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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Weis showing faith in Jayhawk running backs
Senior wide receiver Tony Pierson works out at an Aug. 11 Kansas football practice. Due to injuries, converted receiver Tony Pierson will see time in the backfield.
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
AARON GROENE/KANSAN
Despite this being the worst stretch of four years in the program's history, the running back position has always been a consistent bright spot. Running back James Sims, who graduated in May 2014, racked up 3,592 yards to rank him Kansas' third all-time rusher. He finished second in both carries (798) and touchdowns (34).
But for the first time since 2009, James Sims won't be behind the quarterback ready to take the handoff.
That job was supposed to belong to seniors Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox. That was until both running backs suffered season-ending injuries in fall camp.
"My first thought is for those two kids. They are seniors and they have those injuries," offensive coordinator John Reagan said.
What was once touted as the deepest position on the team now stands as the team's biggest question mark. Rather than having a duo of experienced running backs ready to take the helm, Kansas will be trotting out a backfield that combined has zero carries in a Kansas uniform.
Coach Charlie Weis still plans to use a mixture of two running backs in his new spread offense ran by Reagan. The two running backs he plans to use will be junior college transfer DeAndre Mann and freshman Corey Avery, who will both be making their Division I debats this Saturday.
Due to injuries to Bourbon and Cox, former-running back and converted receiver Tony Pierson will see time in the backfield, where he hasn't
played since he was injured against Texas Tech on Oct. 5, 2013.
Even though Pierson doesn't practice in the backfield as much as he used to, he rushed for 1,319 yards in his first three seasons for the lavhawks.
Despite the lack of experience in what has arguably been the strongest position for Kansas football in his tenure, Weis remains optimistic.
"I would be surprised if they don't play well," Weis said.
Weis plans to use both running backs equally and in different situations.
"You are going to see a whole bunch of both of them," Weis said. "It's really not important to me which guy is out on the field. We feel confident in both of them."
Mann, a 5-foot-9,198-pound back from Hartnell College, was rated as the fifth best junior college running back in the nation by ESPN.com. Because of experience at the collegiate level, he is expected to face the high demands of
the Big 12.
"DeAndre is probably the better football player," Weis said. "He is ready for primetime. He is built with that body to take a Big 12 pounding."
Mann's partner-in-crime. Avery is a freshman running back out of Carter High School in Dallas. Avery was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN.com and chose Kansas over offers from Nebraska, Texas and Texas Tech. Despite only being here for a short amount of time, Weis has
oeen impressed with Avery's ability to make plays.
"Corey is actually the better athlete, and his upside is through the roof," Weis said. "He has the ability to make people miss."
To add some much-needed depth at an inexperienced position, Weis moved freshman safety Joe Dineen Jr. to running back. Despite being relatively new to the position, the Free State alumnus has impressed the coaching staff these past two weeks and could see some
playing time Saturday.
"I think Joe Dineen is ready to play in the game," Weis said. "He is clearly the next guy in. Since we have moved him from defense to offense, he has just gotten better," Weis said.
Neither of these guys will step in and make fans forget about James Sims. But with the combination of these three young men, the running back remains one of the more intriguing positions heading into the 2014 season.
Edited by Lyndsey Havens
Cardinals beat Pirates, open 2 1/2-game lead
Yadier Molina walked with two outs in the ninth on a 3-2 pitch from Mark Melancon (2-4), who had entered an inning earlier. Molina advanced to second on John Jay's single and scored on the hit by Bourjos, easily beating the throw home from center fielder Andrew McCutchen.
ST. LOUIS — Peter Bourjos singled home the winning run in the ninth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 Wednesday to stretch their winning streak to five.
St. Louis moved into sole possession of the NL Central lead for the first time Monday and extended it to 2 1/2 games with a three-game sweep that dropped the Pirates five games back. Pittsburgh has lost 10 of its last 12 road games, dropping to a major league-worst 17-29 away from home in day games.
Trevor Rosenthal (2-6) pitched a one-hit ninth. Pinch-hitter Gregory Polanco drew an 11-pitch walk leading off the eighth against Carlos Martinez, who retired the next three batters.
nings.
St. Louis starter Shelby Miller allowed three hits and three walks in seven innings. The Pirates' Edinson Volquez gave up three hits and two walks in 6 1-3 inthe performance will be followed by a talkback with the cast about the play and their study-abroad experience in Greece.
Plate home umpire Ron Kulpa issued a warning to both benches in the fifth inning after Miller threw a high fastball that sailed behind McCutchen. In the fourth, Volquez had hit Matt Holiday and Matt Adams back to back.
Pittsburgh catcher Martin threw out Jay attempting to steal third in the eighth. Martin has throw out runners attempting to steal in four straight games and leads the NL with 25 runners caught stealing — four short of his league-high total last year.
Associated Press
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Kansas football newcomers aim to strengthen program
DAN HARMSEN
Freshman Corey Avery, a flat-topped Texan with the moniker "Superman" and a smile from ear-to-ear, is listed as the number one ball carrier on the Kansas depth chart heading into the 2014 season.
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Avery, the 2014 graduate from illustrious Carter High School in Dallas, had no shortage of offers to play Division I football upon graduation. At least 13 schools extended scholarships to the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder, according to rivals.com, including Baylor, LSU, Nebraska, Texas and Ohio State — the team Avery made his initial verbal commitment to.
Determined to show that he is not the running back solely because of injuries to Taylor Cox and Brandon Bourbon, Avery says he deserves the position because of skill.
Avery signed with Kansas on Feb. 3.
— but I'm a speedy guy," Avery said.
"I'm a quick running back, explosive — not overpowering
Coach Charlie Weis, who has never been hesitant to admire a player, agrees.
"Based on perspective and perception of what I've seen, I've been very excited about Corey," Weis said. "He makes people miss, and that excites me."
But it's another new face that will be competing with Avery for snaps.
"De'Andre [Mann]
challenging for number one, as well," Weis said. "There's quite the competition. DeAndre is a natural runner, and he also has a second gear that's good to see on the field sometimes with a guy who's 5-foot-9, 205 [pounds]. You see that short, stocky guy, and you say, 'He's not going to be able to run like that', but he can."
Mann, a Miami native, turned down an opportunity to play for the Miami Hurricanes to join the Jayhawks. The junior rushed for 1,706 yards at Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif., last year and was selected Regional Offensive Player of the Year, and a first team Alla couple other guys, will be pushing." Weis said. "Kyron is a sideline-to-sideline player, and he's got leadership that's a little bit suppressed because he's a freshman, but he's one of those guys that you can see down the line potentially being in that role."
"I'm trying to adjust from high school to college football and the speed of the game."
KYRON WATSON
Freshman linebacker
American.
"I believe in my talent, and I'm a hard worker too," Mann said. "I'm just pretty confident in myself."
Freshman linebacker Kyron Watson and transfer Anthony "Fish" Smithson appear to be the candidates that will most likely get early playing time on the defensive side of the ball.
"Kyron, who's learning behind and sitting there behind Ben [Heeney] and
Kansas will need its fresh faces to perform well if the team wants to turn around its losing reputation. It's safe to say that these four newcomers appear confident and ready for football.
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"I just felt like it was home, and it fit more my playing style, the Big 12," said Smithson. "If you're a DB and you don't like the Big 12 Conference, then you probably don't like football that much. I love the way they throw the ball around, and I love competition."
"Lately I've just been trying to take every snap I can, every rep I can, and just learn things I have to do to be a better player," Watson said. "I'm trying to adjust from high school to college football and the speed of the game."
Edited by Logan Schlossberg
Fish Smithson, the juniorcollege transfer, is striving for playing time in a crowded secondary. He embraces the challenges a loaded Kansas defensive backfield and the Big 12 conference present.
Rivals.com ranked Watson No. 22 for best inside linebacker in the country.
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