photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas offensive lineman Nolan Gorczyca runs through drills during the first practice of spring on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Offensive tackle Nolan Gorczyca, a redshirt senior and the final Buffalo transfer remaining on Kansas’ roster in Lance Leipold’s fifth season as the head coach, made his first career start on Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Gorczyca has experienced significant playing time as a rotational tackle for KU over the course of his final collegiate season, but when he took the field shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday, he was technically doing so as a tight end. He was to the left of left tackle Calvin Clements as an additional in-line blocker.

That was the capacity in which he appeared for 10 of his 20 snaps against the Cowboys, and one in which he was quite effective. For example, he was on the field for a fourth-and-1 carry by Leshon Williams that went for 32 yards to open the fourth quarter.

Later, when Gorczyca actually did take the field at his usual position of right tackle, he had Tavake Tuikolovatu to his right as an extra blocker on a couple of occasions during a drive that featured 10 consecutive carries by Williams. Gorczyca finished with an 82.2 grade on Pro Football Focus, his second-highest of the season.

Leipold said on Monday that packages with extra offensive linemen have periodically been part of KU’s arsenal over the course of his tenure in Lawrence, but that the coaches “dusted it off” for OSU due to recent injuries at tight end.

“After we lost Carson (Bruhn), obviously we had to look, we’re looking a little thin at the position, so tried to look at all options, different personnel groupings,” Leipold said. “We’ve tinkered with other guys at different times. Enrique (Cruz Jr.) did it when Nolan was more rotating with the ones.”

The redshirt freshman Bruhn’s injury against Kansas State on Oct. 25 depleted a group that had already lost starter DeShawn Hanika for the season. Rice transfer Boden Groen continues to exceed expectations, and reserves Leyton Cure and Jaden Hamm stepped into bigger roles against OSU. But deploying Gorczyca provided a new element and some additional blocking prowess. (The 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle even went in motion at one point, although he didn’t get involved in the passing game.)

“I’d venture to say we’ll keep using it,” Leipold said.

KU has also made one other adjustment for extra depth beyond Groen, Cure, Hamm and walk-on Quinton Conley, once again turning to another position group. Mikey Pauley, a redshirt junior walk-on quarterback from Overland Park, was spotted warming up with the tight ends prior to Saturday’s game. Leipold confirmed on Monday that for about a month, Pauley has been training at that position in addition to quarterback.

“Really admire his attitude, his work ethic, and really the person that he is,” Leipold said. “It’s really refreshing when a guy comes and says, ‘You know, I think can help this team in some way. Could I look at this as an opportunity?’ And he’s embraced the position of tight end.”

It’s been a process, of course, for the former state-title-winning quarterback at Blue Valley Northwest and two-sport athlete at Nebraska who is now having to block and catch passes — though he does have the right kind of frame at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. Leipold supplied a basketball analogy in light of the KU men’s basketball team’s season opener on Monday night.

“I would say it’s almost like, especially in the passing game, it’s like a point guard all of a sudden having to go post up people,” Leipold said. “The game’s opposite. You got to play with your back now to people. It’s a little different. But he’s done well, and he’s a backup on a couple special teams units. We’ll see where it takes us.”

Pauley’s lone in-game appearance at KU was as a reserve quarterback against Lindenwood in 2024, and he carried the ball twice for 17 yards.

Next up for the Jayhawks is a road game against the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. Central time.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas junior Mikey Pauley participates in a drill during practice Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Lawrence.