We’ll stick with offense to crack into the Top 5, where a newcomer who had a fantastic preseason camp sits as one of the most important players in KU’s new Air Raid offense.
His name is Ke’aun Kinner (pronounced Key-On) and he’s the latest back in a long line of Jayhawks hoping to keep KU’s recent success running the ball rolling.
Here’s a look:
5. Ke’aun Kinner, 5-foot-9, 180-pound Jr. Running Back
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To look at the 5-foot-9 running back generously listed at 180 pounds is to wonder whether he could withstand the pounding as a featured back. Nothing new about that and Kinner always answers the call. In a game for Little Elm High in Texas, he carried it 55 times and gained 332 yards.
Earning National Junior College Athletic Association offensive player of the year honors last season, Kinner dashed and darted his way to 1,696 yards and 22 touchdowns on 253 carries.
Clearly, he’s more durable than he looks. If not for falling short of qualifying academically out of high school, Kinner might have been recruited by all the Texas heavyweights. Injuries have eaten into KU’s depth here, so a healthy season from Kinner would ease those concerns. He’s a very talented back.
Running backs coach Reggie Mitchell called Kinner a mixture of former Jayhawks Tony Pierson and James Sims and if that’s anywhere close to accurate you can see Kinner’s enormous potential.
**Most Crucial Jayhawks 2015:**
No. 10 – QBs Carter Stanley and Ryan Willis
