Thursday, April 17, 2008
TIGHT END
Kansas lost a three-year starter when Derek Fine ran out of eligibility after the 2007 season. Without the steady and prolific Fine, the Jayhawk coaching staff will have a number of tight end options to choose from this offseason. Sophomore Bradley Dedeaux started the spring game and caught one pass. Dedeaux, a stocky 249-pounder, caught one pass last season. Behind Dedeaux are three freshmen, Nick Plato, Tim Biere and Tanner Hawkinson. Plato arrived at Kansas one semester early and participated in the spring scrimmage. Plato, Hawkinson and Biere are all built to catch passes — each stands taller than 6-foot-4.
Spring starter: Bradley Dedeaux
Projected fall starter: Bradley Dedeaux
LEFT TACKLE
The Jayhawks took a big hit when AP Second-Team All-America James McClinton graduated after last season. To fill McClinton’s shoes, Kansas could look to Richard Johnson, Jr., a talented young player cut from a different mold than McClinton. Johnson, a redshirt freshman, is 6-2 and 279 pounds and looks as much like a defensive end as he does a tackle. He showed off strong pass rushing skills in the spring game, and seems to have the inside track on one of the starting spots. Senior Todd Haselhorst started the Spring game at the other tackle spot. Haselhorst got off to a slow start in 2007 because of injuries, but he saw plenty of action late in the season. Prospective backups who could push the first-stringers for playing time include senior Caleb Blakesley and sophomore Jamal Greene.
Spring starters: Richard Johnson, Jr., Todd Haselhorst
Projected fall starters: Richard Johnson, Jr., Jamal Greene
DEFENSIVE END
Kansas has an enviable problem at defensive end: The team might have too many capable players. Because of the depth at the position, the coaches could shuffle players in and out using different schemes and packages. Senior Russell Brorsen and junior Maxwell Onyegbule started the Spring game. Brorsen started all of last season, while Onyegbule played in pass-defense packages. Sophomores Jeff Wheeler and Jake Laptad are long, lean, pass-rushing specialists who proved themselves as capable reserves last season. Senior John Larson sat out of the spring game because of illness, but could have his foot in the door for playing time after starting all 13 games last season.
Spring starters: Russell Brorsen, Maxwell Onyegbule
Projected fall starters: Russell Brorsen, John Larson
RIGHT TACKLE
The early departure of Anthony Collins for the NFL Draft made a mess of Kansas’ 2008 offensive line. With the AP First team All-America Collins out of the picture, the Jayhawks could turn to redshirt freshman Jeff Spikes to protect junior quarterback Todd Reesing. Spikes, who projects as a left tackle, is a near carbon copy of Collins at 6-6 and 314 pounds. Senior Matt Darton, who started one game last season, looks like the favorite to take over for now-graduated Cesar Rodriguez at right tackle. Backups include the capable but undersized sophomore Ian Wolfe and junior college transfer Nathan D’Cunha.
Spring starters: Matt Darton, Nathan D’Cunha
Projected fall starters: Jeff Spikes, Matt Darton
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