» Kansas didn’t need to leave Lawrence to find a replacement for former defensive coordinator Bill Young. The Kansas City Star reported Monday that the Jayhawks’ new defensive coordinator will be Clint Bowen. Bowen has worked in various capacities on the Kansas coaching staff for nine seasons after playing at Kansas for three seasons. He served as co-defensive coordinator with Young for the past two seasons in addition to coaching the team’s safeties. Bowen grew up in Lawrence and played football at Lawrence High School before working as a graduate assistant at Minnesota and Kansas and coaching the Topeka Knights of the IFL. Other possible internal options included linebackers’ coach Steve Tovar and cornerbacks’ coach Je’Ney Jackson. Kansas is in need of a wide receivers’ coach after the departure of Tim Beck to Nebraska earlier this month.

» According to recruiting Web site, www.rivals.com, junior college offensive player of the year Jocques Crawford verbally committed to Kansas over the weekend. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back originally committed to Texas Tech but backed out and later chose Kansas. Crawford, who will be a junior in the 2008 season, ran for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns last season at Cisco Junior College in Cisco, Texas.

» Three former Jayhawks made the trip to Houston for last week’s East-West Shrine Bowl, but only two participated. Former Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry and running back Brandon McAnderson both played for the West team. Henry caught one pass for nine yards.

Defensive tackle James McClinton had a seizure early last week, forcing him to miss the game. The West defeated the East 31-13 in the exhibition that many players use as a showcase for professional scouts leading up to the NFL Draft.