Wednesday, September 2, 2009
By all accounts, senior wide receiver Kerry Meier is one of the friendliest and most well-liked individuals on Kansas’ roster. Those who know him say he’s selfless and admirably humble despite his on-field success.
“Kerry, he’s just an awesome guy,” friend and former teammate Tyler Lawrence said.
Freshman wide receiver Bradley McDougald (24) talks to sophomore wide receiver Willie O'Quinn during media day at the Anderson Family Football Complex practice fields last month. McDougald has received praise for his skill from Mark Mangino and his new teammates.
But even the notoriously easy-going Meier couldn’t resist taking a crack at Kansas’ latest offensive weapon: freshman wide receiver Bradley McDougald.
After hearing that coach Mark Mangino publicly heaped praise on McDougald last week, Meier playfully ribbed Kansas’ talented and rising young playmaker.
“I had to just give him a little bit of trouble,” Meier said, smiling.
It’s all in good fun, though, as Meier and Mangino both said McDougald will be a significant piece of Kansas’ offense and special teams this season.
In his short time on campus, McDougald has continually impressed coaches and teammates with his natural athleticism and smooth transition from the high school level to Division I.
With coaches unable to attend summer workouts or seven-on-seven games, McDougald’s potential bounced around the different parts of the football program through word of mouth.
Eventually the talk reached the ears of Mangino, who couldn’t watch the scrimmages but instantly saw the reason for excitement when practices resumed in early August.
“As soon as we got him on the field, just a few days into practice, we realized he was a talented guy,” Mangino said.
McDougald has been on a steep rise ever since; Mangino said he’ll see the field on both offense and special teams this year.
During training camp in mid-August, McDougald joined the first team receiving corps — a unit generally viewed as the strength of the offense.
Alongside proven big-time playmakers Meier and junior Dezmon Briscoe, McDougald has thrived as Kansas’ fourth receiving target.
“It kind of scared me at first because that’s the position I’m playing,” Meier said. “But he’s a smooth individual and when he stepped foot on campus in the summer, I knew he had potential to play right away.”
On Saturday, McDougald will run onto Kivisto Field in front of 50,000-plus fans wearing blue. At one point, though, McDougald seemed set to play in one of college football’s most storied venues: the Horseshoe at Ohio State.
But McDougald, who played high school football just 20 miles from Ohio State’s campus and was suspended for three games for disciplinary reasons during his senior season, rescinded his initial verbal commitment to the Buckeyes.
Instead, McDougald evaluated his remaining options with one desire: to stay on the offensive side of the ball. Many schools viewed McDougald as a better fit at defensive back.
“Right now, if I could get playing time early, I felt that it was going to be on the offensive side of the ball,” McDougald said. “That eliminated a lot of schools that were recruiting me early in the process.”
McDougald started considering Kansas after a teammate from high school, redshirt freshman linebacker Josh Richardson, committed to the Jayhawks while McDougald was attending Dublin Scioto High School.
Two weeks after Richardson’s commitment, McDougald received a scholarship offer from Kansas — one he eventually accepted.
“Coach Ed Warriner, the offensive coordinator, is the person who recruited me out of high school,” McDougald said. “He mentioned possible (early) playing time but I never thought it would be like it is now. I thought I would be rotating.”
Upon arriving at Kansas, McDougald was issued a “Big Brother,” which is essentially a teammate assigned to help a new player adjust to college. McDougald was paired with Meier.
Meier, along with Briscoe and quarterback Todd Reesing, guided McDougald through offseason practices. That preparation, McDougald said, was a big reason he adjusted so smoothly to the college level.
And he’ll get his first public showcase in a Kansas uniform Saturday against Northern Colorado.
“It’s just his knack to play ball,” Meier said. “Usually, with incoming freshmen, they have to worry about so much other than football. His ability to put that stuff behind when he’s on the field has enabled him to be where he is.
“He’s a guy that I think everything comes very smoothly for him.”
— — Edited by Samantha Foster
McDougald adjusts to playing defense
Freshman receiver getting reps on new role in addition to offensive duties.
Receivers and cornerbacks battle for spots
The eight-man competition for cornerback heats up and a young receiving corps ...
Meier’s many talents fill out the field
Playing new positions is no sweat for the senior wide reciever.
Four-star receiver brings 2009 class to 24
Coach Mark Mangino hauls in his most decorated recruiting class yet at ...
Kansas football player Bradley McDougald turns himself ...
Booked on Friday, the player posted bond and and played in Saturday's ...
Jayhawks’ open practice shows changes
Fan Appreciation Day presented new lineup to public.
Football team sees five new faces on ...
New recruits could be the answer to Kansas offensive problems.
Kansas safeties develop chemistry on the field
Two former high school wide receivers will take on new roles as ...
Coach spurs McDougald to improve
The junior safety has doubled his tackles using game film to review ...
Defense steps up its game as offense ...
The Kansas defense gave up its fewest points during the Turner Gill ...
Beecher: Necessity of team facelift questioned
Changing team structure should be done with caution to avoid doing more ...
Notes from Gill's season-ending press conference
Several players are coming and going on the football team and coach ...
Gill debuts two players in new positions
At the Jayhawks’ final home game, Pick and McDougald took their new ...
Southern Miss. game notes
Freshman Toben Opurum fills in at running back; team not distracted by ...
Long rivalry ends in 20-3 Kansas loss
The Jayhawks’ offense sputtered against the Cornhuskers’ defense, picking up just 87 ...
Non-conference necessities
From rehabbing old wounds to forming new ones, rhythm is essential before ...
Coaches watch players during spring game
The annual spring football game helps the players leave an impression on ...
Meier just happy to play
Kansas' utility player won't forget heart condition
Recruits add to football offseason
The Jayhawks added two recruits that could compete for immediate playing time ...
Meier displays versatility
New offense features two quarterback on the field one throwing, one catching.
Kansas football defense must rebuild
New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places
Freshman has more speed than former star
Freshman running back Toben Opurum’s teammates are enthusiastic about his speed and ...
Jayhawks jolt nationally ranked Yellow Jackets
Kansas upsets No. 17 Georgia Tech, 28-25.
Game day: gearing up for season opener ...
Get an informative glance of both teams' lineups for the game.
Patterson’s playmaking adds to aerial assault
Daymond Patterson has quickly emerged as a go-to receiver for the Jayhawks ...
Reesing benched, offensive line struggles
Mangino says he is not afraid to rearrange lineup.
Defensive lineup shuffled again
Coaches continue to rearrange the lineup, looking for the perfect fit.
Wheeler: Quarterback makes most of situation
Meier has made a mark for himself as receiver and backup quarterback ...
Carpenter: Hope after disappointing football season
A mix of young talent and experience could lead to improvement for ...
Briscoe ready for season after time off
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe prepares for his return to the football field ...
Brew: Imagining football in an alternate reality
Max Rothman creates an alternate reality to distract himself during Saturday's football ...
NEW: Football practice begins with high hopes
Football practice sees position changes
Two starters suspended this spring; status to be reviewed this week.
Sophomore defensive tackle balances football and fatherhood
When Jamal Greene discovered he would be a father, he knew his ...
Wide receivers coach leaves KU for UT
Darrell Wyatt was a key part of recruitment efforts
Kansas needs to identify playmakers
The Jayhawks struggled last season because of a lack of game-changing players.
Where KU’s defense prevailed against Texas, the ...
With multiple fumbles and only 305 yards of total offense, the Jayhawks ...
Defense struggled to keep Texas offense off ...
The Longhorn offense held onto the ball for the majority of the ...
Fusco, Keefer: Jayhawks have mental edge
Though coach Mark Mangino says the football team won’t be thinking about ...
Reesing pulls ahead in quarterback race
Coach Mangino made it clear during media day that sophomore Todd Reesing ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID