Kansas University football fans can get their first look at quarterback Jason Swanson this afternoon when the Jayhawks have their first open practice of the spring.
Swanson, a semester transfer, passed for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons at City College of San Francisco. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior-to-be is a threat to run or pass, which means he can do some of the same things as Bill Whittemore, the quarterback he hopes to replace.
But coach Mark Mangino, who opened spring drills with a closed practice Sunday, won’t be handing Whittemore’s old job over without taking a good, long look at Adam Barmann.
In what should be one of the most interesting battles leading up to the April 18th spring game, Barmann will battle Swanson for the top spot on the depth chart.
While Swanson has played more college games, Barmann has the edge in Division One experience. The Weston, Mo., product was expected to take a red-shirt year as a freshman in 2003, but he was forced into a starting role in the ninth game of the season after Whittemore suffered a collarbone injury in week eight at Kansas State.
Barmann (6-4, 210) completed 57 of 85 passes for 564 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in three games. He was especially impressive in his collegiate debut when he passed for 294 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a TD — and showed no freshman jitters — at Texas A&M.
While Barmann already has spent a season in coordinator Nick Quartaro’s offense, Swanson will be adjusting to a new scheme, coaching staff and receiving corps and likely will need time to adjust.
While one quarterback could emerge as No. 1 by the end of spring drills, the battle likely will pick up again during preseason practices. Remember this, Whittemore — like Swanson — was a semester transfer and started his junior season as a backup to Zach Dyer before becoming the key player in Mangino’s rebuilding effort.
There are several other intriguing positions to watch during today’s open workout, which is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on the practice field behind Anschutz Pavilion:
Special teams I: Johnny Beck and Jerod Brooks split kicking duties last season as juniors, but they’ll have to battle Scott Webb, who took a red-shirt season as a freshman, this spring. Beck made eight of 10 field-goal attempts from 39 yards or closer, but the Kansas City Piper graduate was 1-of-6 from 40 yards or longer. Brooks made all five of his field-goal attempts, but didn’t attempt a kick longer than 29 yards. Beck clearly had the stronger leg of the two, but he struggled with accuracy and lost his job on extra points to Brooks. Webb was an all-state and all-metro selection at Union High in Tulsa, Okla.
Special teams II: Kansas must replace senior punter Curtis Ansel. That job likely will go to Kyle Tucker, a punter and kicker from Cinco Ranch in Katy, Texas, but the high school senior won’t be here until the summer. Lawrence product Walker Douglas and veteran Chris Tyrrell will have the spring to make an impression on the coaching staff.
Up front: Kansas returns the interior of its offensive line — guards Bob Whitaker and Tony Coker and center Joe Vaughn — but must replace senior starters Adrian Jones and Danny Lewis. Among the newcomers to watch on the line are red-shirt freshman Cesar Rodriguez and Air Force transfer Matt Thompson.
Who’s new: In addition to Swanson, other semester transfers to watch are Tyler (Texas) Junior College defensive end Jermail Ashley, Tyler defensive back Theo Baines and San Bernardino Valley College defensive back Rodney Harris.