2008 KANSAS JAYHAWKS FOOTBALL
Big shoes to fill Loss of All-American Talib and others will provide tough challenge for Jayhawks
BY B.J. RAINS
rains@kansan.com
Wide recevier Marcus Henry is one of several offensive performers missing from last year's team. Henry led the team in receptions and receiving yards and was a draft pick of the New York Jets. He's one of the biggest absences from the offense, along with lineman Anthony Collins. Aqib Talib and James McClinton are gone from the defense.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
It would be tough for any team to repeat a season in which it went 12-1, won the Orange Bowl and enjoyed the best season in school history.
But throw in the loss of eight key players, including first team All-American's Aqib Talib and Anthony Collins, and the task becomes all but impossible for coach Mark Mangino and the Kansas Javhawks.
But as the Jayhawks prepare to open the season against Florida International on Saturday, that's exactly the task that they must somehow overcome.
"It's going to be tough," said linebacker Mike Rivera. "Those guys were great players. There's going to have to be some guys step up and fill those roles."
In addition to Talib and Collins, second-team All-American defensive tackle James McClinton is gone, as is the team's leading rusher in Brandon McAnderson and receiver in Marcus Henry. Tight end Derek Fine is now a member of the Buffalo Bills and kicker Scott Webb and punter Kyle Tucker are both missing as well.
Nobody's absence, however, will be more visible than Talib's, whose flashy play and swagger on both sides of the ball helped put Kansas on the national scene.
"When you walked into the locker room and you saw him, he was the star," cornerback Chris Harris said of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first round draft pick. "It's weird not seeing him, but it's time for new stars. It's been a lot quieter without him around, that's for sure. A lot less jokes."
The Jayhawks seem to be better prepared to fill the holes on defense, with only Talib and McClinton not returning from a squad that finished No.12 nationally in total defense. All three linebackers - Joe Mortenson, James Holt, and Rivera - are back and will anchor what should be one of the nation's best defenses again in 2008.
"The impact they left on our defense was amazing, just the standard that they showed that needs to be reached," safety Darrell Stucky said of Talib and McClinton. "It's one of those things where we will be better because of them, but I also think we can be better even though they left."
The challenge will be tougher on offense, where the Jayhawks must replace five starters including both tackles, a tight end, a running back and a wide receiver. Over 2,000 yards of offense, including over 1,000 receiving yards from Henry and 1,000 rushing yards from McAnderson, must come from other players this fall.
"We have a lot of guys (returning) who played last year and made a lot of big plays for us," quarterback Todd Reesing said. "Just because we lost a tight end and a receiver to the NFL, which were two huge players for us, we still have a lot of guys who can fill those voids. They might not be as good at certain things as those guys were but they are going to bring, their own potential and capabilities to the table."
And with the absence of skilled playmakers such as Henry and McAnderson, Reesing knows that he can't put too much pressure on himself and must instead trust the newcomers to be able to fill the voids that they left.
"That's one thing that I have to try not to do," Reesing said. "I can't take on more of a role than I have to. I can't put more pressure on myself or allow other people to put more pressure on me. I can't do too much, just stay within the offense and do what I can. I'll rely on the other 10 guys out there to make plays.
"We have a lot of good guys and it will be a lot of fun. We will see what happens."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Derek Fine catches one of his 46 passes from last season. This one came against Texas A&M.Fine, a tight end, finished the year with 394 yards and four touchdowns. He now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.kansan.com
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