Kansas will be without arguably its top linemen on each side of the ball for Tuesday’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl against UNLV.
Head coach Lance Leipold told reporters in Phoenix Sunday afternoon at KU’s bowl media day that offensive lineman Dominick Puni and edge rusher Austin Booker, both first-team all-conference performers this season, did not travel with the team to Phoenix.
“Those were two very fine players for us,” Leipold said. “Appreciate everything they’ve contributed this season, Dominick for two, and they both have bright futures.”
Puni, a sixth-year senior from St. Louis, has now exhausted his collegiate eligibility. He joined KU from Division II Central Missouri prior to the 2022 season, solidified himself as an NFL prospect this year after moving from guard to left tackle, and was Pro Football Focus’ second-best offensive tackle in the Big 12 Conference with a season-long grade of 79.8, including 91.0 as a pass blocker. He will play in January’s Senior Bowl ahead of the NFL Draft.
Booker’s future is somewhat less certain as it’s not clear yet whether he will declare for the draft himself; as a redshirt sophomore this year, he has now played three seasons.
He was perhaps KU’s most prominent breakout player in 2023, earning defensive newcomer of the year honors from the Big 12 after tallying 56 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. He did that while playing only about 40 defensive snaps per game, after barely playing at all in two seasons at Minnesota.
Also, the NCAA’s recent guidance on two-time transfers has opened the door to players like Booker playing immediately at new schools in 2024 if they so choose.
In the long term, KU is prepared for Puni’s departure because it is bringing in four offensive linemen in its 2024 class, and for Booker’s because it has earned the recent commitment of Youngstown State transfer end Dylan Wudke, not to mention the freshman talent it has coming in next year.
In the short term, the Jayhawks may be spread a bit thin on the offensive line Tuesday, especially with the status of fellow tackle Bryce Cabeldue still unclear. Cabeldue did not play in KU’s regular-season finale against Cincinnati due to injury. Usual starting guards Ar’maj Reed-Adams and Michael Ford Jr. both have the ability to play tackle — Leipold mentioned the prospect of moving Reed-Adams outside and noted that Kobe Baynes has seen plenty of time at guard.
One more slot will be open for either promising true freshman Calvin Clements, a Lawrence native, or transfer reserve Spencer Lovell.
The solution at defensive end, which as Leipold noted has always rotated heavily, should be a bit more straightforward, as KU still has the likes of Hayden Hatcher and Jereme Robinson, plus backups Dylan Brooks, Patrick Joyner Jr. and Davion Westmoreland.
Kansas defensive lineman, Austin Booker, makes a shoestring tackle against BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Kansas offensive line coach Scott Fuchs guides his players in practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Mike Gunnoe/Journal-World photo
Jonathan Mouer/Guaranteed Rate Bowl