Kansas football season preview: What to expect and game-by-game predictions

▪ 2014 record: 3-9, 1-8 Big 12

▪ Projected 2015 record: 1-11, 0-9 Big 12

(This story is part of The Kansas City Star's Football 2015 special section that publishes Sunday, Aug. 30. Pick one up and check out more here.)

▪ Key starters lost: LB Ben Heeney, CB JaCorey Shepherd, CB Dexter McDonald, S Isaiah Johnson, WR Nigel King, TE Jimmay Mundine

▪ Key starters returning: DE Ben Goodman, OL Larry Mazyck

▪ Leading the charge: After six straight losing seasons, new coach David Beaty is remaking the program in his own image: Upbeat and uptempo. Beaty, in his first head coaching job, has taken over a program with a well-documented numbers crisis — the scholarship numbers in the 60s and the puny list of starters returning. But Beaty and his staff offered a dollop of hope in early August, unveiling a list of new walk-ons and transfers that included receiver Joshua Stanford (Virginia Tech), receiver Quincy Perdue (UAB) and linebacker Marcquis Roberts (South Carolina). Beaty hired offensive coordinator Rob Likens, a former Cal assistant, to run an uptempo, spread offense. And former interim coach Clint Bowen is back to guide the defense.

▪ Potential roadblocks: The Jayhawks have some major depth issues, and the question marks begin at quarterback. Junior Montell Cozart, a Bishop Miege grad, will likely begin the season as the starter, while freshmen Ryan Willis (another Miege product) and Carter Stanley have drawn praise during fall camp. Cozart will get a shot early, but if the idea is to rebuild, will Beaty and Likens be tempted to see what the freshmen can do? On defense, the Jayhawks must replace All-Big 12 linebacker Ben Heeney, standout cornerback JaCorey Shepherd and the rest of the secondary. The linebacking corps and secondary is almost totally unproven.

▪ End result: Kansas fans have seen some rough football over the last four years, which makes it all the more surprising that this could be the leanest season of them all. But that’s the reality in Lawrence. The non-conference schedule does no favors. Kansas must play host to a Memphis program that played in a bowl last season and travel to Rutgers. That makes the opener against South Dakota State crucial. Beaty is trying to lay a foundation, and you can see some of the concrete — recruiting, culture, etc. — falling into place. But on the field, it could be a long season at Memorial Stadium.

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Kansas football season preview: What to expect and game-by-game predictions."