Not everyone on Kansas University’s football team is looking forward to the opening of spring practices today.
Senior defensive tackle Ervin Holloman and senior defensive end De’Nard Whitfield have been suspended indefinitely for academic reasons, KU coach Terry Allen announced during his press conference Wednesday.
“They’re in a situation where right now they have a number of hours that they need to complete in order to be eligible in the fall,” Allen said. “Before they can become student-athletes again, they have to become students first.”
Holloman, who started 10 games last season, and Whitfield, who started nine, both were listed atop the depth chart at their respective positions.
Allen went on to say that both might be allowed to practice during the final week of the spring “if everything went well.”
Junior offensive guard Kyle Grady, who is recovering from offseason surgery, won’t be involved in any live action, but will be able to participate in some aspects of practice.
Senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer also will be limited in his live participation during the spring due to surgery on his left wrist.
“Kyle still limps around on the leg and will be able to do some individual stuff,” Allen said. “If we really wanted to we could turn Nate loose the whole spring, but we really don’t want to risk that with him.”
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey might not be the only football-turned-basketball player.
Kinsey, who played in 16 games with KU’s basketball squad over the winter, could receive some competition on the hardwood from senior wide receiver Harrison Hill.
“My team won the three-on-three tournament,” Hill said with a wide grin, referring to a team-bonding basketball event. “We killed everybody. We beat everybody like 16-1.”
Hill was joined by sophomore linebacker Glenn Robinson and sophomore offensive guard Kregg Schmidt.
The tournament and a similar dodgeball competition was part of the offseason movement to improve team unity. Mission accomplished?
“I think so,” Hill said. “I think people have worked hard. They know what they had to do, the goals we have in mind for next year. There’s been a lot of changes made and I think it’s only going to be for the better.”
Air Dyer?
During a lull in the three-on-three tournament, sophomore quarterback Zach Dyer put his dunking prowess on display. Had there been an actual dunking competition, Dyer probably would have won, Allen said.
“To be able to do that,” Allen added, “you know he’s a pretty good athlete.”
Dyer’s favorite dunk?
“I like the 360,” he quipped.
KU will conduct a coaches’ clinic on Friday and Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The featured speaker will be Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Rex Ryan, whose father, Buddy, created the fearsome 46 defense.
Other speakers of note include KU defensive coordinator Tom Hayes, KU offensive line coach Sam Pittman, Hutchinson Community College coach David Wheeler, Cedar Falls (Iowa) High coach Pat Mitchell and KU director of strength and conditioning Fred Roll.
The Jayhawks will practice today and Friday without pads from 4-6 p.m. Depending on the weather, they could be forced inside Anschutz Pavilion. Saturday’s practice, which begins at 1:30 p.m., will be the first day KU dons the pads.
For the second year in a row the Jayhawks will take their show on the road, conducting a scrimmage in Topeka. The game is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 14 at Shawnee Heights High, pending approval from the school board.
