Newcomers dot Kansas football depth chart

By David Mitchell     Aug 28, 2004

Kansas University’s defense will have a new look when the Jayhawks open the season Sept. 4 against Tulsa.

Third-year KU coach Mark Mangino released his first updated depth chart of the preseason Friday, and four newcomers — including two true freshmen — made the two-deep on the defensive line.

“I think with our returners and some newcomers, the defensive line will be better than any other time since I’ve arrived,” Mangino said Thursday during a chat on KUsports.com.

Senior David McMillan, who has started 25 consecutive games, returns at defensive end and will be backed up by senior Greg Tyree. A pair of junior-college transfers are penciled in at the other end, with semester-transfer Jermial Ashley running ahead of Charlton Keith, who didn’t join the squad until the fifth day of camp because of academic issues.

Senior Travis Watkins and junior Tim Allen are listed as the starters at defensive tackle. Both are backed up by true freshmen. Olathe East product Todd Haselhorst is listed behind Watkins, while Texan James McClinton was behind Allen.

Mangino raved about both freshmen during a pair of radio interviews Wednesday.

“He puts up big numbers in the weight room,” Mangino said of 6-foot-4, 300-pound Haselhorst. “He’s just a really strong kid. He’s jumping the ball real well. He’s tough as nails.”

Though listed as a backup, McClinton (6-1, 290) was playing with the first-team defense during Wednesday’s practice.

“He’s not a real tall guy, but he’s powerful, and he’s quick as a cat,” Mangino said. “He’s what you want in a defensive lineman at this level. He’s powerful and compact, but he can jump the ball. His quickness is his biggest attribute.”

KU’s base defense has been a 4-3 during Mangino’s first two seasons. The depth chart released Friday listed four linebacker positions, indicating the Jayhawks might use a 3-4 alignment more often.

Kansas listed juniors Banks Floodman and Nick Reid as starters at outside linebacker, with juniors Kevin Kane and Gabriel Toomey as starters at inside linebacker. During KU’s open practices, Kane has played more snaps with the first-team defense than Toomey, who had offseason surgery for an undisclosed injury.

Kane’s backup is another true freshman, Shawnee Mission Northwest product Mike Rivera. Rivera is expected to play, despite the fact KU returned three starters as well as veteran reserves Brandon Perkins, Clark McCracken and Darren Rus.

“That tells you a lot about Mike Rivera,” Mangino said.

Senior strong safety Tony Stubbs will be the only veteran starter in KU’s secondary. A pair of junior-college transfers — free safety Rodney Harris and cornerback Theo Baines — have earned starting jobs there along with receiver-turned-corner Charles Gordon.

Two first-year players are expected to start on offense — Air Force transfer Matt Thompson at left guard and red-shirt freshman Derek Fine at tight end.

Other newcomers making the two-deep on offense were: Transfer Matt Mann at left guard, freshman receiver Marcus Henry and red-shirt freshman Brandon McAnderson at fullback. Junior-college transfer Jason Swanson was third at quarterback behind sophomore Adam Barmann and junior Brian Luke.

On special teams, Mangino has not yet decided between freshman punter Kyle Tucker and senior Chris Tyrrell. Red-shirt freshman Scott Webb will begin the season as backup kicker behind senior Johnny Beck.

  • Roster update: KU also updated its roster Friday. Ten players listed on the preseason roster were omitted from the new one. They are: sophomore punter Jordan Johnson, freshman safety Joey Cotten, junior kicker Jeff Edwards, freshman running back Adonis Redmond, sophomore fullback Mike Reuber, junior defensive back Johnnie Watkins, sophomore defensive tackle Matt Reaves, freshman offensive lineman Reid Kirby, freshman offensive lineman Marcus Ford and tight end Josh Lawrence.
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