2011 Spring Football: Kansas Jayhawks

By all accounts, the Jayhawks struggled in 2010, but the season had plenty of big moments...a dramatic upset of Georgia Tech and an enormous comeback win against Colorado showed KU refused to quit. Turner Gill enters his 2nd season at the helm of the Jayhawks hoping to improve on last season and get back to bowl eligibility.
KU returns experience on both sides of the ball -- 7 starters on offense and 8 on defense are back for this year. Coach Gill says the quarterback position will come down to how well senior Quinn Mecham and sophomore Jordan Webb compete in spring and fall practice. At running back, the Jayhawks have speedster James Sims and several talented newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact. Returning recievers Daymond Patterson and DJ Beshears combined for more than 700 all-purpose yards in 2010, while senior tight end Tim Biere led KU in touchdown receptions last season and should be a big force on offense. And up-front, Gill says he believes the offensive line has more depth and experience for 2011 with several returning starters.
On defense, KU's secondary brings plenty of experience -- five of seven players who were starters in 2010 return for 2011. Isaiah Barfield and Lubbock Smith anchor the defensive backfield, while up front the Jayhawks will rely on Toben Opurum's speed and athletic presence at defensive end. Gill believes KU could benefit from sophomore linebacker Huldon Tharp's return from injury, which sidelined him for the entire 2010 season. Tharp earned numerous All-America honors from several publications in 2009.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• big
• 12
• conference
• kansas
• jayhawks
• football
• turner
• gill
• quinn
• meacham
• jordan
• webb
• daymond
• patterson
• dj
• beshears
• tim
• biere
• isaiah
• barfield
• lubbock
• smith
• toben
• opurum
• huldon
• tharp
• highlight

[broncobra]

GO JAYHAWKS! (a husker fan) We will miss you! Go Turner! Go Jayhawks!