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Know your foe: 5 Jayhawks to know as Kansas faces Texas

Eric Nahlinby: Eric Nahlin09/27/23
Jalon Daniels
(© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2023 version of Kansas Jayhawks football is much more well-rounded than its counterparts from a year ago who started the season 5-0. Lance Leipold‘s program build in Lawrence is real, best emphasized not by offense, but improvement on defense. 

Everyone knows the offense, led by junior quarterback Jalon Daniels, is a modern mix of old and new schemes. Option one minute, spread football the next. It’s one of the most entertaining offenses to watch in college football. But where this program is making the next step towards legitimacy and longevity is on the defensive side of the ball. It’s not unlike Art Briles at Baylor who bought himself time with offense while incrementally improving the defense.

None of this is to say Kansas will beat Texas, but don’t expect the Longhorns to hang 55 on them like last season.

QB Jalon Daniels

56-75, 74.7 pct, 705 yards at 9.4 yards per attempt, 5 TD/1 INT, 171.37 passing efficiency (No. 17 in the nation)

When you talk about fit to scheme it doesn’t get much cleaner than Daniels’ fit for Leipold’s preferences. Daniels is equally comfortable working from the pocket as a passer or on the run on designed run calls. 

He’s not as big but his game reminds me of former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.

Daniels can do everything asked of him and then some and he has enough weapons on offense to where it’s not a one-man show.

Daniels would have better numbers except his backup, Jason Bean, has also played and put up a very similar statistical profile over 28 pass attempts. 

CB Cobee Bryant

8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 INT, 1 forced fumble and recovery for touchdown 

This dude is a stud. With his sinewy build yet physical play style he’s similar to Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Bryant thinks he’s the biggest dude on the field. Those two will lock horns a lot as Bryant covers the field side. That’s must-see TV. 

Bryant had a pick-six at DKR in 2021 but he’s much more than just a cover player.

Avert your eyes!

RB Devin Neal

57 carries for 394 yards, 6.9 yards per carry, 5 TD, 11 receptions for 145 yards, 13.2 yards per reception, 1 TD

Neal is a good all around back with quick feet, good stop-start, solid speed and physicality. This is a huge game for Texas linebackers keeping track of Neal despite all the smoke and mirrors the Kansas scheme utilizes.

While Neal is the feature back, Daniel Hishaw Jr. is averaging 7.1 yards on 33 carries. He’s not the biggest but he runs with a ton of effort.

This is from last year but it’s against a Mike Elko defense and an eventual 9-4 Blue Devils team.

WR Lawrence Arnold

18 receptions for 246 yards, 13.7 yards per catch

Kansas actually has three solid to good receivers in Arnold, Quentin Skinner, and Luke Grimm. All were signed in the 2020 class. I’ll highlight Arnold because he has the most receptions and I’ve been a fan since watching his high school tape long ago. He presents a big target and runs well enough to make plays at the third level. Arnold has improved each year. I don’t expect him to get deep on Texas but he could hurt the secondary at the second level. Just as Bryant and Worthy are similar types, so too are Arnold and Texas boundary corner Ryan Watts.

DE Jereme Robinson and DE Austin Booker

Robinson has 3.5 sacks with two coming against Illinois but he’s also a pretty good run defender. The Montgomery, Alabama native will have his hands full this weekend but he’s a quality player.

Booker also has 3.5 sacks but in only about 100 snaps. He was a situational pass rusher until the BYU game where he caught my eye with his length, bend, and movement skills. Only a sophomore, he has a chance to be a good one after originally starting his career at Minnesota.

Kansas has other quality defensive players — Leipold has been active in the transfer portal — but these are the two who surprised me with their ability.

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