Most Crucial Jayhawks: No. 8 – DL Andrew Bolton

By Matt Tait     Jul 23, 2014

article image
White Team quarterback Michael Cummings pitches the ball to a teammate as Blue Team defensive lineman Andrew Bolton closes in during the second half of the Kansas Spring Game on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Memorial Stadium. Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

Here’s the latest installment in our series that examines the Jayhawks who stand to have the biggest impact for KU football this fall:

No. 8: Andrew Bolton, Junior DL
———————

There was a lot of hype surrounding Bolton last summer because, at 6-foot-3, 285 pounds and with a penchant for getting to the quarterback, Bolton represented the kind of player KU had not seen in a while.

Big, strong, explosive and focused on nothing more than chewing up QBs, Bolton would have been a big addition for the defensive line. An early injury kept him off the field during his first season in Lawrence, but the year off might have been a blessing in disguise for the Hinds (Mississippi) Community College transfer.

See, instead of being rushed out there at less than 100 percent, the time off gave Bolton a chance to heal. While he was healing, he also took full advantage of the opportunity to work on his body, absorb the playbook and watch and learn what life is like at the Division I level.

With such knowledge now his, the expectations are again high for Bolton, who figures to hold down the left side of KU’s D-Line while defensive coordinator Clint Bowen and D-Line coach Buddy Wyatt play around with the flexibility the other guys up front provide.

We talked to Bolton briefly during fall camp last year and the only thing I remember is that he was a quiet guy. He seemed a little shy when dealing with the media and it would have been a shame if any kind of uncertainty about his place at this level or this school showed up on the field in 2013.

He’s been here a year now. He knows the coaches, he knows the scheme and he’s at least seen what big-time college football looks like. It’s now his turn to be a part of it. And if he’s ready and able, KU’s defense has a chance to be a heck of a lot better immediately.

KU coach Charlie Weis had this to say about Bolton at Big 12 media days in Dallas earlier this week:

> “Bolton came in banged up and really
> wasn’t ready to go. And he’s a big,
> physical, bruising type of guy that I
> would have liked to have played last
> year. I’m glad we didn’t.”

**Top 25 Most Crucial Jayhawks for 2014:**

No. 25 – LB Jake Love

No. 24 – DB Greg Allen

No. 23 – DB Cassius Sendish

No. 22 – OL Zach Fondal

No. 21 – WR Justin McCay

No. 20 – DL Ben Goodman

No. 19 – K John Duvic

No. 18 – DB JaCorey Shepherd

No. 17 – DB Isaiah Johnson

No. 16 – TE Jimmay Mundine

No. 15 – DB Dexter McDonald

No. 14 – RB Brandon Bourbon

No. 13 – OL Keyon Haughton

No. 12 – OL Damon Martin

No. 11 – DL Keon Stowers

No. 10 – RB De’Andre Mann

No. 9 – WR Rodriguez Coleman

PREV POST

Cyclones psyched to have Mark Mangino back in Big 12

NEXT POST

44901Most Crucial Jayhawks: No. 8 – DL Andrew Bolton

Author Photo

Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.