Houston natives on KU football roster monitoring Harvey devastation closely

By Benton Smith Aug 28, 2017

Mike Yoder

Kansas junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong takes a breather during a preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017.

Hurricane Harvey’s devastation throughout the greater Houston area hit home for a number of Kansas football players the past several days.

KU head coach David Beaty said Monday the program is doing all it can to support Jayhawks who call the flooded metropolitan Texas area home, as well as their families.

Two of the program’s most prominent returning players, juniors defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., and receiver Steven Sims Jr., made names for themselves as Houston preps. But as Beaty referenced, “the list goes on and on,” from there. The Kansas football roster also features senior receiver Bobby Hartzog Jr., sophomore cornerback DeAnte Ford, senior offensive lineman Jayson Rhodes, junior running back Denzell Evans, sophomore D-end Isaiah Bean, sophomore O-lineman Cam Durley, redshirt freshman cornerback Shola Ayinde and sophomore corner Julian Chandler — all Houston natives.

Plus, as Beaty pointed out, redshirt sophomore receiver Chase Harrell and sophomore O-lineman Antione Frazier (both from Huffman) and sophomore receiver Evan Fairs (Fulshear) hail from nearby cities.

The third-year KU coach said he, players and the rest of the staff have tried to be diligent in staying in contact with family members still living in the Houston area.

Mike Yoder

Kansas receiver Steven Sims Jr. runs off of the line of scrimmage during a preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017.

“And just making sure that those families have what they need and they’re safe,” Beaty said. “And making sure that our guys are in constant communication so they know that their loved ones are safe.”

According to Beaty, his team has rallied around its Houstonians.

“I lived down there before. I coached at Rice,” Beaty added of two stints as an assistant coach. “And I know what a four-inch rain did. I can’t imagine what a double-digit rain is doing down there. And our thoughts and prayers are going out with all those people down there in the Houston area.”

Beaty considered his players fortunate, because none of their immediate family members have encountered anything more serious than water levels reaching all the way up to their doorsteps.

“What we have done is try to start a collection, making sure we can contribute and send supplies down there to help the people down there in that area,” the coach said.

Some extended family members, Beaty revealed, have been more greatly impacted by Harvey.

“This next day’s going to be a big day for our guys,” Beaty said Monday morning, “because I know there’s a lot more rain that’s dropping down there this morning and right now that could be a problem for some of those other areas.”

The Associated Press reported up to 20 more inches of rain could fall in the coming days, on top of the more than 30 inches some places already have experienced, according to National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini.

What’s more, flooding will get worse in the days ahead and floodwaters will be slow to recede once Harvey finally moves on, per the weather service.