PAGE 10E AUGUST, 1996
KUED • SPORTS
LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
Ward bolsters 'backers
Continued from page 8
become a workmanlike type of guy. Dewey Houston ... he switched over from tight end. He was injured and never really played, but when he's healthy, he's pretty good. Then you've got Dan Dercher, a good pass-rusher, and Adrian Green, who played as a freshman, and Dion Johnson, a big young defensive lineman, and Pat Bishop, who needs to come through for us as a back-up. We have some options."
Linebacker
The Jayhawks lost key personnel inside and out,but they still appear well-stocked.
Outside, Mason must replace defensive MVP Keith Rodgers, who graduated. Senior Chris Jones returns on the other side, and sophomore Patrick Brown emerged in the spring as Rodgers' replacement.
"Pat Brown is farther along
in his career than Keith Rodgers was at this point," Mason said. "He's not better than Keith Rodgers was when he was done, but at this point he's better than Keith was at this age. And there's Chris Jones, a guy who moved from wide receiver to defensive back to defensive end. Last year, he was really playing well. We've got a lot of ability there."
Inside, KU lost oft-injured starter Dick Holt to graduation but he'll be replaced by Ronnie Ward, KU's leading tackler in '94 and a preseason award candidate last fall before he injured his shoulder and did not play.
Ward will play alongside junior Jason Thoren, KU's leading tackler in '95. They'll be backed by sophomore Steve Bratten, who started early last year before Holt took over.
"We look to be strong at inside linebacker. We're returning almost everybody, plus Ronnie Ward," Mason said. "You can put all-whatever next to his name, and he's probably the forgotten guy. He and Jason Thoren are No. 1. I've said it before, some guys make plays and some guys don't. Those two guys make plays. And, we've got good guys backing them up. We've got good numbers and good players back there."
Defensive back
Brew will be missed, but Tony Blevins, the Big Eight defensive freshman of the year in '93 who sat out last fall with a knee injury, is back.
Back from their own knee injuries are likely starters Maurice Gaddie, Charles Davis and Avery Randle. Back, too, are eight-game starter Jamie Harris and fill-in starter Jason Harris.
"We return just about everybody with the exception of Dorian Brew," Mason said. "We need to find a guy who can play a good cover corner like Dorian Brew. But we get
See Blevins, page 11
EARL RICHARDSON/JOURNAL-WORLD PHOTO
Ronnie Ward, KU's leading tackler in 1994, sat out last season with a shoulder injury, but he's back for his senior season.
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