College football 2016: A look at the Jayhawk Conference

1. Butler

Coach: Tim Schaffner, second season, 9-2

2015: 9-2, 6-1 (T1st)

Outlook: Finishing is a theme for the Grizzlies after losing 2 of 3 to end 2015 and share the Jayhawk title with Dodge City. The Grizzlies, fifth in last season’s final national poll and fifth in this year’s preseason poll, will unveil a new quarterback after Colton Howell transferred in the summer to Northern Iowa. Easton Bruere, Davis Isreal and Derby’s Brady Rust are candidates. Little experience returns at running back and wide receiver, plus there’s one starter back on the line. There’s more experience on defense, led by DL Hank Honas, LBs Tony Jones and Jake Seurer, and DBs Octavious Morgan and Jeremiah Fettke.

2. Dodge City

Coach: Gary Thomas, fourth season, 18-15

2015: 9-3, 6-1 (T1st)

Outlook: The Conquistadors tied a school record for wins and got a piece of the Jayhawk Conference title for the first time in 32 years. Repeating won’t be as easy, with second-team All-American running back Mark Thompson (1,298 yards) gone. along with seven other offensive players who received some level of conference recognition. Six starters return on a defense that was third nationally in defensive touchdowns (six) in 2015. The Conqs are also replacing kicker Dillon Burkhard, the team’s NJCAA first-team All-American last season, who’s now at Southeastern Louisiana.

3. Hutchinson

Coach: Rion Rhoades, 10th season, 68-34

2015: 5-6, 3-4 (5th)

Outlook: The Blue Dragons regroup after a 2015 season that included a 1-5 finish and 1-5 home record. Both quarterbacks moved on, which created a competition for the starting job in the spring and summer. Plenty of talented running backs return, though, led by leading rusher Treyvon Paulk (669 yards), Heights grad Tre King and Southeast grad Tre Griffin. A strong defense that had two shutouts returns, led by sophomore defensive linemen J.J. Holmes (6-3, 319) and Ronheem Bingham (6-2, 234). Hutch gets an early indicator of how well the retooling went with the Aug. 27 opener at Coffeyville and the home opener Sept. 3 against Iowa Western.

4. Coffeyville

Coach: Aaron Flores, fifth season, 27-15

2015: 8-3, 4-3 (T3rd)

Outlook: Single-season school record holders in passing (Riley Ferguson) and receiving (Cedrick Wilson) are gone, meaning the Red Ravens are rebuilding the offense. Sophomore Coleman Key (6-5, 220) figures to be the starting QB, with Topekan Malik Stanley (6-3, 215) and Olathe’s Cole Murphy (6-2, 205) as his top targets. Linebacker Eldridge Thompson, 2015’s top tackler, is back and Coffeyville is the new home for former Derby player Darreon Jackson at free safety. Jackson, a redshirt freshman, left Boise State after being suspended for the 2016 season following a Title IX investigation into a sexual assault case. No charges were filed.

5. Highland

Coach: Aaron Arnold, third season, 11-10

2015: 5-5, 4-3 (T3rd)

Outlook: Arnold had good success in his first two seasons, but the sustained building will come with two new coordinators. Both outgoing coordinators were lost to other Jayhawk schools. At least QB Kahlil Render (2,015 passing yards, 18 TDs) is a good offensive foundation. He set three school passing records and will have a talented receiving corps, led by Clemson transfer Demarre Kitt, Navy transfer Chris Von-Hendrix and North Carolina State transfer Elliott Davis. The Scotties face a massive rebuild on the offensive line; the top eight guys from 2015 are gone. The defense has to replace eight starters that moved on to major-college programs.

6. Garden City

Coach: Jeff Sims, second season, 3-8

2015: 3-8, 2-5 (T6th)

Outlook: The Broncbusters were sixth in offensive scoring and yards last season, places that need to improve to be more competitive in the conference. QB Jayru Campbell threw 10 touchdown passes but completed 37 percent of his passes. NJCAA All-American Jeremy Faulk, a defensive lineman now at Baylor, will be the toughest Buster to replace. LB Alex Figueroa is back with an extra year of NJCAA eligibility after a season-ending injury in the 2015 opener.

7. Independence

Coach: Jason Brown, first season

2015: 2-8, 2-5 (T6th)

Outlook: Brown said he’s treating his new job as a Day 1, Year 1 school. “The cupboard was kind of bare when we got there,” he said. A former Fort Hays State player who last season was Garden City’s offensive coordinator, he should be familiar with recruiting in Kansas. But for now, guard Evan Speicher (6-5, 290) is the only returning offensive starter. Transfer quarterbacks Jonathan Banks (Kansas State) and Alin Eduoard (Syracuse) will compete for the quarterback job. Indy averaged 19 points last season. North grad Hunter Shockley (6-5, 285) may help on the offensive line. Brown also has to rebuild a defense that gave up 44 points per game.

8. Fort Scott

Coach: Curtis Horton, sixth season, 16-29

2015: 2-8, 1-6 (8th)

Outlook: Fort Scott was near the bottom in most Jayhawk offensive categories last year and things may end up that way again, especially with leading RB Devin Taylor (15 touchdowns) gone. Sirr Green (KC Turner) figures to be the top WR targe, and Alec DeHarra (6-3, 300) and Jimmy Keutzer (6-4, 300) give the Greyhounds two linemen to build around. The defense was fourth in yards allowed (352.2) and will be led by Riverton linebacker Logan Edwards and Eudora linebacker Zhada Wray.

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "College football 2016: A look at the Jayhawk Conference."