8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008
Kansas lost a three-year starter when Derek Fine ran out of eligibility after the 2007 season. Without the steady and prolific Fine, the Jayhawk coaching staff will have a number of tight end options to choose from this offseason. Sophomore Bradley Dedeaux started the spring game and caught one pass. Dedeaux, a stocky 249-pounder, caught one pass last season. Behind Dedeaux are three freshmen, Nick Plato, Tim Biere and Tanner Hawkinson. Plato arrived at Kansas one semester early and participated in the spring scrimmage. Plato, Hawkinson and Biere are all built to catch passes — each stands taller than 6-foot-4.
Spring starter: Bradley Dedeaux
Projected fall starter: Bradley Dedeaux
defense tackle
The Jayhawks took a big hit when AP Second-Team All-America James McClinton graduated after last season. To fill McClinton's shoes, Kansas could look to Richard Johnson Jr., a talented young player cut from a different mold than McClinton. Johnson, a redshirt freshman, is 6-2 and 279 pounds and looks as much like a defensive end as he does a tackle. He showed off strong pass rushing skills in the spring game, and seems to have the inside track on one of the starting spots. Senior Todd Haselhorst started the Spring game at the other tackle spot. Haselhorst got off to a slow start in 2007 because of injuries, but he saw plenty of action late in the season. Prospective backups who could push the first-stringers for playing time include senior Caleb Blakesley and sophomore Jamal Greene.
FOOTBALL
Spring starters: Richard Johnson, Jr., Todd Haselhorst
Projected fall starters: Richard Johnson, Jr., Jamal Greene
defense end
Kansas has an enviable problem at defensive end: The team might have too many capable players. Because of the depth at the position, the coaches could shuffle players in and out using different schemes and packages. Senior Russell Brorsen and junior Maxwell Onyegbule started the spring game. Brorsen started all of last season, while Onyegbule played in pass-defense packages. Sophomores Jeff Wheeler and Jake Laptad are long, lean, passrushing specialists who proved themselves as capable reserves last season. Senior John Larsson sat out of the spring game because of illness, but could have his foot in the door for playing time after starting all 13 games last season.
Spring starters: Russell Brorsen Maxwell Onyegbule
The early departure of Anthony Collins for the NFL Draft made a mess of Kansas' 2008 offensive line. With the AP First team All-America Collins out of the picture, the Jayhawks could turn to redshirt freshman Jeff Spikes to protect junior quarterback Todd Reesing, Spikes, who projects as a left tackle, is a near carbon copy of Collins at 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds. Senior Matt Darton, who started one game last season, looks like the favorite to take over for now-graduated Cesar Rodriguez at right tackle. Backups include the capable but undersized sophomore Ian Wolfe and junior college transfer Nathan D'Cunha.
offensive tackle
Spring starters: Matt Darton, Nathan D'Cunha
Projected fall starters: Jeff Spikes, Matt Darton
2008-2009 DEPTH CHART
Projected fall starters: Russell Brorsen, John Larson
At Monday's spring scrimmage this season's team showcased how they'll look on the field. The Kansan looks at who's gone,who's taking over and how they can help the Jayhawks have another memorable year
Position
1, height, weight, class
2, height, weight, class
QB- Quarterback
QB-Quarterback Todd Reesing, 5-11,200,junior Kerry Meier,6-3,220,junior
RB- Running back Jake Sharp, 5-10, 190,junior Angus Quigley,6-2,222,junior
TE-Tight end
Bradley Dedeaux,6-3,249,sophomore Nick Plato,6-6,228,freshman
WR1 - Wide receiver
Dezmon Briscoe, 6-3,200, sophomore Rod Harris, 6-2,200, sophomore
OFFENSE
WR2- Slot receiver Dexton Fields, 6-0, 204, senior Kerry Meier, 6-3, 220, junior
WR3- Wide receiver Marcus Herford, 6-3,208, senior Raimond Pendleton, 5-11,192, junior
LT- Left tackle
Jeff Spikes, 6-6, 314, freshman Nathan D'Cunha, 6-6, 307, junior
LG-Left guard
Adrian Mayes, 6-3, 305, senior Jeremiah Hatch, 6-3, 311, r-freshman
RG-Right guard
C-Center
Ryan Cantrell*, 6-3, 295, senior Sal Capra, 6-3, 290, sophomore
Chet Hartley, 6-4, 310, senior Carl Wilson, 6-4, 286, sophomore
RT-Right tackle
Matt Darton, 6-6,310, senior lan Wolfe, 6-5,283, sophomore
DE- Defensive end
Russell Brorsen,6-4,240,senior Jake Laptad,6-4,237,sophomore
DT1-Defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst, 6-4,290, senior Jamal Greene, 6-4,301,sophomore
John Larson*, 6-3,250, senior Maxwell Onyegbule, 6-5,251,junior
DT2- Defensive tackle Richard Johnson, 6-2, 279, r-freshman Caleb Blakesley, 6-5, 290, junior
DE-Defensive end
DEFENSE
OLB1 - Outside linebacker
K-Kicker
James Holt, 6-3, 222, senior Olaitan Oguntodu, 6-0, 220, junior
MLB- Middle linebacker
Stephen Hoge, 6-4, 216, r-freshman Jacob Branstetter, 5-10, 175, r-freshman
Joe Mortensen $ ^{*} $ ,6-1,250,senior Justin Springer,6-4,232,sophomore
OLB2- Outside linebacker
Mike Rivera, 6-3,255, senior Arist Wright, 6-0,220,junior
SS- Strong safety
Justin Thornton*, 6-1, 202, junior Phillip Strozier, 6-0, 196, sophomore
Position
1, height, weight, class
P-Punter
CB2-Cornerback
PR- Punt returner
FS-Free safety
Kerry Meier, 6-3,220,junior Kyle Davis,5-10,200,junior
Darrell Stuckey, 6-1,205,junior Tang Bacheyie, 6-1,211,senior
CB1 -Cornerback
Rell Lewis, 5-10, 198, r-freshman Ryan Murphy, 5-10, 174, r-freshman
Kendrick Harper, 5-9,190, senior Anthony Webb,6-0,185,junior
Chris Harris, 6-0,180,sophomore Isiah Barfield,6-0,175,r-freshman
KR- Kick returner
Marcus Herford, 6-3,208, senior Jake Sharp, 5-10,190,junior
*Did not participate in Spring game because of injury
—— Asher Fusco
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