Watch: Kansas players discuss playing Cincinnati
Several Kansas players gave their thoughts on playing Cincinnati after opening Big 12 play with a big win over West Virginia. Bryce Foster, Justice Finkley, Lyrik Rawls and Levi Wentz met with the media to talk about the matchup.
Bryce Foster
Bryce Foster sees Cincinnati’s defense as a physical, veteran unit that plays with toughness in the front seven. He singled out the Bearcats’ talented nose guard as a key challenge, especially with his return from injury. Foster said he embraces matchups like this but views every opponent as the same focusing on preparation. After some early struggles, he feels his mindset in practice has improved this week, with an emphasis on pad level and setting the tone.
Justice Finkley
Justice Finkley describes his versatility on the defensive front, calling himself a “Swiss army knife” who can line up at multiple spots to help the KU defense. He likes the challenge of rushing off the edge, dropping in coverage, or playing inside. Looking ahead to Cincinnati, Finkley said the Jayhawks will treat their dual-threat quarterback like others they’ve faced, saying it comes down to preparation and discipline. He added that momentum from the West Virginia win has added to the team’s confidence heading into this matchup.
Lyrik Rawls
Lyrik Rawls talked about the challenge with Cincinnati quarterback Brandon Sorsby as a versatile dual-threat who can do it all, stressing the importance of keeping him contained in the pocket while covering receivers. With depth tested in the safety room, Rawls said the mentality remains “next man up,” with confidence in every player stepping in. He said that trust in the defensive line is key to limiting Sorsby’s mobility.
Levi Wentz
Wentz reflected on his first Kansas touchdown as a key moment and talked about the team’s goals. He emphasized the Jayhawks depth and team play at receiver. He said every player runs routes hard regardless of targets, which makes the offense dangerous. Looking ahead, Wentz talked about Cincinnati’s discipline and effort, calling them a well-coached team that “flies around.” He said Kansas will rely on its defense’s varied looks they get in practice to prepare for the Bearcats’ schemes.
