LAWRENCE — As Jonathan Wallace reflected recently on how the Jayhawks running backs were performing during fall camp, he expressed how proud he was for their level of preparation.
Wallace, Kansas football’s assistant head coach/running backs coach, isn’t going to pity them for the workload they have. Everyone there knows what associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki loves to do on offense, and it’s their job to execute that vision. But with all that’s expected of them, they’ve been putting in the work, and that matters to Wallace.
Things aren’t perfect, such as a turnover in the red zone the day Wallace spoke to the media that he wasn’t happy about, but the holistically the effort is there. Whether it’s the walkthroughs, film they go through together or the quizzes they take that help reinforce everything they’re learning, they’re not sitting idly by. There’s a standard, and excellence is both expected and something that will be demanded.
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Here are some more takeaways from what Wallace had to say.
How has Jonathan Wallace worked through not always having a full complement of running backs?
In the running backs room, redshirt freshman Justin Thurman is out for the season due to injury and freshman Kory Amachree hasn’t been able to go fully throughout fall camp. Both are examples of how the position group hasn’t been at full strength with the season approaching.
Wallace said he’s proud of how the group has handled the injury adversity. He referenced individuals still taking advantage of walkthroughs and more so they don’t miss out on critical pieces of their development. He’s liked seeing which guys step up with the extra reps they’ve received, too.
Redshirt sophomore Jalen Dupree has impressed this fall after missing time in the spring due to injury, with Wallace praising him for being a decisive runner and more. Dupree is someone who’ll receive more reps as they progress through camp. There is a degree to which Dupree is playing catch-up, but the Colorado State transfer has some previous college experience he can draw upon.
What does Jonathan Wallace think about Yasin Willis’ skillset?
Junior Yasin Willis joined KU as a transfer from Syracuse and is one of the bigger running backs Wallace has coached. Still, though, Willis can both change direction and be a lot to handle when he gets downhill. And he’s not just impressed in pass protection, but also in how he’s made the effort to improve as a pass-catcher — including getting in work with Kotelnicki during practice periods where Willis isn’t involved.
When it comes to Willis’ pass-catching ability, the effort to develop him there comes from a larger philosophy Wallace has for the group. Wallace looks at what guys are doing in the NFL at the position and wants to produce every-down running backs. As the coaching staff evaluates which players to add to the roster, it doesn’t just evaluate traits it likes in a player, it also looks at what it can improve upon.
What does Jonathan Wallace think about the duo of Dylan Edwards, Yasin Willis?
Willis and Dylan Edwards, a redshirt junior running back and Kansas State transfer, have skillsets that can complement each other well. When it comes to Wallace talking about the possibility of putting Edwards and another running back on the field at the same time, it would be intriguing to see how they could stress a defense together. And while they won’t be the only two players at the position KU uses, signs point toward them being the leading duo.
Wallace also highlighted the bond Edwards and Willis have. They hold each other accountable and challenge each other, which Wallace appreciates. Wallace said it's fun to see as a coach to watch players understand what it takes to be elite.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Analyzing Kansas football’s running backs room during fall camp