The Kansas University football program’s ongoing search to find adequate answers at the punting and place-kicking positions recently received some good news.
Quinton Conaway, a former KU recruit who last season chose to be a preferred walk-on at Oregon instead of coming to Kansas, has been added to the KU roster.
Conaway did not appear on the Ducks’ official roster, and his eligibility status at Kansas is unknown.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and in the prep recruiting class of 2015, Conaway was one of the top performers at both the Kohl and Chris Sailer kicking academies, which attract some of the top kickers in the country.
On his website, after Conaway’s showing at the camp, Sailer had this to say: “Quinton is an outstanding kicker, one of the biggest legs in his class. Hits a great ball with excellent height off the ground. Kickoffs are near the very top of his class. Kicks well under pressure. Has as much talent as anyone in the nation. Also developing into a top punter. A fine young man with a great attitude and work ethic. One of the hardest workers out there. A fine college prospect.”
Like everyone in KU coach David Beaty’s program, Conaway, a walk-on who hails from Edmond, Okla., will have to earn his spot at Kansas. However, he’ll be competing with returning kickers Matthew Wyman and Nick Bartolotta, who both kicked for Kansas last season with varying results.
Wyman, who is listed solely as a kicker, has been inconsistent during the past couple of seasons and just last year tried his skills as a punter to help bail Kansas out.
Bartolotta also produced inconsistent results during his time as KU’s place kicker last season.
As of today, Conaway is the only punter listed on KU’s roster.
Ex-Jayhawk Watson to Southern Illinois
Former KU linebacker Kyron Watson, who two weeks ago announced he was leaving the program, has landed at Southern Illinois.
Watson, a former four-star prospect who never fulfilled that potential at Kansas, will finish his college career much closer to his home of East St. Louis, Ill., and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Salukis following this season.
New numbers
Speaking of KU’s updated roster, the numbers of the KU newcomers have been revealed for the 2016 season. They are: DT DeeIsaac Davis, 99, DT Isi Holani, 6, and CB Stephan Robinson 11.
Walk-on quarterback Dagan Haehn also will wear No. 6, and high school teammate Keegan Brewer, a wideout, will wear No. 17.
In addition, offensive lineman Cam Durley will wear No. 71, cornerback Shola Ayinde will wear No. 15, and Texas A&M transfer and veteran wide receiver LaQuivionte Gonzales will wear No. 1. Former Free State High standout Keith Loneker Jr., who will be eligible at linebacker this spring and fall, will wear No. 20. KU figures to add roughly 12 more names and numbers to this list following the Feb. 3 signing day.
