Bam Crouch has given Kansas something every defense wants: a linebacker who shows up all over the field and keeps doing it week after week.
The redshirt senior has now stacked up at least 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in three straight games, a stretch that has made him one of the most productive pieces on the Jayhawks’ defense. That run continued Saturday in Kansas’ 25-24 win over Baylor at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, where Crouch finished with 10 tackles, nine of them solo, along with two tackles for loss and one sack.
Those numbers were a big part of how Kansas pulled out the dramatic victory, ending its long losing streak against the Bears and picking up its first Big 12 win of the season. The Jayhawks moved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play, and Crouch was at the center of the defensive effort that helped make it happen.
His stat line against Baylor also showed how disruptive he was behind the line. The official box score credited him with seven yards lost on his two tackles for loss and six yards lost on his sack. Just as important, those nine solo tackles reflected how often he finished the play himself.
Crouch came to Kansas after three seasons at Boston College, and that background has mattered. According to the official Kansas Athletics roster and player biography, he spent the previous three years with the Eagles before arriving in Lawrence, where his experience has quickly become useful for a defense leaning on veteran presence in conference play.
The official team bio says Crouch had 77 tackles during the 2024 season at Boston College, and that production has carried over into his role with the Jayhawks. Beyond the numbers, his value has come from reading plays, slipping blocks and closing on ball carriers before they can turn a gain into something bigger. Against Baylor, he repeatedly got into the backfield and helped throw off the Bears’ offensive timing.
With TCU up next, Crouch is the kind of player Kansas will keep counting on. His ability to rack up tackles and create negative plays has turned him into a key figure as the Jayhawks push through the rest of the Big 12 schedule.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found A Backcourt Answer Against Duke
An exhibition game against Duke gave Kansas an early glimpse at a backcourt option that could matter once the games count. Freshman wing Trent Perry logged 14 minutes and did a little of everything, finishing with four points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a plus-11 plus-minus while stepping into a larger role than expected.
His run came in part because Kohl Rosario was sidelined by injury and Tre White got into foul trouble, but Perry made the most of the opening. Bill Self and Stokes both singled him out for the energy and defense he brought, a encouraging sign for a roster still sorting out who can steady things on the perimeter when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Win Helped Trigger A Big 12 Coaching Shakeup
Baylors decision to move on from Dave Aranda came only days after the Bears came up short against Kansas, a loss that added another layer to an already uneven season in Waco. Arandas tenure had started with real high points, including a Big 12 title and a Sugar Bowl win in 2021, but the program never found steady footing for long.
For Kansas, the result carried an indirect ripple effect beyond the standings. Baylor finished under Aranda with several losing seasons and an even 40-40 mark overall, and the school turned to defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as interim head coach as it sorted out its next step. It was the kind of conference fallout that reminds everyone how much one tight game can reverberate well beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Have A Concern Fans Cant Ignore Before The Season
Kansas wrapped up its exhibition slate with a pair of losses to Louisville and Duke, a reminder that the preseason can still expose more questions than answers. There were encouraging signs along the way, especially from freshman Tyran Stokes and newcomer Christian Reeves, but the Jayhawks also spent stretches chasing the game on the defensive end and on the glass.
For a program that expects to look sharp before the real games begin, the concern is easy to spot. Kansas gave up too many points in both exhibitions and did not control the rebounding battle, two issues that can become a problem quickly once the schedule tightens and the results start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]