| The Kansas Jayhawks were one of the most | | | | is going to be nearly impossible. Meier was a |
| disappointing teams of the 2009 college football | | | | converted quarterback that led the team in |
| season after many preseason publications ranked | | | | catches with an eye popping 102. Briscoe was the |
| them at the top of the Big 12 North. A change | | | | big play threat who collected over 1300 yards and |
| was needed after a 5-7 season included headlines | | | | had nine touchdown receptions. Johnathan Wilson |
| of former head coach Mark Mangino physically and | | | | is the most experienced of the group coming |
| verbally abusing players. Turner Gill was brought in | | | | back with 35 catches a year ago. I expect Gill to |
| to restore a program that had seemingly turned | | | | run the ball much more often this season as KU |
| the corner in past years. The job will not be an | | | | has a pretty good offensive line and a |
| easy one, but Gill built Buffalo into one of the | | | | quarterback/running back combo that can hurt |
| stronger mid-major programs and knows what it | | | | defenses on the ground. |
| takes to produce a winner. KU is +500 to win the | | | | Defensively, this group was nearly non existent in |
| Big 12 North. View the full conference breakdown | | | | the final three games last season which resulted in |
| in our 2010 Big 12 college football predictions | | | | the Jayhawks losing their final seven games. Six |
| article. | | | | starters return from last year's squad and new |
| The majority of the offensive production from a | | | | defensive coordinator Carl Torbush will implement |
| year ago has moved on with their football | | | | and completely different scheme that players will |
| careers. Todd Reesing had an incredible career at | | | | have to adjust to. The strongest position on this |
| KU behind center, holding 30 school records | | | | side of the ball is undoubtedly linebacker. |
| before his senior season started. Things didn't | | | | Freshman All-American Huldon Tharp was a |
| exactly go according to plan in 09' even though | | | | pleasant surprise racking up 59 tackles in just |
| his numbers were very good (3600 yards and 22 | | | | seven games. Drew Dudley is the top tackler |
| touchdowns). Kale Pick is the likely candidate to | | | | from a season ago as the senior collected 88 |
| take over for Reesing. The sophomore signal | | | | stops and three sacks. Corner Chris Harris |
| caller was used mainly in running situations during | | | | anchors a secondary that gave up 245 yards |
| the seven games he appeared in. His 55 yard run | | | | passing/game. His 84 tackles were third on the |
| was the longest of the season for the Jayhawks. | | | | team, which is a sign that offenses are breaking |
| Alan Webb will challenge Pick in camp for the | | | | through the front seven easily. DE Jake Laptad |
| starting position. Both have upside and I wouldn't | | | | provides the rush upfront, totaling a team high 6.5 |
| be surprised to see either start Sept 4th against | | | | sacks. He will be relied upon as the main pass |
| North Dakota State. RB Toben Opurum was | | | | rusher once again in 2010. The past two seasons, |
| thrust into the spotlight as a true freshman due | | | | KU has come close to allowing almost 400 yards |
| to an injury suffered by Jake Sharp. He managed | | | | game in the air it out Big 12. That number will |
| to rush for 554 yards and nine touchdowns, but | | | | have to drastically reduce if a winning season is in |
| missed most of the final two games with injuries. | | | | store for the Jayhawks. |
| Replacing WRs Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier | | | | |
