LAWRENCE — As Kansas football continues to make its way through fall camp, coach Lance Leipold believes his team is getting better.
Moving forward, though, Leipold wants to ensure that consistency remains a key part of everyone’s efforts. He’s looking for some players to separate themselves and earn a starting role. As much as he sees progress being made holistically, just because that’s happening doesn’t mean anyone can start to ease up.
Leipold also highlighted after practice Friday, Aug. 14 how much he thinks the Jayhawks’ new model for their practice schedule has been paying off mentally and physically for the players. KU goes three days of practices in a row, then takes a day off. He detailed Saturday would be a day they don’t practice, which is an opportunity for them to rest and recover ahead of the rest of camp.
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Here are a few more takeaways from what Leipold had to say.
How are things going on defense at KU’s nickel position?
Leipold indicated things are moving in the right direction, but they just haven’t been as healthy there as they would need to truly establish things. While there are guys who are getting healthier, like redshirt sophomore safety Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman, Leipold noted redshirt senior safety Jaden Harris suffered an injury Thursday and didn’t practice Friday. Fortunately, Harris is expected when Kansas’ next cycle in fall camp begins.
Freshman cornerback Trey Brown has been someone who’s impressed here, even though he wasn’t initially recruited to play at this spot. Leipold mentioned Brown as probably as consistent and healthy as anyone competing there. As Leipold described it, the moment isn’t too big for Brown, and Brown is a guy that might have to play early in his college career.
Things are still too be determined at nickel. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Elijah Cannon is another name to keep in mind, a versatile player who missed a lot of the spring but is showing promise, as is redshirt senior safety Mason Ellis. Leipold noted they have to find someone who’ll be the healthiest and steadiest in the group.
Are there any position groups that Lance Leipold finds intriguing?
Leipold started to list a number of different positions when posed with this question.
There’s safety, because of how competitive it is, as Leipold waits to see if someone will rise to the occasion. There’s potential at tight end, and the obvious attention surrounding the starting quarterback battle. There’s also the development of versatility along the offensive line, as the Jayhawks mix and match to see how they can be at their best.
Leipold likes to determine not just the top five offensive linemen, but also the guys who’d be six-through-eight. If they have to make an adjustment on who plays where, he wants to be able to ensure that they’re able to have the best five available out there. As he consults with his staff, he’s open to mid-to-late camp adjustments if that’s what’s best for the team.
Leipold did allow that he’s always worried about staying healthy up front on defense, but pivoted to expressing how much he likes where things are at defensive end. At defensive end, he highlighted junior Leroy Harris III, redshirt junior David Santiago, redshirt freshman Garrett Martin and redshirt sophomore Dakyus Brinkley, calling Brinkley potentially their best pass rusher. Senior Alex Bray, though, has missed the past couple of days of practice.
And finally, one thing Leipold needs to continue to watch is how things will unfold at cornerback outside of junior Jalen Todd. Todd has been steady, but Leipold’s looking to guys like redshirt senior Roman Pearson, potentially redshirt senior Syeed Gibbs, redshirt junior Jahlil Hurley and redshirt sophomore Austin Alexander to fill the spot.
What has Lance Leipold seen on special teams?
Freshman punter Matthew Gill and redshirt sophomore kicker Martin Connington have both been consistent, Leipold said. Redshirt freshman kicker Dane Efird has also been able to provide some competition. While Kansas hasn’t done a ton of kickoffs yet, they’ll see who’s the most consistent with touchbacks and more.
Redshirt senior long snapper Rino Monteforte has also impressed as a leader. Redshirt sophomore Hollis Moeller, the backup long snapper, will be the starting holder. Leipold detailed it’s not every day someone holds the roles Moeller does.
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: What Lance Leipold wants to see as Kansas football fall camp continues