Lance Leipold optimistic heading into 2022
As Head Coach Lance Leipold enters his second season at the helm in Lawrence, the cupboard is not as bare as it was 15 months ago when he arrived. As is typically the case when the previous coach was fired off-cycle, Leipold’s ability to alter the roster was limited during the 2021 season. After a full off-season in charge, Lance Leipold is optimistic heading into 2022.
Kansas has added 14 portal transfers as they worked through their scholarship deficit. Leipold brought in some transfers from his old school, Buffalo, to jump-start his overhaul of the culture change in Lawrence. The 2022 Jayhawk team will have a few returning stars, but a significant number of new faces from the transfer portal.
Kansas largely stayed out of the early commit window, preferring to let recruits play out their high school seasons in 2022 before offering and filling out their class. Most expect the final 2023 class at Kansas will be smaller than average and loaded with high school players who made a significant jump in their senior seasons. This approach is probably a deliberate plan as Kansas rebuilds legitimacy on the recruiting trail. With only 20 players on the roster from Kansas or Missouri, the Jayhawks have not been players in local recruiting for some time.
Leipold inherited one of the most mismanaged rosters in Power 5 football, and to his credit, has not blamed anyone or complained publicly. He has set about to fix the problems through culture change and targeted transfer portal recruiting.
Players to watch
Returning Senior Safety Kenny Logan Jr became the first Jayhawk named to the all-Big 12 preseason team since Pooka Williams in 2020. Logan, a senior from St Augustine, FL (Menedez HS), led the Big 12 in tackles last season with 113, added seven pass break ups, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one interception. Logan, a 6′, 210 lb safety, has been a tackling machine during his time in Lawrence, averaging almost 6 tackles per game over his career.
Along with Logan, Left Tackle Earl Bostick returns for his super-senior year. At 6’6″ and 315 lbs, the converted Tight End has been one of the steady leaders the young Jayhawk team relies on. Said quarterback Jalon Daniels at Big12 Media Days:
“I believe Earl came back because he has faith in our program. He wants to be somebody who is able to say they helped the peak of this turnaround. He has faith in Kansas. He has faith in being in Lawrence. He loves being in Lawrence. He loves our team. He loves the people that are there.”
Bostick, a three-time All-Academic Big12 performer has the intelligence, work ethic, size, and athleticism to draw NFL interest.
Devin Neal, a Lawrence native (Lawrence HS), returns after an explosive freshman campaign that resulted in 707 yds rushing and 9 total TDs. Jayhawk fans will remember his performance in the upset of Texas when he scored 4 TDs and had a combined 169 yds of offense. Neal, a 5’11” 214 lb, running back, also plays outfield for the Jayhawk baseball team.
Kansas did not sign a QB in the transfer portal, which is a good indicator of the programs faith in the two returning quarterbacks, Jason Bean and Jalon Daniels. Bean started the first 7 games last year before being injured. Daniels led the team after Bean went down, going 1-3 (with the huge win over Texas), with a 70% completion rate and 7/3 TD/INT rate.
Portal Signees
After a 2-10 season last year (1-9 in Big12 play), Kansas was active in the transfer portal. 14 new players from other programs joined the Jayhawks. LB Eriq Gilyard (UCF), LB Craig Young (Ohio State), and TE Tevita Noa from Snow JC in Utah should contribute immediately.
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