If there was one position that helped the Kansas defense improve as drastically as it did last season, it was the linebacker.

Led by three seniors, the linebacker corps is looking to pick up where it left off last season and build on the 27 takeaways that led the conference.

“Now we have to stand up to the hype,” senior linebacker Nick Reid said. “We have to go out and prove to everyone that we are good and that we can shut people down when we need to.”

The linebackers not only hope to improve on last season’s stellar year, but become one of the nation’s best defenses.

Photo by Justin O'Neal

KANSAN

Senior linebackers Nick Reid, Kevin Kane and Banks Floodman show off their leaping ability at media day. Reid, Kane and Floodman make up the linebacker core that will be an integral part of a highly touted Kansas defense.

“Our goal is to go out there every game and pitch a shutout,” Reid said. “We want to be the best, not just in the Big 12, but in the nation.”

Reid is the most talked-about of the group; he was named to the first All-Big 12 team last year after finishing second in the conference in tackles with 109.

“He’s ‘Mr. Reliable.’ You can count on Nick Reid,” Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said. “He’s going to show up and go to work just like the sun is going to show up every day.”

Kansas originally recruited Reid as a quarterback, however during his freshman year he started six games at linebacker and he had 62 tackles.

During his sophomore season he racked up 133 tackles.

Reid had to have a screw inserted into his foot last year. As a result, he played much of the season injured.

Seniors Banks Floodman and Kevin Kane join Reid at linebacker. Floodman was seventh on the team in tackles last season with 47. Kane finished second on the team in tackles, behind Reid, with 69. Kane also had two interceptions and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last year.

“He is an intelligent, hard-nosed football player and gives you 100 percent every snap,” Mangino said. “I don’t remember once ever having to say anything to Kevin about hustling, finishing a play, going to the whistle. He does it all the time.”

Mangino said Kane was not the fastest player on the field, but he made up for it with his intelligence; Kane was a first team academic All-Big 12 selection last season.

“There is something to be said for intellectuals playing football. You can’t fool Kevin Kane,” Mangino said.

The team elected all three seniors as captains for this season, and it the captains’ leadership that Mangino believes will drive the team.

“The reason we’ve been able to make progress every year is because

of team chemistry,” Mangino said. “We’ll have the best leadership that we’ve had

since I’ve been here. It’s very strong.”

Reid, Kane, and Floodman will not be the only linebackers who will make an impact this season.

Freshman Mike Rivera, who took a redshirt in his inaugural season, and junior Eric Washington, a transfer from Minnesota West Community College, are both expected to see time.

“We are pretty stacked at linebacker,” Washington said. “We have a lot of great leaders like Kevin Kane and Nick Reid. A lot of the young guys are growing up fast because our leaders are so good.”

Freshman Brandon Duncan, who committed to the Jayhawks in August, may also see playing time if he doesn’t take a redshirt.

“They are doing a great job, we have a great group of guys,” Reid said of the younger linebackers. “We really don’t fall off that much. If one of us goes down they step up. They are going to be great in the years to come.”

—Edited by Patrick Ross