Kenneth Thompson won’t play football for Kansas this season. Next season might be a different story.
While KU prepares for Saturday’s season opener at Iowa State, the all-state defensive back is back home in Grand Prairie, Texas, because he failed to qualify academically.
“It was very disappointing,” Thompson said Wednesday in a phone interview. “My heart was broken. I just had to deal with it because it was my fault.”
Thompson hasn’t given up hope. He worked with a tutor this summer and plans to take the SAT for the third time on Sept. 28.
“If he qualifies, he’ll be here at semester,” coach Mark Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice at Memorial Stadium. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to consider alternatives for him.”
Other alternatives could include two years of junior college, but Thompson is determined to be in Kansas for spring drills.
“It’s my goal,” said the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback. “I’ve got to be there. Nothing’s going to stop me from that.”
Thompson’s failure to qualify was surprising. The corner was recruited by several schools with high academic standards, including Stanford, Southern Methodist, Rice and Northwestern. Thompson, in fact, committed to Northwestern in early December. But he went through with a Dec. 16 recruiting trip to KU and switched his verbal commitment to Kansas.
Thompson said he graduated with a 3.5 grade-point average, but has struggled with the pressure of the SAT.
“I guess I’m not a good test taker,” he said. “I missed by a couple points both times.”
The Texan said KU’s coaching staff has been supportive of him, despite his absence.
“I love it that they’ve been standing by me,” he said. “It makes me want to come even more.”
And Thompson will come, making the seven-hour drive to Lawrence to see some of the Jayhawks’ home games. He’s good friends with freshman receiver and fellow Texan Mark Simmons, who is expected to make an impact for KU.
“I have the Internet and cable,” Thompson said. “I’ll be watching them every time they play.”
Not that Thompson doesn’t have plenty to keep himself busy. He’s going to school part-time at North Lake Community College in Irving, working part-time at UPS, serving as a volunteer assistant coach with his younger brother’s middle school team and working out with his high school coaches.
While Mangino looks forward to having Thompson here in the spring, another member of his first recruiting class has left the program. Mangino confirmed Tuesday that freshman receiver Jerome Lewis as previously reported in the Journal-World has returned to his home in Carrollton, Texas.
“He left. He’s gone,” said Mangino, who declined to elaborate on the situation.
Homefield disadvantage: Taped crowd noise was blasted on Memorial Stadium’s sound system during Wednesday’s practice to prepare the Jayhawks for Saturday’s road game at ISU.
“I don’t know if gets quite that loud anywhere, really, in the Big 12,” defensive tackle Travis Watkins said.
Iowa State officials expect at least 40,000 fans for the Big 12 opener, which begins at 11:39 a.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.
ISU had about that many fans attend its season-opening game against Florida State last Saturday night at Kansas City, Mo.
Now starting: Mangino said Donnie Amadi was likely to start Saturday at cornerback. The red-shirt freshman had been battling sophomore Leo Bookman for the starting role.
“Donnie Amadi has had a tremendous camp,” Mangino said. “He has great speed and really understands his position.”
Bookman, an All-American sprinter for the KU track team, is expected to play in a backup role.
Kenneth Thompson won’t play football for Kansas this season. Next season might be a different story.
While KU prepares for Saturday’s season opener at Iowa State, the all-state defensive back is back home in Grand Prairie, Texas, because he failed to qualify academically.
“It was very disappointing,” Thompson said Wednesday in a phone interview. “My heart was broken. I just had to deal with it because it was my fault.”
Thompson hasn’t given up hope. He worked with a tutor this summer and plans to take the SAT for the third time on Sept. 28.
“If he qualifies, he’ll be here at semester,” coach Mark Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice at Memorial Stadium. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to consider alternatives for him.”
Other alternatives could include two years of junior college, but Thompson is determined to be in Kansas for spring drills.
“It’s my goal,” said the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback. “I’ve got to be there. Nothing’s going to stop me from that.”
Thompson’s failure to qualify was surprising. The corner was recruited by several schools with high academic standards, including Stanford, Southern Methodist, Rice and Northwestern. Thompson, in fact, committed to Northwestern in early December. But he went through with a Dec. 16 recruiting trip to KU and switched his verbal commitment to Kansas.
Thompson said he graduated with a 3.5 grade-point average, but has struggled with the pressure of the SAT.
“I guess I’m not a good test taker,” he said. “I missed by a couple points both times.”
The Texan said KU’s coaching staff has been supportive of him, despite his absence.
“I love it that they’ve been standing by me,” he said. “It makes me want to come even more.”
And Thompson will come, making the seven-hour drive to Lawrence to see some of the Jayhawks’ home games. He’s good friends with freshman receiver and fellow Texan Mark Simmons, who is expected to make an impact for KU.
“I have the Internet and cable,” Thompson said. “I’ll be watching them every time they play.”
Not that Thompson doesn’t have plenty to keep himself busy. He’s going to school part-time at North Lake Community College in Irving, working part-time at UPS, serving as a volunteer assistant coach with his younger brother’s middle school team and working out with his high school coaches.
While Mangino looks forward to having Thompson here in the spring, another member of his first recruiting class has left the program. Mangino confirmed Tuesday that freshman receiver Jerome Lewis as previously reported in the Journal-World has returned to his home in Carrollton, Texas.
“He left. He’s gone,” said Mangino, who declined to elaborate on the situation.
Homefield disadvantage: Taped crowd noise was blasted on Memorial Stadium’s sound system during Wednesday’s practice to prepare the Jayhawks for Saturday’s road game at ISU.
“I don’t know if gets quite that loud anywhere, really, in the Big 12,” defensive tackle Travis Watkins said.
Iowa State officials expect at least 40,000 fans for the Big 12 opener, which begins at 11:39 a.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.
ISU had about that many fans attend its season-opening game against Florida State last Saturday night at Kansas City, Mo.
Now starting: Mangino said Donnie Amadi was likely to start Saturday at cornerback. The red-shirt freshman had been battling sophomore Leo Bookman for the starting role.
“Donnie Amadi has had a tremendous camp,” Mangino said. “He has great speed and really understands his position.”
Bookman, an All-American sprinter for the KU track team, is expected to play in a backup role.
Kenneth Thompson won’t play football for Kansas this season. Next season might be a different story.
While KU prepares for Saturday’s season opener at Iowa State, the all-state defensive back is back home in Grand Prairie, Texas, because he failed to qualify academically.
“It was very disappointing,” Thompson said Wednesday in a phone interview. “My heart was broken. I just had to deal with it because it was my fault.”
Thompson hasn’t given up hope. He worked with a tutor this summer and plans to take the SAT for the third time on Sept. 28.
“If he qualifies, he’ll be here at semester,” coach Mark Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice at Memorial Stadium. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to consider alternatives for him.”
Other alternatives could include two years of junior college, but Thompson is determined to be in Kansas for spring drills.
“It’s my goal,” said the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback. “I’ve got to be there. Nothing’s going to stop me from that.”
Thompson’s failure to qualify was surprising. The corner was recruited by several schools with high academic standards, including Stanford, Southern Methodist, Rice and Northwestern. Thompson, in fact, committed to Northwestern in early December. But he went through with a Dec. 16 recruiting trip to KU and switched his verbal commitment to Kansas.
Thompson said he graduated with a 3.5 grade-point average, but has struggled with the pressure of the SAT.
“I guess I’m not a good test taker,” he said. “I missed by a couple points both times.”
The Texan said KU’s coaching staff has been supportive of him, despite his absence.
“I love it that they’ve been standing by me,” he said. “It makes me want to come even more.”
And Thompson will come, making the seven-hour drive to Lawrence to see some of the Jayhawks’ home games. He’s good friends with freshman receiver and fellow Texan Mark Simmons, who is expected to make an impact for KU.
“I have the Internet and cable,” Thompson said. “I’ll be watching them every time they play.”
Not that Thompson doesn’t have plenty to keep himself busy. He’s going to school part-time at North Lake Community College in Irving, working part-time at UPS, serving as a volunteer assistant coach with his younger brother’s middle school team and working out with his high school coaches.
While Mangino looks forward to having Thompson here in the spring, another member of his first recruiting class has left the program. Mangino confirmed Tuesday that freshman receiver Jerome Lewis as previously reported in the Journal-World has returned to his home in Carrollton, Texas.
“He left. He’s gone,” said Mangino, who declined to elaborate on the situation.
Homefield disadvantage: Taped crowd noise was blasted on Memorial Stadium’s sound system during Wednesday’s practice to prepare the Jayhawks for Saturday’s road game at ISU.
“I don’t know if gets quite that loud anywhere, really, in the Big 12,” defensive tackle Travis Watkins said.
Iowa State officials expect at least 40,000 fans for the Big 12 opener, which begins at 11:39 a.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.
ISU had about that many fans attend its season-opening game against Florida State last Saturday night at Kansas City, Mo.
Now starting: Mangino said Donnie Amadi was likely to start Saturday at cornerback. The red-shirt freshman had been battling sophomore Leo Bookman for the starting role.
“Donnie Amadi has had a tremendous camp,” Mangino said. “He has great speed and really understands his position.”
Bookman, an All-American sprinter for the KU track team, is expected to play in a backup role.
Kenneth Thompson won’t play football for Kansas this season. Next season might be a different story.
While KU prepares for Saturday’s season opener at Iowa State, the all-state defensive back is back home in Grand Prairie, Texas, because he failed to qualify academically.
“It was very disappointing,” Thompson said Wednesday in a phone interview. “My heart was broken. I just had to deal with it because it was my fault.”
Thompson hasn’t given up hope. He worked with a tutor this summer and plans to take the SAT for the third time on Sept. 28.
“If he qualifies, he’ll be here at semester,” coach Mark Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice at Memorial Stadium. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to consider alternatives for him.”
Other alternatives could include two years of junior college, but Thompson is determined to be in Kansas for spring drills.
“It’s my goal,” said the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback. “I’ve got to be there. Nothing’s going to stop me from that.”
Thompson’s failure to qualify was surprising. The corner was recruited by several schools with high academic standards, including Stanford, Southern Methodist, Rice and Northwestern. Thompson, in fact, committed to Northwestern in early December. But he went through with a Dec. 16 recruiting trip to KU and switched his verbal commitment to Kansas.
Thompson said he graduated with a 3.5 grade-point average, but has struggled with the pressure of the SAT.
“I guess I’m not a good test taker,” he said. “I missed by a couple points both times.”
The Texan said KU’s coaching staff has been supportive of him, despite his absence.
“I love it that they’ve been standing by me,” he said. “It makes me want to come even more.”
And Thompson will come, making the seven-hour drive to Lawrence to see some of the Jayhawks’ home games. He’s good friends with freshman receiver and fellow Texan Mark Simmons, who is expected to make an impact for KU.
“I have the Internet and cable,” Thompson said. “I’ll be watching them every time they play.”
Not that Thompson doesn’t have plenty to keep himself busy. He’s going to school part-time at North Lake Community College in Irving, working part-time at UPS, serving as a volunteer assistant coach with his younger brother’s middle school team and working out with his high school coaches.
While Mangino looks forward to having Thompson here in the spring, another member of his first recruiting class has left the program. Mangino confirmed Tuesday that freshman receiver Jerome Lewis as previously reported in the Journal-World has returned to his home in Carrollton, Texas.
“He left. He’s gone,” said Mangino, who declined to elaborate on the situation.
Homefield disadvantage: Taped crowd noise was blasted on Memorial Stadium’s sound system during Wednesday’s practice to prepare the Jayhawks for Saturday’s road game at ISU.
“I don’t know if gets quite that loud anywhere, really, in the Big 12,” defensive tackle Travis Watkins said.
Iowa State officials expect at least 40,000 fans for the Big 12 opener, which begins at 11:39 a.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.
ISU had about that many fans attend its season-opening game against Florida State last Saturday night at Kansas City, Mo.
Now starting: Mangino said Donnie Amadi was likely to start Saturday at cornerback. The red-shirt freshman had been battling sophomore Leo Bookman for the starting role.
“Donnie Amadi has had a tremendous camp,” Mangino said. “He has great speed and really understands his position.”
Bookman, an All-American sprinter for the KU track team, is expected to play in a backup role.
