Kansas College Football 2009 Predictions

Written June 22, 2009 by InfoPlays

Kansas-College-Football-2009-Predictions Over the past five seasons, coach Mark Mangino is 7-3 against rivals K-State and Missouri, but one hurdle stands in the way before the Kansas Jayhawks truly arrive with the big boys in the Big 12. It has to win against one of the three South heavyweights. Mangino is 0-9 in his career against Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech, while 45-32 against all other comers. All questions for the Jayhawks are up front. They need improvement from returning defensive linemen and quick learning from inexperienced offensive linemen to determine whether the hurdle is cleared. As expected, the college football lines show the Jayhawks as a big longshot to win the 2010 BCS National Championship. Kansas is listed at +20000 to accomplish this feat.

Offense: Three offensive linemen need to be replaced, but Todd Reesing is back for his final season at quarterback, and he’ll be throwing to sure-handed receivers. Scoring points should not be a problem, as is the case for most of the teams in the Big 12. Kansas isn’t quite up to the recruiting level of the South powers, but Mangino has done his best and he has a QB that can make things happen on the run to make up for it. Reesing knows just when to start scrambling and forever keeps his eyes downfield. Dezmon Briscoe, second-team All-Big 12 as a sophomore when he caught 92 passes for 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns, is Reesing’s most talented receiver. He plays bigger than his size, and his speed gets him behind some defense, but he also has the ability to make things happen after the catch.

Senior Kerry Meier had 97 catches for 1,045 yards and eight touchdowns. He has a knack for getting open just past the first-down market and he’s Reesing’s go-to guy on third downs. Running back Jake Sharp can really fly when getting in the open field, and he rushed for 12 touchdowns a year ago. He cannot get the tough yards in short-yardage situations, but that’s where freshman Toben Opurum could make himself valuable from day one. Jeremiah Hatch moves from tackle back to his normal position at center, and he’s the team’s best blocker up front. Jeff Spikes returns to right tackle. Redshirt freshman Tanner Hawkinson, who is playing offensive line for the first time in his life, will use his quick feet to make the most of it at left tackle. Run-blocking could take a while to mesh, but Reesing knows how to fix broken plays.

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Defense: All three starting linebackers are gone, but fortunately only two need to be replaced to fit their 4-2-5 base defensive alignment. Increasing pressure from the edges is the key for success here. Junior college recruit Quniton Woods will be counted upon to help junior Jake Laptad in proving that from the end positions. Woods originally signed with Michigan but didn’t qualify academically and spent two years at Bakersfield College.

There is plenty of depth at tackle, but unfortunately for KU none of the players who will be rotating are all-conference-type talents. The defense is shy on playmakers, though senior strong safety Darrell Stuckey made first-team All-Big 12 honors last season. He is the lone exception after leading the team with five interceptions and he was second in tackles with 98.

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