Talking with the media a few hours before Wednesday’s practice, first-year head coach David Beaty said place kicker Matthew Wyman and punter Eric Kahn had looked sharp during preseason camp.

“I’ve really been impressed with Wyman’s kickoffs,” Beaty said. “He’s got a strong leg. That guy can be a major weapon for you. And most of those good teams I’ve ever been around have had a good kickoff guy. It’s hard to cover kicks this day and age.”

As for Wyman’s role as the Jayhawks’ place kicker, the junior who made nine of 15 attempts in 11 games in 2014 is involved in quite a battle with newcomer Nick Bartolotta, a 5-foot-6, 190-pound juco transfer whom coaches and teammates call “Yoda.”

“Bartolotta has been really accurate,” Beaty said. “Wyman is right there with him. That’s an interesting battle that we’ve got going on. Wyman’s probably got a little bit of a stronger leg, and Yoda’s probably a little more accurate, but not by a whole lot. It’ll be interesting to see how that thing plays out.”

In the battle at punter, 2014 back-up Eric Kahn is trying to hold off Hawaii transfer Ruben Guzman, and Beaty said one aspect might decide the competition.

“If we can get those guys consistent, they can change the field for us,” he said. “Eric Kahn, that dude can hit it. He’s got a strong leg. When he gets his technique down and he hits it, man, it goes. Same thing for the Guzman kid.”