4B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2006
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
tion, injuries and suspension, several starting spots for Saturday's season opener against Northwestern State are up for grabs.
With senior safety Jerome Kemp questionable for Saturday's game against Northwestern State, redshirt-freshman safety Darrell Stuckey out with an undisclosed injury and sophomore cornerback Agib Talib reportedly suspended for at least the first game, Mangino anticipates using several young players in the secondary in the interim.
Among players in the battle for those starting spots are freshmen Olaitan Oguntodu and Anthony Webb. Mangino said he has been impressed with what he has seen from Webb in practice and that he would see some time against the Demons.
"He has instincts that you need out of a corner that he brings as a true freshman that are unusual for a true freshman," Mangino said.
Young players will also see significant minutes at wide receiver. Two possible starters — sophomores Dexton Fields and Marcus Herford — made a combined eight catches last season.
Mangino said it would be difficult to identify any set starters at wide receiver because the offense used a different number of receivers for various plays. Based on the number of repetitions with Meier and the first-team offense, Mangino said that seniors Brian Murain and Dominic Roux, along with Fields and Herford, would be among the favorites for starting positions.
Throughout the preseason Mangino has called Fields the most improved player in the program. He credits Fields' improvement to hard work during the offseason and fall practices.
"He's really getting a good feel for what he sees in front of him, how to find the open area," Mangino said. "He understands the various coverages and how people are playing him, much more now than he did
in the past."
As a redshirt freshman last season, Fields made only one catch, a touchdown against Iowa State that sent the game into overtime. Following last season, Fields said he went to work improving his route running and play knowledge. He said competing for a starting spot with several other receivers has made him work harder in practice to get the coaches' attention.
"Every day, with talented receivers like Marcus Herford, Dominic and Marcus Henry, you have to bring your A game to every practice." Fields said. "You can't take plays off, because they're out there working hard too."
FOOTBALL NOTES Special teams set:
Special teams set:
Based on the latest depth chart, Mangino announced preliminary punt and kickoff returners. Herford and freshman Jake Sharp will split duties returning kickoffs. Murph, fellow senior Jonathan Lamb and sophomore Aqib Talib will share punt returns duties.
Allen available:
Despite previous reports, Mangino announced that senior defensive end Rodney Allen will be available to play in Saturday's game. It had previously been reported by the Lawrence Journal-World that Allen would miss the Northwestern State game because of a knee injury. Mangino issued a "no comment" when asked whether Talib would play against Northwestern State.
Scholarships given:
Mangino announced that former walk-ons, sophomore defensive end John Larson and junior wide receiver Jeff Foster, have both received scholarships. Since the 2002 season, 14 walk-on players have received scholarships from Mangino.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.
— Edited by Mindy Ricketts
PROFILE
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Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Jamie Mathewson, senior libero, Jumps in excitement after the volleyball team scores a point against UMKC during the home opener Tuesday night. The team shut out their opponents 3-0.
Senior debuts against Kangaroos
BY JEFF DETERS
Brittany Williams,
freshman middle
blocker, jumps to block
Sarah Johnson, UMKC
middle hitter, in Tuesday
evening's third match. The
Jayhawks swept the match.
3-0
Linsey Morningstar made her home debut as a Jayhawk, although hers was a few years in the making.
Vanessa Pearson/KANSAN
After a standout career at Free State High School, Morningstar signed with Temple and played her first three seasons there. Morningstar, however, chose to transfer to Kansas for her senior season. Morningstar played sparingly in the game, but enjoyed the atmosphere of it.
"It was great. The band was playing, the atmosphere, the crowd. I was really excited to play," said Morningstar, setter/defensive specialist and Lawrence native.
Kansas won easily, sweeping the contest 3-0 by scores of 30-21, 30-18, 30-16.
she never thought about until her last season at Temple.
"I just thought I needed something new," Morningstar said. "I thought I needed to come home."
She did not play in the first match, but she entered the game late in the second. Morningstar soon drilled a jump serve, and Kansas was in position for match-point. Helping Kansas win was something Morningstar said
And her coaches and teammates have welcomed her back with open arms, which has helped make her adjustment very smooth.
"I played with these girls on club teams before," Morningstar said. "And Coach Bechard is a family friend."
Ironically, Morningstar will be seeing friends from her previous school when the Jayhawks travel to Temple for this weekend's Temple Classic. The Jayhawks will play Temple, Maine and Rutgers. Morningstar said she was looking forward to playing her former team.
"I didn't leave on bad terms there," Morningstar said. "I'm really excited to see all the players and my friends un there."
Morningstar also thought she could be a good asset against Temple.
Welcome Home
to
Alpha Gamma Delta
"Playing with them, I know how that team is. I know their tendencies. So I think we're gonna have an advantage." Morningstar said. "It should be a fun weekend."
Jess Alexander
Rachel Allen
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Kansan sportswriter Jeff Deters can be contacted at jdeters@kansan.com.
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SEPTEMBER SPECIAL:
Edited by Brett Bolton
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