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Friday, August 15, 2008

KU football coach Mark Mangino names starting offensive tackles

By Tom Keegan

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With opening day two weeks from Saturday, on Friday afternoon head coach Mark Mangino announced who would be the left and right tackle protectors for Todd Reesing come August 30th against Florida International.

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KU Open Practice No. 2

After Friday morning's open football practice at Memorial Stadium, Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino revealed who is starting offensive tackles will be when the Jayhawks open the season Aug. 30 at home against Florida International.

Mangino said Jeff Spikes, a 6-foot-6, 314-pound redshirt freshman from Painesville, Ohio, will start at left tackle. Jeremiah Hatch, who did not participate in drills Friday, will be the starting right tackle, according to Mangino. Hatch, consistently praised by Mangino for his strong work ethic and keen intelligence, is a 6-3, 311-pound redshirt freshman from Dallas.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, the name of Brad Thorson appeared on the roster for the first time, though his height and weight were not listed. Thorson, who has spent most of his time in practice at center, wears No. 76 and is a transfer from the University of Wisconsin. Thorson will sit out this season as a transfer.

Comments

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

woo-hoo ... football is almost back, folks! :D

August 15, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Mr_Sandman (anonymous) says...

What about the D'Cunha kid, I thought he was supposed to step right in and play. I do remember Mangino giving the Spikes kid a lot of praise, hopefully these guys will keep Todd off his back.

August 15, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

6'3" will no doubt be one of the shortest tackles in D-1. He must be an animal to pull that off. Got to trust mangino on this one I guess.

August 15, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rhino11 (anonymous) says...

Hatch was a stud coming out and he steps right in. Carter High School represent. Spikes, no surprise.

August 15, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

railer1122 (anonymous) says...

2 weeks to go!!!!!!! Can you imagine a sold out Memorial for the 1st game for probably the 1st time ever! C'mon folks come out and support the Crimson & Blue

August 15, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Mr_Sandman (anonymous) says...

Anyone wondering about the Thorson kid: he was a 2-star guard prospect in 06 and was 6' 2" 290 out of high school. I just had to look him up.

August 15, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rolo2383 (anonymous) says...

Brad Thorson - signed in 2006

Offensive guard
Mequon (WI) Homestead

Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 290 lbs
Class: 2006 (High School)

That's great news about the two freshmen starting. That tells me that our talent level is really improving. These guys will be here anchoring our tackle positions for 2 - 3 more years.

August 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

yeah, I'm going to have to do some research, but I don't think a regular season home opener has sold out in recent memory ... not even back during the Aloha Bowls run!

August 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rolo2383 (anonymous) says...

Sandman, you beat me to it. Drat!

August 15, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

longhawk (anonymous) says...

I would anticipate Hatch moving back into one of the interior 3 positions next year. I don't think he projects to a tackle--it's just a case where the interior 3 (Ochoa, Hartley and Mayes) are set with experienced seniors.

But Hatch is JUST THAT GOOD that you can't afford to have him sitting on the sidelines--kinda like playing Meier at WR. I don't think there's anything wrong with D'Cunha or Wolfe--one of them will probably get the right side next year while Hatch moves in to guard or center.

August 15, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU (anonymous) says...

I think Wolfe will get plenty of PT. D'Cunha was always a project.

Is it possible for the football gods to allow us TWO seasons in a row with very few injuries to key personnel?

August 15, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

STL_Jayhawk (anonymous) says...

Why is Torson listed on the roster if he has to sit out this year as a transfer? Just curious.

August 15, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

longhawk (anonymous) says...

EXCUSE ME. I meant Cantrell, not Ochoa. Longhawk regrets the error.

August 15, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

greatabu (anonymous) says...

Thorson is listed because he is part of the team. He can practice, but not play.

August 15, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bangaranggerg (anonymous) says...

On that picture of Sharp you can see the playlist on his belt. Call Bill Belichick and see if he can help enhance the image a bit and decode it.

August 15, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jyhwk1187 (anonymous) says...

too fuzzy. even w/ photoshop

August 15, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Two freshman as starters bodes well for years to come and hopefully is testament to our depth and not the opposite.

August 15, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

patton6 (anonymous) says...

Good to know that Darton is still there as a backup, in case of injury.

August 15, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Anyone worried about Hatch being 6'3'' need look no further than the Denver Bronco line in the late '90s. By far the smallest line in the NFL, they were still able to open gaping holes for Davis and protect Elway. They were proof that you can overcome a lack in size by playing smart, and Mangino was quick to point out Hatch's football acumen.

August 15, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

wincojhawk (anonymous) says...

Yeah, but Mangino won't resort to the low-down, dirty, bush-league Cut-Blocking technique that Ferret-Faced Mike Shanahan employs with the Denver Donkeys. We should be just fine with athletes with a good work ethic.

August 15, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

imnotpaulpierce (anonymous) says...

Does Dugan Arnett still work for this paper?

August 15, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

The fact that Hatch is 6'3" is actually an advantage with Reesing at QB. I can't believe what kind of depth we have at the OL position.

August 15, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

trojanhawk (anonymous) says...

Hatch may not have the reach needed for an OT. This is either motivational for Wolfe and others, or he's really impressed with Hatch's work ethic.

August 15, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

joepattern (anonymous) says...

I think it's the latter, Trojan. Hatch looked good in the spring, and obviously he has come even further. I think it's just because he is turning into a beast.

Such a luxury to have a guy that can either play center, (natural position) guard, (played in the spring) and tackle (manning the right side for the 2008 hawks!)

Is it the 30th yet?

August 15, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

two weeks, baby ... TWO WEEKS!!

August 15, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawkclassof02 (anonymous) says...

At 6'3" he'll have the leverage and a bit lower center of gravity to get under a pass-rusher's pads and push him up and back. If the kid is as mentally and physically prepared as Mangino makes him out to be, then I have nothing but the utmost confidence. Oh, and since when is 6'3" short? Kidding.

August 16, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

People are acting like him being 6-3 means he's some kind of weakling that won't be able to get the job done.

I watched this guy doing the warmups in front of my seats last year. You could put him in place of one of the Budweiser Clydesdales and you'd never know which one was him. He's absolutely enormous, yet still had great footwork compared to many linemen smaller than him.

He's not just some mediocre fill in. This man's gonna serve us up some pancakes.

August 17, 2008 at 12:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )