Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald isn’t pretending the Jayhawks’ secondary had a clean outing in the Border Showdown. But he also isn’t buying the idea that one rough night tells the whole story.
After Kansas’ 38-21 loss to Ole Miss, McDonald pointed to a mix of things: Austin Simmons was dialed in, yes, but the Jayhawks also left too many downfield chances on the table. Simmons finished with 292 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly hitting boundary throws that only his receivers could haul in. At the same time, Kansas gave him openings it could have closed off.
That’s where McDonald wants the focus to land this week as Kansas gets ready for Arizona State in the Union Jack Classic, the first FBS game to be played inside Wembley Stadium. For him, the answer starts with confidence.
“I think the biggest thing is showing them on tape the times that they are doing a good job. You know, and that they are having success, I think, most corners and having coached corners for 20-something years, everybody's afraid to get beat,” opened defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald in his time with the media prior to Kansas’ trip overseas to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Union Jack Classic, the first FBS game to be played inside the historic Wembley Stadium.
“You know, and it happens. But if you get up there and get in somebody's face, chances are, you're gonna stop the guy.”
The online chatter after the loss centered on the same thing McDonald is trying to correct: whether Kansas’ corners were too aggressive on receivers or too cautious, hanging back and allowing too much cushion. McDonald said he’s trying to reinforce the positive clips, including one rep from Austin Alexander that he called “textbook” and added to his teach tape.
“And you got to have confidence in doing that. And I think our guys will continue to grow…There was a time where a Double-A [Austin Alexander] got up on a guy, and, man, he had a textbook [play].
I put it in my teach tape. You know, and so those type of things, I just brought them in and showed them and said, ‘This is you, big dog.
And you just gotta keep doing some more of that. You'll be all right.
You'll be fine.’ And we'll start to make plays.
So I got all the confidence…”
Arizona State brings a serious test on the outside. Harris Reed has been one of the country’s most productive receivers, putting up 326 yards on 15 catches with four touchdowns. That works out to 163 yards per game, and he’s done it after three seasons at Boston College before settling into Kenny Dillingham’s offense.
The quarterback feeding him is Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley, who has already put up big numbers in a new setting. Last season with the Wildcats, the junior threw for 2,160 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 65.8% of his passes. This year, he’s opened with eight touchdown passes against two interceptions and 641 yards, averaging 10.5 yards per attempt.
Boley came off a tough one last week against Texas A&M, finishing with 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 48-20 loss to Mike Elko’s Aggies.
In Other News...
Arizona State Brings A Big 12 Problem Kansas Can't Ignore
The Jayhawks head to Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday for a matchup with Arizona State in the inaugural Union Jack Classic, a historic setting for the first college football game ever played at the venue. For Kansas, it is more than a novelty trip. It is an early test against a Sun Devils team that has already shown enough through two games to look like a real Big 12 issue, with head coach Kenny Dillingham bringing an aggressive edge and a defense up front that can make life difficult.
Arizona State also has enough on the perimeter to stress a Kansas defense that will have to stay sharp from the opening series. The Sun Devils have playmakers in the passing game and a quarterback in Cutter Boley who has already put together a productive start, which means this is not the kind of overseas showcase where the Jayhawks can afford a slow beginning. If Kansas wants to leave London with momentum instead of questions, it will have to deal with a team that looks built to keep this one uncomfortable deep into Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Wanted After Missouri
Kansas came out of the Missouri loss with more than a sour taste, as the coaching staff spent part of the week sorting through what went wrong and what needs to look cleaner going forward. A big piece of that conversation centered on Isaiah Marshall, whose development remains a priority, along with the broader need for the offense and the team as a whole to show more consistency as the schedule tightens up.
Arizona State is next, and the early read from the Kansas side is that this is no ordinary bounce-back spot. The staff pointed to the Sun Devils talent, a strong coaching setup and a few players who can tilt the game quickly, which makes the margin for error feel small before kickoff even arrives. A prediction was already laid down on the game, and it leans toward Arizona State, which only adds to the sense that Kansas is heading into a tougher test than many fans probably wanted right after the Missouri game. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces A Depth Test Ahead Of Crucial Arizona State Game
Kansas heads into its matchup with Arizona State already dealing with a thin margin for error, and the injury report only adds to the uncertainty. Linebacker Bam Crouch, wide receiver Cam Pickett and tight end Carson Bruhn are all listed as questionable, leaving the Jayhawks to sort through depth issues on both sides of the ball as they prepare for a crucial conference game.
The quarterback situation is even more precarious, with Cole Ballard doubtful because of a shoulder injury. If he cannot go, freshman Chase Jenkins would likely be next in line, a scenario that would put even more pressure on Kansas to manage the game cleanly while navigating an offense already short on healthy options. [Read more 🡒]