Leadership is as critical to a college football team as a 1,000-yard running back or wide receiver, but it can be as elusive as a shutout.
“Leadership is something we talk about all the time as a staff,” Kansas University coach Mark Mangino said. “I think there are some kids who have the makings to be leaders for this team. We can’t force anybody to be a leader. It’s something either you can do or you can’t. I think there’s some young guys and some veteran guys on the team that are capable.”
The KU players will determine who they want to lead them this season when they vote on the team’s captains during the week of the spring scrimmage later this month.
The usual suspects seniors like defensive end Charlie Dennis, linebacker Leo Etienne, offensive guard Kyle Grady, wide receiver Harrison Hill, strong safety Jake Letourneau and offensive tackle Justin Sands likely will be considered.
“I’m guessing there’s a lot of guys that look up to me,” Etienne said. “I’m just here to lead by example and voice my opinion whenever it’s needed and when it’s not needed, really, to the players. They feed off a lot of guys on this team. A lot of the players here, when somebody on the team says something, they do respect that as a player and they feed off that.
“A lot of guys come up and ask other players questions about this and this and this.”
Etienne, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Auburndale, Fla., led the team in unassisted tackles and was second in total tackles last season after transferring to KU from Hutchinson Community College. He also had eight tackles for a loss including two sacks an interception and a fumble recovery.
While trying to be a leader both on and off the field, Etienne knows where to get his cues.
“He’s determined; every coach is determined,” Etienne said of Mangino and his staff. “I guess it’s a feeling that you get when he talks to you. Everybody is excited about the things that he’s saying.”
The feeling is mutual.
“The kids at KU want to win. They really do,” Mangino said. “I would say 75 percent of the kids on this team from the day I got hired, without me soliciting it came to my office to talk about what they could do to help the team. Unbelievable. Those kids really and truly want to win.
“They’re tired of not winning and I think they’re taking it on themselves to be somebody who can be counted on. I’m very pleased with that, I really am.”
Hill will be a de facto leader regardless of whether he’s tapped as a captain by his teammates.
As a sixth-year senior the NCAA approved Hill’s appeal for another year of eligibility after he shattered his shoulder blade in the Jayhawks’ second game Hill almost is an honorary captain or assistant coach by default.
“I would like to think he’ll emerge as a leader for our team,” Mangino said of the 5-11, 200-pound wideout from Wichita.
Hill, who had just two catches for 21 yards a year ago, needs 25 grabs to become the school’s all-time leading receiver. He already ranks sixth at KU with 1,535 career receiving yards.
While he has said he would be honored to serve as captain again after missing almost all of last season, he is more concerned about the future of the program.
“We’ve put the past in the past,” Hill said. “I don’t even think about it any more. I’m just thinking about what we’re doing today and how hard we have to work today and what we have to do. We’re just doing everything we can to be good.
“I’m real excited. People are working really hard. We’ve got a good system in place. I think it’s going to go well if we keep working.”
Hit me with your best shot: After the NCAA-mandated two practices without pads, the Jayhawks were expected to participate in contact drills for the first time this spring during Friday afternoon’s closed practice.
Mangino had said he was looking forward to live hitting.
“We will practice long and hard here, and the practices will be intense,” Mangino said. “There will be a lot of hitting, but we want to be smart and want to keep our players as healthy as we can. But we’ve got a lot of work to do so we’ve got to make the most of these 15 practices that we’re allotted.”
Up coming: The Jayhawks will conduct a closed scrimmage at 9 this morning to conclude their three-day coaches’ clinic.
In addition to the scrimmage, coaches at the clinic watched on-field demonstrations Friday by KU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, wide receiver coach Tyrone Dixon and defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Bill Young and listened to various guest speakers.
KU’s third and final practice that will be open to the public this spring will be Monday afternoon at the practice fields.
Leadership is as critical to a college football team as a 1,000-yard running back or wide receiver, but it can be as elusive as a shutout.
“Leadership is something we talk about all the time as a staff,” Kansas University coach Mark Mangino said. “I think there are some kids who have the makings to be leaders for this team. We can’t force anybody to be a leader. It’s something either you can do or you can’t. I think there’s some young guys and some veteran guys on the team that are capable.”
The KU players will determine who they want to lead them this season when they vote on the team’s captains during the week of the spring scrimmage later this month.
The usual suspects seniors like defensive end Charlie Dennis, linebacker Leo Etienne, offensive guard Kyle Grady, wide receiver Harrison Hill, strong safety Jake Letourneau and offensive tackle Justin Sands likely will be considered.
“I’m guessing there’s a lot of guys that look up to me,” Etienne said. “I’m just here to lead by example and voice my opinion whenever it’s needed and when it’s not needed, really, to the players. They feed off a lot of guys on this team. A lot of the players here, when somebody on the team says something, they do respect that as a player and they feed off that.
“A lot of guys come up and ask other players questions about this and this and this.”
Etienne, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Auburndale, Fla., led the team in unassisted tackles and was second in total tackles last season after transferring to KU from Hutchinson Community College. He also had eight tackles for a loss including two sacks an interception and a fumble recovery.
While trying to be a leader both on and off the field, Etienne knows where to get his cues.
“He’s determined; every coach is determined,” Etienne said of Mangino and his staff. “I guess it’s a feeling that you get when he talks to you. Everybody is excited about the things that he’s saying.”
The feeling is mutual.
“The kids at KU want to win. They really do,” Mangino said. “I would say 75 percent of the kids on this team from the day I got hired, without me soliciting it came to my office to talk about what they could do to help the team. Unbelievable. Those kids really and truly want to win.
“They’re tired of not winning and I think they’re taking it on themselves to be somebody who can be counted on. I’m very pleased with that, I really am.”
Hill will be a de facto leader regardless of whether he’s tapped as a captain by his teammates.
As a sixth-year senior the NCAA approved Hill’s appeal for another year of eligibility after he shattered his shoulder blade in the Jayhawks’ second game Hill almost is an honorary captain or assistant coach by default.
“I would like to think he’ll emerge as a leader for our team,” Mangino said of the 5-11, 200-pound wideout from Wichita.
Hill, who had just two catches for 21 yards a year ago, needs 25 grabs to become the school’s all-time leading receiver. He already ranks sixth at KU with 1,535 career receiving yards.
While he has said he would be honored to serve as captain again after missing almost all of last season, he is more concerned about the future of the program.
“We’ve put the past in the past,” Hill said. “I don’t even think about it any more. I’m just thinking about what we’re doing today and how hard we have to work today and what we have to do. We’re just doing everything we can to be good.
“I’m real excited. People are working really hard. We’ve got a good system in place. I think it’s going to go well if we keep working.”
Hit me with your best shot: After the NCAA-mandated two practices without pads, the Jayhawks were expected to participate in contact drills for the first time this spring during Friday afternoon’s closed practice.
Mangino had said he was looking forward to live hitting.
“We will practice long and hard here, and the practices will be intense,” Mangino said. “There will be a lot of hitting, but we want to be smart and want to keep our players as healthy as we can. But we’ve got a lot of work to do so we’ve got to make the most of these 15 practices that we’re allotted.”
Up coming: The Jayhawks will conduct a closed scrimmage at 9 this morning to conclude their three-day coaches’ clinic.
In addition to the scrimmage, coaches at the clinic watched on-field demonstrations Friday by KU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, wide receiver coach Tyrone Dixon and defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Bill Young and listened to various guest speakers.
KU’s third and final practice that will be open to the public this spring will be Monday afternoon at the practice fields.
Leadership is as critical to a college football team as a 1,000-yard running back or wide receiver, but it can be as elusive as a shutout.
“Leadership is something we talk about all the time as a staff,” Kansas University coach Mark Mangino said. “I think there are some kids who have the makings to be leaders for this team. We can’t force anybody to be a leader. It’s something either you can do or you can’t. I think there’s some young guys and some veteran guys on the team that are capable.”
The KU players will determine who they want to lead them this season when they vote on the team’s captains during the week of the spring scrimmage later this month.
The usual suspects seniors like defensive end Charlie Dennis, linebacker Leo Etienne, offensive guard Kyle Grady, wide receiver Harrison Hill, strong safety Jake Letourneau and offensive tackle Justin Sands likely will be considered.
“I’m guessing there’s a lot of guys that look up to me,” Etienne said. “I’m just here to lead by example and voice my opinion whenever it’s needed and when it’s not needed, really, to the players. They feed off a lot of guys on this team. A lot of the players here, when somebody on the team says something, they do respect that as a player and they feed off that.
“A lot of guys come up and ask other players questions about this and this and this.”
Etienne, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Auburndale, Fla., led the team in unassisted tackles and was second in total tackles last season after transferring to KU from Hutchinson Community College. He also had eight tackles for a loss including two sacks an interception and a fumble recovery.
While trying to be a leader both on and off the field, Etienne knows where to get his cues.
“He’s determined; every coach is determined,” Etienne said of Mangino and his staff. “I guess it’s a feeling that you get when he talks to you. Everybody is excited about the things that he’s saying.”
The feeling is mutual.
“The kids at KU want to win. They really do,” Mangino said. “I would say 75 percent of the kids on this team from the day I got hired, without me soliciting it came to my office to talk about what they could do to help the team. Unbelievable. Those kids really and truly want to win.
“They’re tired of not winning and I think they’re taking it on themselves to be somebody who can be counted on. I’m very pleased with that, I really am.”
Hill will be a de facto leader regardless of whether he’s tapped as a captain by his teammates.
As a sixth-year senior the NCAA approved Hill’s appeal for another year of eligibility after he shattered his shoulder blade in the Jayhawks’ second game Hill almost is an honorary captain or assistant coach by default.
“I would like to think he’ll emerge as a leader for our team,” Mangino said of the 5-11, 200-pound wideout from Wichita.
Hill, who had just two catches for 21 yards a year ago, needs 25 grabs to become the school’s all-time leading receiver. He already ranks sixth at KU with 1,535 career receiving yards.
While he has said he would be honored to serve as captain again after missing almost all of last season, he is more concerned about the future of the program.
“We’ve put the past in the past,” Hill said. “I don’t even think about it any more. I’m just thinking about what we’re doing today and how hard we have to work today and what we have to do. We’re just doing everything we can to be good.
“I’m real excited. People are working really hard. We’ve got a good system in place. I think it’s going to go well if we keep working.”
Hit me with your best shot: After the NCAA-mandated two practices without pads, the Jayhawks were expected to participate in contact drills for the first time this spring during Friday afternoon’s closed practice.
Mangino had said he was looking forward to live hitting.
“We will practice long and hard here, and the practices will be intense,” Mangino said. “There will be a lot of hitting, but we want to be smart and want to keep our players as healthy as we can. But we’ve got a lot of work to do so we’ve got to make the most of these 15 practices that we’re allotted.”
Up coming: The Jayhawks will conduct a closed scrimmage at 9 this morning to conclude their three-day coaches’ clinic.
In addition to the scrimmage, coaches at the clinic watched on-field demonstrations Friday by KU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, wide receiver coach Tyrone Dixon and defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Bill Young and listened to various guest speakers.
KU’s third and final practice that will be open to the public this spring will be Monday afternoon at the practice fields.
Leadership is as critical to a college football team as a 1,000-yard running back or wide receiver, but it can be as elusive as a shutout.
“Leadership is something we talk about all the time as a staff,” Kansas University coach Mark Mangino said. “I think there are some kids who have the makings to be leaders for this team. We can’t force anybody to be a leader. It’s something either you can do or you can’t. I think there’s some young guys and some veteran guys on the team that are capable.”
The KU players will determine who they want to lead them this season when they vote on the team’s captains during the week of the spring scrimmage later this month.
The usual suspects seniors like defensive end Charlie Dennis, linebacker Leo Etienne, offensive guard Kyle Grady, wide receiver Harrison Hill, strong safety Jake Letourneau and offensive tackle Justin Sands likely will be considered.
“I’m guessing there’s a lot of guys that look up to me,” Etienne said. “I’m just here to lead by example and voice my opinion whenever it’s needed and when it’s not needed, really, to the players. They feed off a lot of guys on this team. A lot of the players here, when somebody on the team says something, they do respect that as a player and they feed off that.
“A lot of guys come up and ask other players questions about this and this and this.”
Etienne, a 6-foot, 205-pounder from Auburndale, Fla., led the team in unassisted tackles and was second in total tackles last season after transferring to KU from Hutchinson Community College. He also had eight tackles for a loss including two sacks an interception and a fumble recovery.
While trying to be a leader both on and off the field, Etienne knows where to get his cues.
“He’s determined; every coach is determined,” Etienne said of Mangino and his staff. “I guess it’s a feeling that you get when he talks to you. Everybody is excited about the things that he’s saying.”
The feeling is mutual.
“The kids at KU want to win. They really do,” Mangino said. “I would say 75 percent of the kids on this team from the day I got hired, without me soliciting it came to my office to talk about what they could do to help the team. Unbelievable. Those kids really and truly want to win.
“They’re tired of not winning and I think they’re taking it on themselves to be somebody who can be counted on. I’m very pleased with that, I really am.”
Hill will be a de facto leader regardless of whether he’s tapped as a captain by his teammates.
As a sixth-year senior the NCAA approved Hill’s appeal for another year of eligibility after he shattered his shoulder blade in the Jayhawks’ second game Hill almost is an honorary captain or assistant coach by default.
“I would like to think he’ll emerge as a leader for our team,” Mangino said of the 5-11, 200-pound wideout from Wichita.
Hill, who had just two catches for 21 yards a year ago, needs 25 grabs to become the school’s all-time leading receiver. He already ranks sixth at KU with 1,535 career receiving yards.
While he has said he would be honored to serve as captain again after missing almost all of last season, he is more concerned about the future of the program.
“We’ve put the past in the past,” Hill said. “I don’t even think about it any more. I’m just thinking about what we’re doing today and how hard we have to work today and what we have to do. We’re just doing everything we can to be good.
“I’m real excited. People are working really hard. We’ve got a good system in place. I think it’s going to go well if we keep working.”
Hit me with your best shot: After the NCAA-mandated two practices without pads, the Jayhawks were expected to participate in contact drills for the first time this spring during Friday afternoon’s closed practice.
Mangino had said he was looking forward to live hitting.
“We will practice long and hard here, and the practices will be intense,” Mangino said. “There will be a lot of hitting, but we want to be smart and want to keep our players as healthy as we can. But we’ve got a lot of work to do so we’ve got to make the most of these 15 practices that we’re allotted.”
Up coming: The Jayhawks will conduct a closed scrimmage at 9 this morning to conclude their three-day coaches’ clinic.
In addition to the scrimmage, coaches at the clinic watched on-field demonstrations Friday by KU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro, linebackers coach Dave Doeren, wide receiver coach Tyrone Dixon and defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Bill Young and listened to various guest speakers.
KU’s third and final practice that will be open to the public this spring will be Monday afternoon at the practice fields.
