D.K. McDonald calls Cincinnati a 'huge challenge'

Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald knows his defense will have its hands full Saturday when they line up against Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

The Bearcats’ quarterback is not only capable of breaking plays with his legs but also has proven he can beat defenses through the air. And it isn’t just Sorsby, because he has a good cast of players around him.

 “They’ve got a tremendous quarterback who can run and throw, which is going to really be a big challenge for us,” McDonald said. “Their offensive line is very strong. They do a good job with moving and blocking and moving people, which you don’t see a lot in college football nowadays. And they got wide receivers who can run. They got some bigger guys. So, we’re going to have to be ready on all three levels, ready to go.”

Sorsby’s performance earlier this season showed some of his potential. Against Northwestern State, the junior was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after completing 15-of-15 passes for 253 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding a rushing score in a 70-0 victory.

His 99.8 QBR that night ranks as the second highest in Big 12 history and the best in the nation this season. He became just the fifth FBS quarterback in the last 30 years to post a perfect completion percentage on at least 15 attempts.

In their first game against Nebraska, he led the team in rushing. The Jayhawks slowed down Missouri’s Beau Pribula earlier this year, a mobile quarterback who posed a similar challenge, but McDonald knows the Bearcats’ scheme presents new wrinkles.

“Kind of different offenses,” McDonald explained. “So, you’re going to have to do some different things there to help out. And, you know, it’s going to be everybody. Defensive line has got to make sure they’re rushing the proper way, linebackers got that good eyes when playing zone coverage. Everybody’s got to see the quarterback and be ready to go. But it’s a total team effort to try to stop a guy like that, just like it was trying to stop a guy like Beau.”

Continuing to play physical

McDonald also stressed that Kansas must maintain the physical edge it showed coming out of the bye week. The Jayhawks emphasized toughness in practice, and their defensive coordinator believes it has paid off.

“We’ve always emphasized that; playing fast, physical, for each other. That hasn’t changed since day one, since I got here,” McDonald said. “It just kind of showed itself a little more. And that’s how it should be. You know, as you continue to work on it, you should get better at it.

“Really proud of our guys, how they did, how they played fast, physical and for each other. And we just doubled down on what we believed in during the bye week and just got better at it. We got a ways to go in all three of those categories, and hopefully we continue to grow.”

Beyond the on-field matchup, McDonald said he has long respected Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield. The two have indirect ties, as McDonald worked with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, a close friend of Satterfield.

“Man, I’ve known of him for a lot of years,” McDonald said. “Him and Coach Campbell were really good friends. They worked together at Toledo, and so I just always admired that. He’s kind of off script. He’s creative, you know how to get the ball to his playmakers. That’s the sign of a great coach. Plus, those guys play very hard, and they can run the ball, they can pass. They kind of do things on their own terms, and that’s what good offenses do.”

The Jayhawks are looking to go 2-0 in Big 12 play, which would be the first time that happened since 2022. It would also give Kansas four wins in their first five games something they have done three times under Leipold.

But McDonald said to accomplish that, they will need to play a solid game.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge,” he said. “For all of us coaches and players.”