Grades from KU Jayhawks football’s win over Texas Longhorns and looking ahead to TCU
Here are grades for all three Kansas units, a highlight from Saturday’s 57-56 overtime victory against Texas and a look ahead to TCU.
Play of the game
Walk-on for the win: Fullback Jared Casey — a preferred walk-on from Plainville — made himself into a folk hero. In his first game playing offensive snaps for KU, Casey made the biggest play, catching a two-point conversion on a strike from quarterback Jalon Daniels to give KU the victory.
Grades
Offense: A. Start with Daniels, who was spectacular while stepping in for his first start this season following injuries to Jason Bean and Miles Kendrick. Daniels did basically everything well, posting a preliminary Pro Football Focus grade that’s the highest ever recorded by a KU quarterback in the last 12 seasons. Daniels made strong throws, touch passes, was accurate on deep balls, managed the clock well and also came through with tough runs when KU desperately needed them. Devin Neal was excellent as well in a 143-yard rushing effort while seeming to make the most of the opportunities presented to him. The Jayhawks’ 57 points also were their most since the 2007 Orange Bowl season when they put up 76 in a home win over Nebraska.
Defense: B. KU’s defense seemed big-time gassed down the stretch, but it also gets credit for being opportunistic while forcing four turnovers. Kyron Johnson had a monster game with two strip-sacks, while Jacobee Bryant’s second-quarter pick-six shifted the entire game’s trajectory. O.J. Burroughs’ late interception — the first of his career — was overshadowed a bit because of what happened in Texas’ next possession, but it still was a promising display of awareness and playmaking skills. KU certainly could help itself by bowing up a bit more near the goal line — opponents now have 42 touchdowns and four field goals against KU in 48 red-zone possessions — but for this game, there won’t be any gripes about the defense’s overall production.
Special teams: D-. KU’s special teams would’ve been a popular scapegoat had the Jayhawks not won in overtime. The Jayhawks, while trying to protect a lead, had two awful second-half gaffes, which included a blocked punt and also a low, returnable punt to Texas’ D’Shawn Jamison, who returned it 25 yards with less than a minute left to set up the Longhorns’ game-tying score. The Jayhawks deserve credit for performing well in kickoff coverage, as the Longhorns often started with poor field position after KU scores.
Next up
KU will travel to play TCU at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 6:25 PM.
