Kansas-Southeast Missouri football preview
When/where: Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence
TV/radio: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel; KCSP (610 AM)
The series: First meeting
The line: Off
KANSAS (0-0)
Date | Opponent | Time |
Saturday | Southeast Missouri | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 13 | at Duke | 2:30 p.m. |
Sept. 20 | Central Michigan | TBA |
Sept. 27 | Texas | TBA |
Oct. 4 | at West Virginia | TBA |
Oct. 11 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 18 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 1 | at Baylor | TBA |
Nov. 8 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 15 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 29 | at Kansas State | TBA |
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (1-0)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 28 | Missouri Baptist | W, 77-0 |
Saturday | at Kansas | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 13 | at Southern Illinois | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 20 | Southeastern Louisiana | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 27 | at Tennessee-Martin | 6 p.m. |
Oct. 4 | Tennessee State | 1 p.m. |
Oct. 11 | at Murray State | 3 p.m. |
Oct. 18 | Eastern Illinois | 1 p.m. |
Oct. 25 | Eastern Kentucky | 2 p.m. |
Nov. 8 | at Tennessee Tech | 1:30 p.m. |
Nov. 15 | Austin Peay | 1 p.m. |
Nov. 22 | Jacksonville State | 1 p.m. |
What’s at stake
For the last four seasons, Kansas has looked fairly sluggish in its season openers — even in the victories. After a loss to North Dakota State in 2010, the Jayhawks have won their last three openers by an average of 16.3 points. In other words: It’s been a while since KU mauled an overmatched opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision. Intangible things like confidence, leadership and momentum are often overblown. But for a program like Kansas, the Jayhawks could sorely use a dominating performance against a Southeast Missouri team that is simply in Lawrence for a check.
Cheers if …
Sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart and the offense shows signs of progress. This will be the public’s first official look at new offensive coordinator John Reagan and his spread scheme. It will also be the first KU game for a collection of offensive players, including senior transfer receiver Nick Harwell, true freshman running back Corey Avery and junior-college running back De’Andre Mann. Is the offense finally in position to put up some points?
Jeers if …
The KU defense doesn’t control the game. The Jayhawks believe they can be among the best defenses in the Big 12. The secondary, led by seniors Dexter McDonald, Cassius Sendish and Isaiah Johnson, is loaded. If the KU defense is truly ready to take another step, this is a game you dominate.
Three things about Southeast Missouri
1 Southeast Missouri coach Tom Matukewicz, a native of Silver Lake, Kan., and a graduate of Fort Hays State, is in his first season. After spending the last two years as the defensive coordinator at Toledo, Matukewicz opened with a 77-0 victory over Missouri Baptist last week.
2 The Redhawks rushed for 304 yards last week against Missouri Baptist. Junior DeMichael Jackson finished with 82 yards in eight carries.
3 Southeast Missouri has lost its last 13 games against opponents from the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Redhawks lost to Mississippi 31-13 last season.
Key matchup
Kansas receiver Nick Harwell vs. the Southeast Missouri defense. Harwell, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), is eligible after sitting out the 2013 season. He put up video-game numbers during his sophomore and junior seasons. Does KU finally have another game-breaking receiver?
KANSAS OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 19 | Justin McCay | 6-2 | 210 | Jr. |
LT | 61 | Pat Lewandowski | 6-5 | 290 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Ngalu Fusimalohi | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. |
C | 70 | Keyon Haughton | 6-2 | 300 | Jr. |
RG | 65 | Mike Smithburg | 6-3 | 305 | Sr. |
RT | 73 | Damon Martin | 6-3 | 305 | Jr. |
TE | 41 | Jimmay Mundine | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. |
WR | 8 | Nick Harwell | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. |
WR | 3 | Tony Pierson | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
QB | 2 | Montell Cozart | 6-2 | 200 | So. |
RB | 23 | De’Andre Mann | 5-9 | 198 | Jr. |
K | 13 | John Duvic | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. |
KANSAS DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DT | 90 | Andrew Bolton | 6-3 | 290 | Jr. |
NT | 98 | Keon Stowers | 6-3 | 297 | Sr. |
DE | 93 | Ben Goodman | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. |
LB | 55 | Michael Reynolds | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. |
LB | 31 | Ben Heeney | 6-2 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 57 | Jake Love | 6-0 | 220 | Jr. |
NB | 30 | Tevin Shaw | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
CB | 24 | JaCorey Shepherd | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. |
SS | 5 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. |
FS | 33 | Cassius Sendish | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 12 | Dexter McDonald | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
P | 16 | Trevor Pardula | 6-5 | 212 | Sr. |
SEMO OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 1 | Paul McRoberts | 6-3 | 197 | Jr. |
WR | 6 | Darius Darden-Box | 5-7 | 168 | So. |
LT | 76 | Corey Porter | 6-1 | 289 | Sr. |
LG | 74 | Garret Baker | 6-2 | 280 | So. |
C | 62 | Jake McCandless | 6-0 | 297 | So. |
RG | 70 | Traven Mable | 6-2 | 308 | Jr. |
RT | 78 | Kyle Finney | 6-2 | 264 | Sr. |
WR | 7 | Peter Lloyd | 5-7 | 166 | Jr. |
WR | 4 | Spencer Davis | 5-7 | 182 | Sr. |
QB | 12 | Kyle Snyder | 6-1 | 209 | Sr. |
RB | 20 | DeMichael Jackson | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. |
K | 35 | Ryan McCrum | 6-0 | 228 | So. |
SEMO DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DT | 68 | Jon Slania | 6-1 | 281 | Jr. |
NT | 93 | Marlon Hampton | 6-2 | 314 | So. |
DE | 51 | Travis Sanders | 6-3 | 262 | Jr. |
LB | 96 | Lloyd Laufili-Time | 6-1 | 229 | So. |
LB | 5 | Wisler Ymonice | 6-0 | 219 | Sr. |
LB | 9 | Terrance Hill | 6-0 | 215 | So. |
LB | 43 | Roper Garrett | 6-1 | 234 | So. |
CB | 26 | Tim Hamm-Bey | 5-10 | 173 | Sr. |
SS | 23 | Ron Davis | 6-0 | 189 | Sr. |
FS | 14 | David Coley | 6-2 | 196 | Jr. |
CB | 32 | Reggie Jennings | 5-11 | 186 | Sr. |
P | 46 | Alex Knight | 6-1 | 199 | So. |
Rustin Dodd’s pick: Kansas 35-13
Montell Cozart’s athleticism will be on full display against some lesser competition. Yes, senior running backs Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox were lost for the season during fall camp. Still, the Jayhawks’ new spread offense should maneuver easily past Southeast Missouri. The defense should be solid. But here’s one thing to watch: How will the passing game perform?
| Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
This story was originally published September 4, 2014 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Kansas-Southeast Missouri football preview."