Jocques Crawford’s future with Kansas is in question after coach Mark Mangino confirmed the junior running back’s suspension following Saturday’s spring game. Crawford and suspended sophomore wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe were both absent from the annual scrimmage.

“It was a situation where he has breached team policy more than once in a relatively short period of time,” Mangino said of Crawford. “I am taking a look at his situation and he will not participate the rest of the spring. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know his status, whether he’ll be back or not.”

When asked if Crawford’s suspension was related to an incident at Jayhawker Towers last week that led to sophomore offensive lineman Ben Lueken being struck or thrown off the hood of a vehicle, Mangino could not comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

The absence of one of the nation’s top receivers and Kansas’ third-leading rusher from 2008 paved the way for those filling their spots Saturday to leave an impression at Memorial Stadium.

Clear skies and crisp temperatures greeted the team on Saturday with an estimated 17,000 fans for an afternoon scrimmage that saw the Blue squad of starters defeat the White squad 20-7. Sophomore wide receiver Johnathan Wilson finished with a team-high seven receptions for 133 yards and an opening drive touchdown for an early lead his squad would not relinquish.

“I feel like I’ve become more like a playmaker and could be used more on the offense now,” Wilson said. “Hopefully next year I’ll just get more involved and can contribute more.”

In Briscoe’s absence, Wilson became junior quarterback, Todd Reesing’s favorite target with six of his receptions and 10 looks overall coming from the two-year starter.

“With Briscoe not participating right now, John’s the go-to-guy,” Reesing said. “He’s got just as much athleticism as anybody else out there and a great set of hands.”

Reesing, who finished 16-for-22 with 221 yards and a touchdown, said that regardless of what was going on off the field that the team had to keep its focus as he entered his senior season.

“There are things that have to continue to grow and improve on in the spring and I think everyone understands that and they’re mature enough to realize that we still have to get down to business and get working as a team,” Reesing said. “We’ve done that. We haven’t let anything else distract us from our work and we’ve had a great spring so far.”

And while the spotlight was cast a little more than usual on Wilson Saturday, he’ll likely be among the first to welcome Briscoe back.

Wilson said that Briscoe’s suspension inspired him to step up and that he was looking forward to working with Briscoe again.

“We’re good friends on and off the field,” Wilson said.

Second only to Wilson on Saturday in total offense, was freshman running back Rell Lewis. Lewis started with the White offense before taking over for junior running back Jake Sharp at the end of the first half. And while Sharp’s performance on Saturday was what the Memorial Stadium crowd had come to expect from him — seven carries for 63 yards, a 40-yard burst and a touchdown to finish — Lewis turned heads the rest of the day with 119 yards of combined offense.

Lewis said he felt he had some shoes to fill upon Crawford and Briscoe’s absences.

“Usually when you have a person down or out it always makes you step up regardless of the situation because it just feels like you have shoes to fill and that’s how I went and approached the game today,” Lewis said.

— — Edited by Jesse Trimble