Kemp adjusting to new role

By Andy Samuelson     Oct 11, 2003

It had been at least two years since Kansas University’s Jerome Kemp put a lick on somebody. You know, really ran up from his safety position and smashed into somebody on the other side of the ball.

That drought ended two weeks ago when Kemp switched sides.

The red-shirt freshman had hoped to play running back for KU after a standout prep career at Wichita Southeast, where he played running back and defensive back.

But Kemp was stuck behind sophomore starter Clark Green and freshman John Randle — his former Southeast teammate — in the backfield, so he switched to safety before the Sept. 27 game against Missouri.

Kemp wasted no time on defense, making two tackles in a backup role against the Tigers.

“It felt good, kind of like I was paying people back for when they hit me,” he said.

Kemp (5-foot-9, 200 pounds) had spent nearly a season and a half trying to find his niche in KU’s backfield. Giving it up wasn’t easy.

“It was something I definitely thought about,” he said. “It’s always been in the back of my mind,” he said. “But it was very tough decision to make. I just wanted to do what was best for my team.”

Randle said his friend definitely did that.

“Man he can hit,” said Randle, recalling some of Kemp’s highlights when the two played in the same defensive secondary for the Buffaloes. “All I remember is him hitting people, coming up and laying people out.”

Kemp remembers how to play the position, but he said the adjustment to D-back had been somewhat difficult at the collegiate level.

“The hardest thing so far is just applying it on the field,” Kemp said. “I’ve got it down paper-wise.”

Kansas coach Mark Mangino said he had seen progress from Kemp, who came to him a few weeks ago and asked if he could make the move.

“He’s coming along,” Mangino said. “There’s a lot of learning involved. But he’s been diligent though, he works at it. Clint Bowen (safeties coach) is doing a good job of bringing him along and we’ll just see. He probably needs a little bit more time to get comfortable, but he’s coming along.”

Senior Zach Dyer, who switched from quarterback to safety last season, said he tried to help Kemp with the transition.

“There’s not a whole let I did, but I offered a few tips,” Dyer said. “I would just tell him a few things about where to line up and how different schemes worked and things.”

Kemp hopes his switch pays off like that of another former Southeast player at a Kansas college just down the road.

Kansas State senior safety Rashad Washington moved from tailback to defensive back during his sophomore season. The senior captain has become one of the Wildcats’ biggest playmakers and likely will be an NFL draft pick.

“Me and my uncle talked a little about that since Rashad was from Southeast,” Kemp said. “It’s a little early for that comparison.”

PREV POST

'Lounging with Lew' set for Monday night

NEXT POST

4433Kemp adjusting to new role