Advertisement
Kansas University’s Toben Opurum has made the switch from running back to linebacker in 2010. Coach Turner Gill announced Thursday night that Opurum had sprained an ankle, making him questionable for the game against Georgia Tech.
Advertisement
Audio clip
KU coach Turner Gill: Sept. 1
On Wednesday, sophomore Toben Opurum spoke for the first time about his move from running back to linebacker. Though he still has a ways to go in terms of being settled in at his new position, Opurum sounded comfortable with the idea.
“I’m already past the frustrated stage or the being-mad-about-it stage,” Opurum said. “I’ve already went through that. It’s gotten to the point where I look at it more as an opportunity and a chance to help out the team.”
Tuesday, Opurum’s coaches talked about his adjustment thus far. They said he still had a way to go but that they liked what they’d seen from him. Beyond bringing good size and a physical mentality to the position — not to mention much-needed depth — Opurum also has brought a great attitude and relentless work ethic, things that have benefited him even when he wasn’t in the right position.
“I actually got an interception yesterday,” he said. “I messed up the play, but ended up with it anyway.”
As for the physical nature of the position, Opurum said he’s used to that since his running style typically involved quite a pounding. Tackling, though … that’s a different story.
“All my tackles in my life have been off of interceptions,” Opurum said. “I haven’t made a tackle on defense since ninth grade, maybe.”
Though he’s still considered new to the position — especially by college football standards — his coaches and teammates have welcomed him with open arms because of his physical presence and the instant depth, even if they are over the switch.
Said senior linebacker Drew Dudley as he walked off the practice field: “Good, you’re talking to ’em today. I’m tired of them asking me about you.”
Dudley then laughed and headed for the locker room.
Webb’s role still undecided
Although Kansas University football coach Turner Gill and offensive coordinator Chuck Long made sophomore Kale Pick the clear-cut choice at quarterback two weeks ago today, there seems to be some question about what role red-shirt freshman Jordan Webb will have in the offense.
At least early.
Monday, on the Big 12 coaches conference call, Gill was vague about whether Webb would play at all in Saturday’s opener against North Dakota State, be it in mop-up time or earlier in the game.
Wednesday, when speaking to reporters before practice, Gill indicated that he and his staff still were discussing things and that the possibility remained that Webb could play as early as the first half.
“We haven’t decided at this point in time,” Gill said. “We’ll decide here at the end of the week. It could be a situation where (playing Webb) wouldn’t be at the end of the game. We’ve talked about possibly putting him in the game maybe in the first half or whatever. Again, we’re still discussing that.”
Gill did not provide any insight into what factors might influence the decision one way or the other.
“We’re going to keep that between Chuck and I,” he said.
Webb may not play at all or simply might go in late in the game if the Jayhawks are in control.
This news, no matter how small it ends up being, only emphasizes what Gill said Tuesday about being eager to get a look at his quarterbacks in game action.
Looking ahead
Though the game is still 15 days away, KU’s third opponent of the season, Southern Miss, will kick off the college football season at 6:30 tonight with a nationally televised game at South Carolina on ESPN.
Southern Miss, which lost to KU, 35-28, in Lawrence in 2009, is coming off a 7-6 season that included a loss to Middle Tennessee State in the New Orleans Bowl.
Spring game highlights April 28, 2012
Charlie Weis Jr. helps lead the KU running backs in drills April 19, 2012
D.J. Beshears makes tough catch on deep pass from Dayne Crist April 19, 2012
Highlights from Charlie Weis press conference April 10, 2012
KU football's first spring practice under Charlie Weis March 28, 2012
Comments
jhawk613 (Eric Williams) says…
I trust our coaches, but being the first game I hope they at least let Pick get a rhythm going before seeing what Webb is capable of.
sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says…
Remember those fun and wacky days when KU would have BOTH quarterbacks on the field?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTdvzg...
*sigh*
I remember coming back from Emporia and listening to the game on the radio - when I heard both Reesing and Meier called I literally almost ran off the highway!
sevenyearhawk (anonymous) replies…
FIRST time they did that, against FAU or someone like that ...
youowethehawks (anonymous) replies…
What a beautiful thing that was.
inteldesign (anonymous) says…
This is a good move, keeps both players relevant, sharp, and helps Webb particularly to continue to compete having tasted some playing time.
njjayhawk (anonymous) says…
Will Mark Mangino be in town for the game? Perhaps he'll sit with Lew and Gray-Little in Lew's plush luxury box, then go over to Lew's house to work out in Lew's basement on Lew's many "free" exercise machines? Ah, the good old days.......
jhawk613 (Eric Williams) replies…
1. Probably not.
2. Do you really think Mangino would "work out"?
KU_FanSince75 (anonymous) says…
613---the answer to #2 is, NO! Mangino is in Florida anyway, sipping on a Corona.
1jhawk2 (anonymous) replies…
and a bucket of KFC
soswalt4 (anonymous) replies…
and a few double downs
KU_FanSince75 (anonymous) says…
WaywardJay---- I be on yur bandwagon, baby!
OCJHAWK (anonymous) says…
I don't understand why so many are still rooting for Webb. I am sure he is good, but he isn't our starter. I don't personnaly know either one, but Pick is our man and I hope he is for the next three years, leading our program to many victories.
Funhawk (anonymous) says…
Arm chair quarterbacks.
stravinsky (anonymous) says…
"Opurum from running back to line backer???? I new Gill would screw up but, not this soon. This just goes to show that Gill is not a good coach. He showed that while at NU."
Hard to say that before the team has played a snap, isn't it? As for showing that he wasn't a good coach at Nebraska, All he did was coach two All-American QBs, with Frazier winning the Unitas award and Crouch winning the friggin' Heisman, and coach for a team that won three national titles. No big deal.
justanotherfan (anonymous) says…
"Opurum from running back to line backer???? I new Gill would screw up but, not this soon. This just goes to show that Gill is not a good coach. He showed that while at NU."
I had no idea that getting your best athletes on the field was a "screw up."
Let's review this again.
Healthy RBs (not counting Toben) - Quigley, Sands, Bourbon, Sims. That's four backs, all of whom are healthy and capable of getting time at the BCS D-1 level.
Healthy LBs (not counting Toben) - Springer, Dudley, Johnson, Lewis, Farley. Everyone else either redshirted last year or is hurt (Tharp, Fink).
Keep in mind, we play 1 RB at a time, but 3 LBs. We have a luxury of depth at RB. We have no such luxury at LB.
jhawkrulz (anonymous) replies…
Toben was the best running back we had last year before the injury.
Why not move one of the yound RBs into that position? Or maybe recruit a LB, just a thought.
cusack118 (anonymous) replies…
Ummmm, we recruit linebackers. Most of them end up in jail or quitting the team, but hey, we recruit them!
KGphoto (anonymous) says…
Hawkinson didn't want to play OL either. Now look.