One game into the season, DeAndre Harper is already making Kansas’ offensive line conversation a lot more interesting.
The Jayhawks knew they had work to do up front after losing Kobe Baynes, Bryce Foster and Enrique Cruz Jr., and during camp, Harper kept surfacing as one of the names the staff liked most. That momentum has carried into the season opener, even though Harper had only one game under his belt last year after starting his college career at Northwest Missouri State.
Following Kansas’ 51-6 win over LIU, head coach Lance Leipold said Harper handled his role well and should keep getting chances.
“…I thought he did a very solid job. He’s going to continue to get his opportunities,” opened head coach Lance Leipold to the media following Kansas’ 51-6 win over LIU.
Leipold was even more direct when asked about Harper’s growth.
“I think I've said in here before, he's probably the most improved football player on our team, and it's really a great thing to see a guy who's worked to change his body, increase his strength, but more importantly, the time he's put in to learn the game.”
Harper was part of Kansas’ two-deep at left guard behind Amir Herring heading into last week, and he stayed in that spot on the latest depth chart as well.
Kansas’ offensive line had a productive night against the Sharks, as the Jayhawks rolled up 613 total yards, with 336 through the air and 277 on the ground. They also converted 8 of 13 third downs. Harper was part of that picture as Kansas handled business in convincing fashion.
Leipold also pointed to a conversation with his staff in which LIU was described as possibly the toughest opponent Harper had ever faced. That detail suggests Harper still has room to climb before he’s viewed as an every-week starter. But Leipold made it clear the work Harper has done behind the scenes has stood out.
“And I remember walking, leaving this building, and he's sitting in the film room by himself in the evening, watching film, and that's impressive, and, you know, to see him pay off is pretty cool.”
Kansas now turns to a much steeper test. The Jayhawks face No.
23 Missouri in the Border Showdown, a matchup that will be only the second meeting between the schools since 2011. Last season’s meeting turned into a 42-31 Missouri win.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX, and the Tigers are coming off a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
After that, Kansas still has two more power-conference games in Arizona State and Missouri before a bye week and Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders begin a nine-game stretch that will close out the season.
In Other News...
Kansas Fans Suddenly Have A Real Reason To Watch Melvin Council Jr
Melvin Council Jr. is back in the spotlight for a reason Kansas fans have not had to think about much since his playing days ended. The former Jayhawk has turned to the legal system in Monroe County, New York, after a dispute over how his junior college time should count against his NCAA eligibility, with his complaint arguing he has only logged three years of college basketball and should be granted one more.
For Kansas followers, the case matters because Councils path to campus was never ordinary. He had previously been exonerated of criminal charges that once complicated both his recruitment and his eligibility, and now the question is whether the NCAA will recognize his junior college seasons in the same way Councils camp sees them. If the challenge succeeds, it could reopen a door he and his supporters thought was closed. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Offense Is Taking On An Identity Defenses May Hate
Andy Kotelnicki has wasted little time putting his stamp on Kansas, and the early signs point to an offense built to keep defenses guessing. The approach is rooted in personnel, not a rigid scheme, with versatility, physicality and unpredictability all shaping the way the Jayhawks want to play. Lance Leipold said the installation moved quickly after Kotelnicki returned, a reminder that this has been a from-the-ground-up project rather than a few tweaks layered onto the old system.
The early returns have been hard to ignore, even before the playbook is fully in place. Kansas piled up more than 600 yards of offense in the opener, a number that suggests the ceiling here could be real if the pieces keep fitting together. The bigger question now is how quickly that identity hardens into something opponents have to spend all week trying to solve, because the version taking shape already looks like one defenses may not enjoy seeing again. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces A Missouri Test Its Defense Knows Is Serious
After Kansas opened the week of practice, defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald spent plenty of time on Missouris offensive line and the job it has done setting the tone for the Tigers. He pointed to Cayden Green, Dominick Giudice and Curtis Peagler as key pieces up front, crediting the groups work from last season and the way it has helped Missouri lean on the run game.
For Kansas, the matchup starts with figuring out how to handle a line that mixes returning starters with newer faces and still brings a physical presence. The Jayhawks front is a little bigger on average, but McDonalds comments made clear size is only part of the story as Friday approaches and the test in the trenches takes center stage. [Read more 🡒]