Former walk-on Kwamie Lassiter II finished as Jayhawks’ leading receiver in 2020

By Benton Smith     Dec 14, 2020

Associated Press
Kansas wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II (8) catches a pass for a touchdown while defended by TCU cornerback C.J. Ceasar II (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Entering the 2020 season, many expected Kansas senior Kwamie Lassiter II to play a key role for the offense. Few would have predicted, however, the former walk-on would finish the year as the Jayhawks’ leading receiver.

In a campaign marred by inconsistencies, Lassiter, at 6 feet and 175 pounds, proved to be a reliable target for KU quarterbacks, making four or more receptions in every game. His steady production left him easily at the top of the statistical leaderboard for KU in both catches (43) and receiving yards (458).

Just last week he was named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

No doubt Lassiter would have traded some of that personal success for some victories. Lassiter’s signature game came on KU’s Senior Night versus TCU. That’s when he registered the first 100-yard outing of his career, turning his seven receptions into 116 yards and a touchdown.

“I’d rather have a dub with the 100,” Lassiter said of his preference for a win that night, when asked about his standout performance, “so it doesn’t feel the same.”

Kansas receivers Kwamie Lassiter II (8) and Takulve Williams (16) pose for a photo during a game against TCU Saturday night at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 28, 2020.

KU head coach Les Miles noted recently that Lassiter’s output this year came even though the senior was generally the team’s No. 2 receiver.

“He is really a wonderful person,” Miles added of Lassiter. “And he just seems to do more with the ball when he touches it.”

Although most who follow the program anticipated two other seniors, Andrew Parchment and Stephon Robinson Jr., to once again be featured game-changers in KU’s passing game, the season didn’t play out according to plan. Parchment, a preseason All-Big 12 wideout, not only became a focal point of opposing defense’s game plans, but the struggling KU offense never found its footing with O-line and quarterback issues all year, ultimately lowering the ceiling of skill players out wide and in the backfield. Parchment had only 24 catches in eight games, totaling 197 yards.

Robinson, meanwhile, barely played due to injury problems early on and eventually had season-ending surgery. Robinson made one catch at Baylor and another at West Virginia, and that was it for his season.

Through all of the complications for KU (0-9 overall, 0-8 Big 12), Lassiter who averaged 50.9 receiving yards a game and 10.7 yards per catch, kept contributing under the radar.

Junior quarterback Miles Kendrick said Lassiter became so valuable because he is able to do everything asked of him.

“He blocks, catches punts, runs great routes. He’s just the total package for us,” Kendrick said. “And it shows on the field each week. He’s always making plays.”

Lassiter was on the receiving end of KU’s longest pass play of the year, a 48-yard bomb from freshman QB Jalon Daniels in the first quarter against TCU. Daniels faked a reverse handoff to Takulve “TK” Williams in the backfield and then reared back to hit Lassiter on his way to the end zone.

“It was a good play call by (offensive coordinator Brent) Dearmon and JD threw a good ball,” Lassiter said. “And I just did what I do.”

Ahead of his somewhat surprising year, Lassiter said his offseason individual work and weight lifting got his body right for what was to come. The KU receiver said form a technique standpoint he worked on his explosiveness and how he comes in and out of his breaks on passing routes.

KU cornerback Elijah Jones, who battled with Lassiter at practices, noticed the veteran receiver’s improvements.

“He’s real twitchy at the line,” Jones said. “He knows how to get off and he knows how to react off of what the defensive back’s doing.”

Lassiter could be one of the seniors Miles and his staff try to bring back for a bonus season. Though KU hasn’t announced yet which senior Jayhawks from 2020 will take advantage of the NCAA’s blanket waiver for an extra year of eligibility, Miles said last week he thought the staff would likely invite back “five to eight” seniors.

KU’s receiving leaders in 2020

Kwamie Lassiter II, sr. — 43 catches, 458 yards, 2 TDs in 9 games

Andrew Parchment, sr. — 24 catches, 197 yards, 2 TDs in 8 games

Luke Grimm, fr. — 19 catches, 255 yards, 2 TDs in 6 games

Takulve “TK” Williams — 19 catches, 95 yards in 6 games

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55208Former walk-on Kwamie Lassiter II finished as Jayhawks’ leading receiver in 2020