What’s ahead for the KU Jayhawks’ offense without injured running back Daniel Hishaw?
Kansas Jayhawks offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki was heartbroken to learn running back Daniel Hishaw would be out for what coach Lance Leipold called “an extended period of time” following an undisclosed injury Hishaw sustained in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 14-11 victory over Iowa State.
“It really stinks for Daniel, obviously. That’s a tough deal,” Kotelnicki said Wednesday.
It’s especially unfortunate because Hishaw, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma, had to sit out out all last season while rehabbing a hip injury.
While regrettable, the absence of Hishaw, KU’s third-leading rusher, may not prove devastating to the Jayhawks’ offense heading into Saturday’s 11 a.m. home game against TCU.
“We talked before the season about the depth we have at a lot of positions,” Kotenicki said.
Indeed, the general consensus had been that KU’s deepest position entering the 2022 season was running back.
“Regardless of however a player is unavailable, we have to have a ‘next man up’ mentality,” Kotelnicki said. “I feel we’re diverse enough with personnel groupings and utilizing and being balanced in the way we are utilizing all positions that I feel like we’ll be OK. I’m excited what the (running back) room will continue to do.
“I hate saying things like that because it makes it seem like you are not sensitive to what Daniel is going through. I am (sensitive to that). I don’t want to slight him and what he’s done for this program, (but) I’m excited about the running back group and what they’re going to do.”
Quarterback Jalon Daniels leads the No. 19-ranked Jayhawks (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) in rushing with 335 yards on 46 carries — a 7.3-yards-per-carry average. He’s scored five touchdowns
Sophomore running back Devin Neal is right behind at 333 yards on 49 carries (6.8) and four TDs. Hishaw, known for his second effort on runs, has gained 262 yards on 44 carries (6.0) and five scores.
Nebraska transfer Sevion Morrison has gained 110 yards on 12 carries (9.2) and one TD. And Minnesota transfer Ky Thomas, who has missed the last two games because of an undisclosed injury, has 25 yards on 11 carries (2.3). Also, junior Torry Locklin, who has three carries for 5 yards, is available for backfield duty.
“It’s not going to change how we go about our business,” Kotelnicki said of KU’s play calling. “I’m still as excited about that group as when we first started talking about them in August.”
Good news is Thomas, a 5-11, 200-pound sophomore from Topeka and the second-leading rusher in state of Kansas high school history, is practicing full speed and at this time is available for the TCU game.
“He’s been out there, had a couple of good practices. So it’s good to see him back out there running around,” Kotelnicki said of Thomas.
KU quarterback Daniels joined every one of his teammates on the field to offer encouragement to Hishaw as he was transported from the field to the hospital in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s victory.
As much as Daniels will miss Hishaw, he said the team must now rely on the running backs who are available for duty.
“It’s the game of football. You have to be able to show up when your number is called,” Daniels said Wednesday. “We have a lot of great running backs in that that room who can make a lot of great things happen with the ball in their hands. Next man up.”
Noted receiver Lawrence Arnold: “The confidence is still the same. That will never change. The confidence in any room, especially our running backs room, all our running backs can go every moment. The confidence didn’t change with Daniel going down.”
