as a quarterback.

“He’s long, he’s fast, he’s faster than what his recorded 40 time is — you felt (it) on one play today, he went down the sideline,” said Ed Dodds, the Colts’ assistant general manager, on May 10. “But yeah, the more things they can do, and he’s going to do some different stuff for us too.”

Demonstrating additional utility by serving as a gadget player of sorts, even if he doesn’t have the frame of someone like the New Orleans Saints’ Taysom Hill, could be to Bean’s advantage. The Colts also have former USC, Pittsburgh and BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis in camp. Only one quarterback between him and Bean will likely remain with the organization after the preseason, and that’s assuming the Colts don’t just choose to get rid of both and retain Sam Ehlinger as their third quarterback.

Bean does have a professional fallback option now, of course, after getting drafted No. 1 overall by the United Football League’s Memphis Showboats.

Austin Booker

Booker doesn’t have much to worry about in terms of a roster spot, even though he went somewhat later than expected prior to the draft. He is signed to a four-year contract and is on one of the league’s buzziest teams, as the Bears undergo an overall sort of youth movement after drafting quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Rome Odunze.

Booker only saw one meaningful season of collegiate action but demonstrated enough as Big 12 co-newcomer of the year to get drafted.

“I’m 21, so I know that I have a lot of years ahead of me to get stronger and get faster, so I’m just looking to keep growing in the NFL,” he said in a KU press release after getting drafted.

Early returns have been positive, as Booker has plenty of desirable attributes for his position. Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington said this of Booker in May: “He has a tremendous amount of energy. He never seems to be out of the play, either early or as the play extends with the quarterback, especially as a rusher … He’s always rotating and flipping his hips at the right timing so he can continue to advance toward the quarterback, and so he’s got that innate feel and ability.”

The Bears acquired defensive end Montez Sweat from Washington at midseason last year, and he racked up 12.5 sacks on his way to a Pro Bowl selection. Along with Sweat, veteran DeMarcus Walker started 12 games last year with Chicago, his fourth NFL team. Booker may face some early competition from the likes of Dominique Robinson (a fifth-round pick two years ago) and Jacob Martin (a well-traveled veteran who came off the edge for the Colts last year).

photo by: AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Los Angeles Rams defensive back Kenny Logan Jr. gestures during an NFL football organized team activity Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Kenny Logan Jr.

The longtime KU standout and Florida native will experience a significant change of scenery as he attempts to catch on the Los Angeles Rams.

The issue for Logan is that Los Angeles has a familiar name at one safety spot in Russ Yeast, brought back John Johnson III in free agency and also added Kamren Curl (from Washington) and Kamren Kinchens (in the third round, from Miami).

If Logan is to stand out, it will most likely need to be on special teams, a truism that goes for most rookies but could be particularly notable for the former KU kick returner. Of note, though, the Rams may have lost their previous kick returner Austin Trammell in the offseason, but they added the Philadelphia Eagles’ from last season, veteran running back Boston Scott.

photo by: AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks center Mike Novitsky walks off the field after the NFL football team’s rookie minicamp Saturday, May 4, 2024 in Renton, Wash.

Mike Novitsky

Novitsky wasn’t necessarily the most predictable undrafted free agent signing among the entire draft class of former Jayhawks, but finds himself amid a bit of a motley crew occupying the center spot for the new-look Seattle Seahawks.

The group consists of Nick Harris, a former Cleveland Brown who found himself deployed as an extra blocker out of the backfield at times last season; Olu Oluwatimi, a decorated former Michigan center who served as a backup as a rookie fifth-round pick; and Novitsky, the longtime leader on the KU offensive line battling for an NFL chance.

The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta ranked Novitsky No. 84 of 89 active players on the team’s 90-man roster, but suggested he still has a path to that chance, Harris and Oluwatimi notwithstanding: “Novitsky, a UDFA from Kansas, is the only other player on the roster listed solely as a center, which gives him a great opportunity to a earn a (practice squad) spot. He did not allow a sack in 2,302 college pass rush snaps.”

photo by: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Dominick Puni runs a drill during NFL football practice in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Dominick Puni

The highest-drafted Jayhawk since 2008, at No. 86 to the San Francisco 49ers, Puni will begin his career with a possible rotational role on the reigning NFC champions.

The offensive lineman primarily played left tackle at KU in 2023 (after guard in 2022), but much of his pre-draft work centered on proving his worth on the interior of the offensive line. The 49ers are looking for solutions at right guard after Spencer Burford got benched in favor of Jon Feliciano last season.

“He’s going to be able to play left guard, left tackle, right guard, right tackle,” offensive line coach Chris Foerster said of Puni in May, per Niners Wire. “We’ll primarily work him at right guard right now. That’s a place we felt we could get some competition going and work at that spot. But he easily could be the fourth tackle, third. He could work in anywhere there. He’s got ability to play all. He’s best suited to guard though. You never know what happens. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Versatility characterized the KU offensive line under former position coach Scott Fuchs, and it was part of what allowed Puni to shine after arriving in Lawrence from Central Missouri. It could now be key to his efforts to earn early playing time in San Francisco.

Craig Young

The other former Jayhawk on the Colts, and Bean’s fellow Hula Bowl participant, has a bit of a positional-fit challenge of his own after starting his career at safety at Ohio State and then serving as a safety-linebacker hybrid at KU.

The good news for the extremely athletic outside linebacker is that Indianapolis has significant question marks at the position outside of veteran E.J. Speed.

“It’s a position room that features quantity but lacks proven quality outside of (middle linebacker Zaire) Franklin and Speed,” wrote Justin Melo of The Draft Network, making a case that Young could earn a spot on the 53-man roster. “The unknowns should allow Young to compete throughout training camp and the preseason.”

Granted, there are seven other linebackers on the roster besides Franklin, Speed and Young. The most experienced player ahead of Young and his most direct rival (no pun intended) are both fellow converted safeties: Ronnie Harrison Jr. and former Missouri Tiger and fifth-round pick Jaylon Carlies, respectively.