/ **SPORTS** / WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL SEASON REWIND
Chris Neal/KANSAN
Sophomore linebacker Toben Opurum sacks Missouri's junior quarterback Jarrell Harrison during the second half of the Border Showdown.The Jayhawks had four total sacks against the Tigers but lost 35-7 in the season finale at Arrowhead Stadium.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Freshman quarterback Jordan Webb is congratulated by fans following Kansas' 28-25 upset victory over Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon. Following the game, fans rushed the field to celebrate with the team.
Defense
Early struggles and injuries forced defensive lineups to change nearly every week. Freshman safety Keeston Terry was injured in the week three loss to Southern Mississippi and missed the rest of the season. Terry would have started the rest of the year if healthy, and should open 2011 as a starter. Former running back Toben Opurum started the year at linebacker but was getting limited reps before being moved to defensive end midway through the
year. Opurum, a sophomore, proved to be one of the two or three best players on the depleted Kansas defense. Sophomore Bradley McDougald's move from receiver to safety seems like a smart move going forward as well. McDougald was recruited by Ohio State, among others, as a safety out of high school and should team with Terry to anchor the Kansas secondary the next two seasons.
Offense
The carousel of quarterbacks all season did no favors for a Kansas offense that averaged 17.1 points a game and finished at 113th in the country in total offense.The running game was better, but the inexperienced offensive line struggled to block for its young running backs.With six offensive linemen recruits committed for next year according to Rivals.com,the coaches are looking to improve the line.Freshman running back James Sims will likely be the starter heading into next year.Sims led the team with nine touchdowns and 742 rushing yards this season.
Mecham
Pick
Webb
Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Beshears breaks away from New Mexico State tight end Spencer Diaz during a 96-yard kick-off return for a touchdown. Beshears ranked second on the team in all purpose yards behind freshman running back James Sims with 161 yards.
Jerry Wang/ KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior wide receiver Daymond Patterson breaks away from several Georgia Tech defenders before going on to score a touchdown. The score gave Kansas a 28-17 lead and Kansas won 28-25.
Special Teams
Play of the Year
After a terrible loss to North Dakota State in week one, the Jayhawks led Georgia Tech 21-17 going into the fourth quarter the following week. On first down from the Yellow Jacket 32 yard line, Jordan Webb threw a quick pass to Daymond Patterson, who seemed to be stopped at the line of scrimmage. After bouncing off four defenders like a blue pinball, Patterson scampered into the endzone, giving Kansas the 28- 17 lead and sealing the upset.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Sophomore D.J. Beshears was stellar all year, averaging 25 yards per kick return on 36 attempts. He also led the team in all-purpose yards, getting more than 1200 for the season while being named to the Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference team, along with senior punter Alonso Rojas and senior defensive end Jake Laptad.
Freshman quarterback Jordan Webb gets sacked in the third quarter against Southern Miss. Webb was sacked four times in the 31-16 loss in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Biggest Disappointment
The offensive line
Junior Jeff Spikes' injury before the year led to changes across the board for the unit. Senior Brad Thorson was forced to right tackle, where he wasn't nearly as effective as his usual position of center or guard. Even before the injury, the offensive line was simply undermanned and inexperienced.
What to Look Forward to
James Sims:
The freshman running back exceeded expectations all year, and was a rare bright spot for the offense.
Zack Stoudt:
1
With quarterback problems hurting the offense in 2010, Kansas is
courting Stoudt, a junior college quarterback from Iowa. He threw for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, and recently told the Lawrence Journal World that "Kansas is my favorite. Those other schools are going to have to beat them out." Stoudt will have a great shot at starting if he commits to Kansas.
Stoudt will have a great shot at starting if he commits to Kansas.
8.
— Kory Carpenter