Halfway through their offseason conditioning program, Kansas University’s football players finally are getting a summer vacation.
“They need a break,” KU director of strength and conditioning Chris Dawson said Thursday after the Jayhawks had their final workout before a four-day holiday weekend. “They’ve done a good job and have been working hard.”
Kansas started summer workouts June 8, and the program runs through July 28. Players work out four days a week for 21/2 to three hours each day.
Summer workouts are voluntary under NCAA rules, but Dawson said all of KU’s returning scholarship players were on campus. The majority of KU’s newcomers also will be on campus for at least a portion of the summer session.
“My freshman year, Kevin Long and I were the only guys that came in out of a class of 30,” fifth-year senior Travis Watkins said. “A lot of our freshmen came this year, and they do it out of their own pocket because they’re not on scholarship yet. Some of them have to get jobs to pay for everything. We had a lot of freshmen here last year, too. It’s a big change from the past.”
Dawson praised many of the freshmen, including San Antonio running back Gary Green II. The James Madison High product is the son of former Kansas City Chief Gary Green, who also was one of his son’s assistant coaches in high school.
“Any time your dad is a coach, it makes a difference,” Dawson said. “He’s seen a lot of the things we’re doing. He’s ahead of some of the other guys in terms of workouts and knowing what we’re doing.
“We’ve signed a great group of kids. How good? You can’t tell until they put the pads on.”
Workouts will resume Tuesday. The Jayhawks report for preseason camp Aug. 6. KU’s season opener is a Sept. 4 home game against Tulsa.
