Kansas University’s beleaguered defense could use some help.
The Jayhawks could get a big boost Saturday against Nebraska if defensive tackle Travis Watkins takes the field for the first time this season.
Watkins suffered a broken foot Aug. 13 during a preseason scrimmage and has not played a down for KU (5-4 overall, 2-3 Big 12 Conference) this year. That could change against the Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2).
“Travis is working,” Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s been practicing in all the drills. He got some team work today. He’s rusty, but will he play this week? We probably won’t know. What we’re probably going to do with him is practice him again tomorrow and then after he gets that rest day on Friday we’ll see how his injury reacts when he gets up Saturday morning. We may take him out during warmups and run him early a little bit to see how he moves and cuts, and if he feels comfortable and our doctors do, we’ll play him. If not, we’ll just have to keep going.”
Watkins, a fourth-year junior, would be a candidate for a medical red-shirt season if he sat out the entire year, but Mangino said KU’s captain was willing to play despite missing the first nine games in a 12-game schedule.
“He wants to if he can,” said Mangino, whose team is one victory from becoming bowl-eligible. “That’s what he told me. We’ll do whatever he wants to do.”
Mangino has tried several players at defensive tackle during Watkins’ absence. Junior Chuck Jones was moved from end to tackle before the season opener, but the junior-college transfer has been hampered by injuries of his own. That thrust backup Sid Bachmann into a starting role, and the senior has made nine tackles in nine games.
Kansas ranks 92nd in the nation against the run, allowing an average of 186.3 yards per game. Nebraska, meanwhile, ranks fifth in the nation with an average of 236.2 rushing yards per game.
Watkins, who started 22 of 23 games in the previous two seasons, would be a welcome addition to a defense that has allowed 29.4 points per game.
  6Sports video: KU hopes for first win over Nebraska in decades 6Sports video: Travis Watkins will try to play this season |
“He just has to be 100 percent on top of his game,” sophomore linebacker Gabriel Toomey said. “He’s a smart player and a good player. If he’s 100 percent, he’s going to help us a lot.”
If he’s not 100 percent healthy, Watkins will continue to watch from the sideline in street clothes.
“If we get him back as a healthy, 100 percent player, it will help us,” Mangino said. “There’s no question about it. That’s the issue I brought up with Travis. ‘It wouldn’t be good for you to play if you’re 75 or 80 percent. You might as well wait until you’re really feeling good and close to 100 percent if you’re going to be able to contribute this year.’ It would be foolish to put him out on field this season if he’s anything but 100 percent.”
Watkins wasn’t the only injured captain on the practice field Wednesday. Senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, who will sit out his second straight game with what is believed to be a collarbone injury, was in full pads.
“He’s throwing a little bit,” Mangino said. “We’re not making him throw any deep balls — just short, intermediate routes. He’s experiencing a little bit of soreness, but I’m told that’s part of the process. He’s still ahead of schedule, they think, in terms of an opportunity to return this year.”
