Childs bolting KU

By Andrew Hartsock     Apr 26, 2000

Henrhilds’ versatility put him on Kansas University’s football field.

Now it’s chasing him off.

Childs, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder out of Shawnee Mission West, won’t return for his junior year at KU.

“I don’t think it was so much playing time as development at some position,” Childs’ father, Henry, said Tuesday night. “When you’re playing that many positions and not getting that many repetitions at any of them, what are you developing at? That’s his issue.”

The younger Childs has lined up at tailback, fullback, tight end, slotback and wide receiver. He also has returned punts and kickoffs during his career.

Henrhilds was listed as a second-stringer at tailback one of KU’s deepest positions coming out of spring drills

“It’s just basically development,” Henry Childs said. “He didn’t want to supplant anybody. They’ve got a lot of good athletes. One of the problems might be they have too many good athletes at the skill positions. They’ve got (David) Winbush, Moran (Norris) and the new guys, plus a couple of more there. They’re all good running backs. All of them aren’t going to get a chance to play. Henrould read the writing on the wall. He thinks he’ll have a better chance to play somewhere else.”

Henry Childs said his son had been granted an oral release from his scholarship by KU coach Terry Allen. Henrhilds also has sent letters to Allen and KU athletics director Bob Frederick formally requesting an official release that would allow him to transfer and sit out just one year under NCAA transfer guidelines.

“Coach Allen gave him his verbal release,” Henry Childs said. “But until we see something in writing, that’s coach’s choice.”

Henrhilds rushed for 180 yards and a TD last season. He also caught 16 passes for 168 yards and another score and led KU with 20 punt returns. He averaged 11.3 yards per return and scored a punt-return TD. Childs also averaged 16.2 yards on four kickoff returns.

Henry Childs said his son hadn’t yet settled on a school to which to transfer, though they both hope he stays in NCAA Div. I-A. The elder Childs convinced his son, who wanted to transfer at semester, to go through spring drills and make a decision after spring had concluded.

“We’ll have to get the release and go from there,” Henry Childs said. “He’s going to have to market himself. I think he’s a good enough athlete he can market himself. He’s pretty disappointed. It’s his life, but like I told him, it’s like going from one job to another. You have to get prepared for life. If a situation isn’t working for you, you make changes, and hopefully the changes will work out for the better.”

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