Five things to watch in KU football spring game Saturday
The Kansas football team will hold its annual spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. There is no admission charge for the event. Here are five things to watch in the Jayhawks’ scrimmage:
1. Staying healthy
KU’s 2015 spring game was marred late in the first half last season, as starting quarterback Michael Cummings — in a non-contact jersey — was hit below the knee by safety Michael Glatczak. Cummings was later diagnosed with a torn left ACL, which required surgery and effectively ended his KU career. If nothing else, KU’s coaches should consider Saturday a success if they’re able to avoid another bout of bad luck at Memorial Stadium.
2. New offense?
Before spring practices, KU coach David Beaty made the surprise announcement that he would be taking over offensive play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Rob Likens. Beaty said the reason for the move was to get back to a more true Air Raid while giving his quarterbacks more freedom to make decisions at the line of scrimmage. Offensive terminology hasn’t changed much, though, so be sure to look for potential differences in the offense. Beaty, who had success as an assistant at Texas A&M when the Aggies ran an ultra-fast-paced offense, could be looking to change KU’s tempo to the same type of race-track style.
In addition, pay attention to the quarterback play. Incumbent Ryan Willis has a right wrist injury and likely will be held out, and that should give senior Montell Cozart and redshirt freshman Carter Stanley more snaps to show what they can do in a game-like scenario.
3. Is the burst back?
KU running back Ke’aun Kinner played in all 12 games a season ago, but all of that wasn’t at 100 percent. He played through the season with a torn labrum, which sometimes resulted in his shoulder popping out of socket during pass-block assignments. In addition, Kinner sustained a deep thigh contusion against Iowa State on Oct. 3 that ran from below his hip to a couple inches above his knee. He said he nearly cried one time while receiving a massage on the area last season.
“You could quit — fold and quit — but I didn’t want to quit on my team,” Kinner said. “That’s the type of stuff I have to play through.”
Though Kinner’s carries were limited late in the season, he started the year with a pair of 110-plus-yard rushing games. After getting surgery on his shoulder and resting his leg, Kinner is hoping to see his early-season speed return.
“I feel like a new man. I’m all healed up,” Kinner said. “I’m just ready to go.”
4. A new playmaker?
KU receivers coach Jason Phillips says Texas A&M transfer LaQuvionte Gonzalez is “definitely a talent you have to utilize.” The 5-foot-10 speedster, who caught passes from Johnny Manziel his freshman year with the Aggies, should provide KU with a home-run threat it lacked a season ago. Look for KU to get creative in the ways it gets him the ball, whether it’s with short passes, end-arounds or in the return game.
5. Depth at DB
Cornerbacks coach Kenny Perry mostly played a three-man rotation last season, and he’s promised that’s not going to happen again. “Our numbers has been the thing that I’m excited about if it continues,” Perry said. “This conference is so tough. You’ve got to have more than the one or two guys.” With Big 12 teams like Baylor constantly subbing their receivers out, developing some secondary depth will be vital for KU if it wants to stay close in conference games. Some guys to watch: Derrick Neal has been a pleasant surprise after the team moved him from receiver midway through last season, while Marnez Ogletree, Stephan Robinson and Shola Ayinde are battling for backup roles.
This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Five things to watch in KU football spring game Saturday."