Quarterbacks

Todd Reesing is Kansas’ starting quarterback.

In a decision made public Saturday, Mangino announced Reesing as the 2007 starter, confirming the suspicions of media and fans.

Reesing, a sophomore, played in only three games as a freshman and threw only 24 passes. But the Austin, Texas, native made a positive impression on the coaching staff in preseason camp. His competitor, sophomore Kerry Meier, started eight games last season. Meier looked hobbled in preseason practices, although Mangino said injuries had no bearing on the competition for playing time.

“We are going with Todd Reesing,” Mangino said in a press release. “He has done everything we have asked of him in this offense. He came here ready to go in two-a-days and has really got a good command of the offense.”

After Reesing worked solely with the first team at an open practice last week, media penciled him in as the unofficial starter. At that point Mangino did not make an official statement but said Reesing had performed well in early practices.

Mangino stuck to his original plan by naming a starter two weeks before the Sept. 1 opener against Central Michigan. At media day the coach said he would notify the team of his decision well before the beginning of the season.

Reesing is largely untested as a passer, and questions about his ability to see over defensive linemen linger. But he showed deft improvisational skills in a victory against Colorado last season and has looked sharp in practice.

“Reesing has made some strides,” Mangino said. “A lot of that has to do with him losing probably 20 pounds and gaining a lot more strength.”

If Reesing cannot hold onto the starting job, Kansas can fall back on the most capable backup in the Big 12 Conference. Meier completed a Kansas freshman record 13 touchdowns in 2006. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Meier is big and fast enough to succeed if he can stay healthy.

Backing up Reesing and Meier is redshirt freshman Tyler Lawrence. The 6-3 left-hander from Shawnee earned the Scout Team Player of the Year award last year but has never played in a game.

Running backs

Running back is another position at which the Jayhawks have plenty of depth but no established star.

Sophomore Jake Sharp is the most experienced tailback on the roster. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said Sharp had improved his pass receiving skills and could be a big play threat for Kansas.

Sharp rushed for 129 yards in a reserve role last season. Although he has bulked up since arriving at Kansas, he is profiled as an outside running threat and a safety valve in the passing game.

Sharp’s most notable competition for carries is sophomore Angus Quigley. It has been a long and frustrating road for Quigley since he became a Jayhawk.

“I feel like I haven’t played in 10 years,” Quigley said. “I barely remember the last time I played in a game. It must’ve been 2004.”

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Quigley redshirted his first season and suffered a major leg injury before last season. He sat out all of 2006 and practiced as a wide receiver in spring workouts. During the summer, Quigley and the coaching staff decided he was better suited at his original position, so he moved to the backfield, where he has played well this preseason.

Quigley is one of the most physically imposing players on the team and shows a combination of speed and power that suggests he could be getting the lion’s share of the carries by the start of conference play.

Senior Brandon McAnderson, a team captain and 2006 All-Big 12 Second Team player, will line up at fullback. He tallied 122 yards on the ground and 70 in the passing game last season.

“Brandon is a guy that allows us to run the ball up the middle,” Warinner said. “He’s a great blocker and can also do some things as far as receiving.”

The only question is just how often McAnderson will be utilized. Kansas did not use two-back sets much in its previous offensive scheme. Now that the Jayhawks will be using a new, possibly more pass-heavy offense, McAnderson might only see the field in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

True freshman Carmon Boyd-Anderson impressed the coaching staff enough in August practices to slide into the three-spot at tailback. Mangino said Boyd-Anderson was focused and succeeded because he took football so seriously.

With at least two quality options at both quarterback and running back, Kansas will have the flexibility to mix and match personnel at any time. But Mangino said he would prefer to stick with one quarterback. For now, that quarterback is Todd Reesing.

— Edited by Matt Erickson