LAWRENCE - Kansas football is heading into its trip to London with a few injury questions still hanging over the roster, and the biggest one involves quarterback Cole Ballard.
Ballard, a redshirt junior, isn’t the starter for KU - that job belongs to redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall - but his availability still matters. He gives the Jayhawks another experienced option at quarterback, and his injury in the loss to now-No. 22 Missouri took a bite out of the team’s depth at the position.
On Monday, Sept. 14, head coach Lance Leipold didn’t have a firm answer on Ballard’s status ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Arizona State.
“He didn’t practice today, so that’s about all I can give you at this time of where that’s at, and where it’s kind of going is - hopefully he’ll be available,” Leipold said about Ballard. “But, I can’t say that at this time.”
Ballard isn’t the only Jayhawk whose status bears watching. Redshirt senior linebacker Bam Crouch, redshirt sophomore tight end Carson Bruhn and redshirt senior wide receiver Cam Pickett are also in the mix as Kansas prepares for the Sun Devils.
Crouch, who was injured in the season opener against LIU, did not play against Missouri. Leipold said he took part in some practice on Monday, but his outlook for Saturday is still uncertain.
Bruhn’s situation is also unresolved after he left the Missouri game. Leipold said he wasn’t sure what the tight end’s status would be.
Pickett has been in and out of practice, and Leipold said it’s clear he wants to be available for Kansas.
There may be options even if Ballard can’t go. KU associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki said the Jayhawks could still use multiple quarterbacks, and redshirt junior Chase Jenkins is a name that could get into the game against Arizona State.
Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald sounded optimistic about Crouch’s return. He said he thinks Crouch will be back for this game and is looking forward to it, adding that Crouch got off to a strong start in the opener and would give Kansas a boost in depth at linebacker.
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