Kansas Jayhawks football spring game: Details, time, activities, 3 things to watch for
The Kansas football team will hold its Spring Preview at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. There is no admission charge for the event, and other activities outside the stadium include a Kids Zone with outdoor inflatables (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and live music at the bottom of the hill (11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.).
KU coach Lance Leipold said during his HawkTalk radio program this week that the Spring Preview will begin with standard practice-type drills for about 30-40 minutes, then will briefly transition to some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work. After that, the team will do about 60 minutes of live scrimmaging. KU’s players will stay to sign autographs after the event ends.
Here are three things to watch for Saturday:
1. A QB1 ... finally
The Jayhawks have had a quarterback competition heading into fall practices every season since 2016 ... a streak that should finally end this year.
That’s because junior Jalon Daniels — based on his play late last season — has earned the right to be considered QB1 as KU prepares for its second season under Leipold.
It doesn’t mean he won’t be worth watching Saturday. Daniels, who was limited early in spring practices because of an undisclosed injury, reported on HawkTalk this week that he was now 100% healthy.
So how does Daniels look following that recovery? And who will be his favorite targets this year?
It’s just one practice, yes, but perhaps Saturday’s showcase will give us a small glimpse into those answers.
2. New-look defense
When asked recently about the most encouraging development during spring practices, Leipold replied, “Watching our defense.”
“Playing faster, playing more confident, communicating better. We still have a ways to go in the communication aspect,” Leipold said. “But I’m seeing them light-years more confident than they were last fall.”
Some of this makes logical sense. KU hired Leipold in April 2021, which meant he could not lead KU football in spring practices last season. A full year with players, then, appears to be paying dividends.
KU also should benefit from transfer-portal additions who will be worth keeping an eye on Saturday. On defense, that includes outside linebacker Craig Young (Ohio State), defensive back Kalon Gervin (Michigan State), defensive end Lonnie Phelps (Miami, Ohio) and inside linebacker Eriq Gilyard (Central Florida).
“I think we hit home runs with those guys, in terms of who they are and what they’re about,” KU defensive coordinator Brian Borland said last month when asked about his team’s defensive transfer additions. “I think they’re solid individuals and great teammates. They’ve worked extremely hard.”
3. Sudden depth
Because of injuries and attrition, KU football had just one scholarship running back available for last year’s final game against West Virginia.
In a few months, though, KU’s coaching staff quickly turned that position from razor-thin to one of the team’s deepest groups.
Sophomore Devin Neal returns after leading KU with 707 rushing yards; a shoulder injury kept him out of last season’s finale.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki also picked off a pair of Big Ten players from the transfer portal who should be immediate contributors: Ky Thomas from Minnesota, who was the offensive MVP of the Gophers’ bowl game last season, and Sevion Morrison from Nebraska, who played seven games for the Huskers a year ago.
How those guys perform — and how Kotelnicki utilizes them — will be something to watch Saturday. At Buffalo, Kotelnicki did not hesitate to use two-running-back sets while sometimes shifting them out of the backfield.
Also, look for Daniel Hishaw, who missed last season because of injury. The redshirt sophomore has received frequent praise from coaches this spring.
