The Kansas football team on Wednesday night released its first-ever Big 12 availability report ahead of Saturday’s game against West Virginia at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
The report provided updates on a variety of Jayhawks who were listed as probable, questionable, doubtful or out — and on the whole painted a generally optimistic picture of KU’s health status at midweek.
In the probable category, KU included linebacker Logan Brantley, defensive end Dakyus Brinkley, safety Taylor Davis, running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., safety Darrion Jones, wide receiver Jaden Nickens and linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr.
Sipp’s designation is the most newsworthy, as the former All-MAC linebacker appears poised to make his debut after transferring to KU from Bowling Green in the offseason. Sipp missed the first three games of the year due to an injury suffered in fall camp and was spotted with a brace on his right arm. He warmed up prior to KU’s third game at Missouri.
Davis and Hishaw are regular starters for the Jayhawks, while Brantley and Brinkley have seen some rotational action. Jones and Nickens have not yet played as true freshmen, with Nickens largely absent from open portions of practice during fall camp due to what head coach Lance Leipold called a “non-football-related incident injury.”
The only questionable player for KU was linebacker Cole Mondi, a Lawrence native who contributed on special teams. The Jayhawks did not list any players as doubtful.
There were no surprises for KU among the players ruled out, a group that included offensive lineman David Abajian (whom Leipold has said is out for the season), defensive end Dylan Brooks, tight end Conlee Hovey, cornerback Jameer Moore, running back Jack Schneider and defensive lineman Jason Strickland. All but Abajian and Brooks are walk-ons, none of whom have played this year.
Also notable for KU was the lack of an injury designation for defensive tackle Gage Keys, who transferred back to the Jayhawks after a year at Auburn and figures to play a rotational pass-rush role on the interior defensive line. Key players who have been banged up at times in recent weeks such as linebacker Bangally Kamara, wide receiver Cam Pickett and running back Leshon Williams did not appear either.
For West Virginia, safety Derek Carter Jr. and running back Tye Edwards were probable; wide receiver Preston Fox, “bandit” linebacker Marshon Oxley and linebacker Chase Wilson were questionable; tight end Jacob Barrick and offensive lineman Xavier Bausley were doubtful; and wide receiver Jaden Bray, safety Julien Horton, running back Kannon Katzer, running back Jahiem White and offensive lineman Cooper Young are out.
White and Bray were both key players on the Mountaineers’ offense who suffered season-ending injuries early this year.
KU will release successive updates on Thursday night and Friday night, as well as 90 minutes before Saturday’s 5 p.m. kickoff. These will continue for each conference game during the year, and analogous reports are also set to be implemented for men’s and women’s basketball.
