Former Free State OT Calvin Clements fitting right in on Kansas football offensive line
Kansas offensive line coach Scott Fuchs wasn’t too worried when former Free State offensive lineman Calvin Clements committed to Baylor last summer.
“When he did not commit to us, I said, ‘You know what, this recruiting is not over,’” Fuchs recalled on Tuesday. “He knew that. We just continued to talk, and I guess I kind of felt that was going to happen at some point.”
The three-star prospect decommitted from Baylor on December 6 last year — and the next day he announced he would be a Jayhawk. It was not exactly a surprise for the 6-foot-7, 295-pound KU super-fan and Lawrence native.
Last season, he saw KU reach bowl eligibility for the first time in 14 years.
He wanted in.
“I’m ready to play,” Clements told The Star in December. “I’m going to give this program everything I got. I’ve grown up in Lawrence and I was born a Jayhawk. I grew up watching some of the blowouts, and seeing the momentum of this program shift has given me a lot of pride. I want to be a part of the change within the program.”
Clements enrolled at KU a semester early and he’s made quite an impression at spring practice. He’s already playing second-string reps.
“Calvin’s been doing really nice,” Fuchs said. “Like really, really well. I mean already, kind of keeping him at left tackle. Ultimately, he’s done a really nice job — he really has. I am pretty pleased with him. Excited for him.”
He should also have opportunities to get on the field — perhaps not immediately, but in the future.
Despite the departure of star left tackle Earl Bostick Jr. to the NFL, KU’s offensive line is the deepest it has been under coach Lance Leipold.
Kansas used the transfer portal to shore up the unit, including picking up former five-star recruit Logan Brown from Wisconsin and Cal’s Spencer Lovell.
Besides Bostick, KU brings back contributing offensive linemen Dominick Puni, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Bryce Cabeldue, Michael Ford and Mike Novitsky. Kobe Baynes could also see a bigger role after returning.
Naturally, there’s plenty of competition for Clements.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Fuchs said of KU’s offensive line depth. “You can never have too many. The cream’s going to rise to the top. That’s how it’s going to work. I’ve never had this many, I guess in spring football, but we’ve found a way to utilize everybody every practice.”
Tenured KU offensive linemen work closely with newcomers to get them acclimated on the team.
Specifically, players like Novitsky and Cabeldue will work out and teach Clements and the transfers on and off the field.
Despite being a freshman, Clements has held his own.
“Calvin’s pretty well along physically,” Fuchs said. “He’s a big man himself. He moves really well. … Again, the simplicity for the offensive line, I’ve been in way more complex offenses (than) this. This is a bit more simple.
“Calvin’s a pretty mature kid too. … He doesn’t panic. He’s not out there going, ’Okay, this is college football.’ He’s out there practicing to play football.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 2:44 PM.
