While one familiar face returned to Kansas University’s spring football practice Thursday at Memorial Stadium, the status of another was unknown.
KU senior defensive tackle Ervin Holloman practiced for the first time this spring, but senior defensive end De’Nard Whitfield was nowhere to be seen. The two defensive linemen were suspended indefinitely at the beginning of the spring session for academic reasons.
“I haven’t seen him since probably a week or so ago since he stopped coming to study hall,” Holloman said of Whitfield.
Holloman, who started all but one game last season, was allowed to return to practice because he’s been going to classes, attending tutoring sessions and hitting the books during study halls, KU coach Terry Allen said.
As for Whitfield, well
“De’Nard obviously isn’t in as good a shape or he’d be out there, too,” the KU coach said.
Asked if Whitfield still was attending class at KU, Allen answered, “To the best of my knowledge.”
Whitfield couldn’t be reached for comment. But the woman who answered the phone at Whitfield’s home in Denison, Texas, said he was in Lawrence.
Asked if Whitfield planned to drop out of school, she responded with an emphatic, “Oh, no. No. No.”
Holloman, listed as a starter on the depth chart, spent most of his first day with the second team. He was just happy to be on any team, though.
“It was good to be out with the rest of the guys again,” Holloman said, “instead of sitting upstairs wondering what everybody was doing.”
Along with fellow returning starter Nate Dwyer, a senior left tackle, Holloman is expected to be a key contributor on the defensive line this fall.
“Nate’s an established player,” Allen said. “I think when you talk inside players, obviously you have potential in Ervin, Marquis Hayes and Tony Strickland. They’re doing a pretty good job in there.”
Red-shirt freshman defensive end Travis Watkins has been leading the charge on the outside, along with fellow red-shirt freshman Clarence Laws and junior Charlie Dennis.
The defensive line also has two new coaches this year defensive line coach Travis Jones and defensive ends coach Tim Burke which has made a world of difference to the players.
“I think the biggest difference is the coaches,” Watkins said. “I feel like the coaches we have in here now know a lot more about the game and really want to win. The coaches we had before, I didn’t learn much last year as far as defensive line.
“This year, even just over the spring I’ve learned a lot more than I did all fall.”
The two-pronged coaching also has helped. Jones, who came to KU from Appalachian State, is a fiery, vocal leader on the field.
“It’s good to have that type of enthusiasm on the defensive line,” Allen said. “He’s working with those inside guys and Tim’s working with the outside guys so we’ve got two guys all over them the whole time.”
