About a month ago, a co-worker and I were blown away, comparing the KU football schedules of [2007][1] and [2008][2].To say it was like comparing night and day would not be doing the experience justice.That was, though, a month ago.When KU began succeeding this season, plenty of fuss was made about the strength of the Jayhawks’ schedule. After 10 weeks it includes four non-conference opponents with a combined record of 12-25 (though Central Michigan has bounced back to go 4-0 so far this year in MAC play) and a conference slate devoid of South powers Oklahoma and Texas (which, of course, KU had no control over).In 2008, KU not only has the already-fabled non-con matchup at South Florida in the season’s third week, but has a seven-game run to end the season which includes, in order, Colorado (home), Oklahoma (away), Texas Tech (home), Kansas State (home), Nebraska (away), Texas (home) and Missouri (you know where by now, I’m sure).Given the Jayhawks’ 9-0 record so far, that ’08 sked may not look as daunting as it did, say, five weeks ago. At that point, on paper, it looked harder than a math test.On top of that, when you look at KU’s current [depth chart][3], it could easily soften any fan’s edge down to a nub.Now, yes, it might be a tad out of place to talk about 2008 when 2007 still is a season with National Championship aspirations. But by looking at how KU’s lineup could shake out in 2008, it makes what has been accomplished so far in 2007 that much more impressive. You still with me? (I’m referencing youth, in case you’re not).**2008 Defense**Of the 22 players listed on KU’s current defensive two-deep, only two are seniors.One is James McClinton, who in my opinion has been the defensive unit’s most valuable piece this season. The other is Sadiq Muhammed, who is the No. 2 strong safety.Of course, there’s still the heavy likelihood that junior corner Aqib Talib could be NFL-bound. Talib has [hinted lately][4] that coming back is a possibility, but ask any media member who’s put a microphone in his face, and they’ll agree that with Aqib, you just never know.But even at that, Kendrick Harper returns on the other side, and in Talib’s place would most likely be Chris Harris, who started the season’s first seven games in Harper’s place while the JUCO transfer was hurt.The defense’s second-strongest point would probably bet at safety, with Darrell Stuckey and Patrick Resby both set to be back in place.The most solid unit in front of them, literally, is the second-coming of Kane-Reid-Floodman (better known as Holt-Mortensen-Rivera) will all be seniors in 2008. On the defensive line, McClinton’s void will be far from easy to fill. Though there’s plenty of potential. Todd Haselhorst will be a senior, and also vying for the spot would be Jamal Greene, who has seen action in six games this year as a redshirt frosh.In all, there could be potentially as many as 10.5 of the 11 starters back (Harris gets the nod as the .5).**2008 Offense**The losses will be a little more abundant on the offensive side of the ball, but it’ll hardly be a cupboard-cleaning.The offensive line was a big mystery coming into this season, with Anthony Collins and Cesar Rodriguez – both tackles – were the only returners. Adrian Mayes, Ryan Cantrell and Chet Hartley have been good cogs in the middle. That’s true when looking at the numbers, too, as KU has the nation’s 15th-ranked rushing attack.Rodriguez is the lone senior up front, but Collins has aspirations of one day playing on Sundays, and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he gave it some consideration after this year, given his size, athleticism and track record of dominance at the offense’s most key position with a right-handed quarterback doing the passing – left tackle. Though with the way the KU coaching staffs have molded unheralded o-line recruits into solid units the past couple of years, you’d have to think that trend could continue.From a statistical standpoint, KU’s key losses on offense will be senior running back Brandon McAnderson and senior receiver Marcus Henry. McAnderson has gone from underdog to the team’s leading rushing this season, with 807 yards and 13 touchdowns. But in his place next fall will be Jake Sharp, who has 661 yards of his own this fall, as the clear-cut No. 1, with solid physical prospects behind him in Angus Quigley and Carmon Boyd-Anderson.Henry is the team’s top receiver in terms of both catches (38) and yards (686). Todd Reesing’s second-most frequented target – and roommate – senior tight end Derek Fine also graduates from the collegiate game after this season.Again, though, the passing of the torch has already begun. Moreso with Henry than with Fine.Most of Henry’s huge numbers were compiled in the season’s first three weeks, as true frosh Dezmon Briscoe has become one of Reesing’s favorite targets in recent contests. Plus, Dexton Fields – the team’s most reliable possession wideout – will be back, along with newfound target Kerry Meier.Fine may be tougher to replace, not only because of his knack for being a reliable set of hands on short-yardage passing situations, but also because of his blocking. Right now, freshman Bradley Dedeaux is behind him. He has one grab this year, which was coincidentally a deflected pass off of Fine’s gloves.Oh yeah, should probably mention that Reesing will only be a junior.**2008 Special Teams** This is where the most overhaul will occur.KU loses both its punter (Kyle Tucker) and kicker (Scott Webb) to graduation. Behind them, you have Kerry Meier listed as the No. 2 punter and a freshman, Stephen Hoge, listed as the kicker. We’ve only seen Meier punt a couple of times, and we’ve never seen Hoge. So there’s not much to go off of there. Meier will probably also be a good candidate to assume holding duties when Tucker is gone.The key returner will be, well, the kick returner, Marcus Herford. He’ll be back as a senior. He’s taken two kicks back for scores this season and is statistically right now the conference’s top kick returner, averaging 31.1 yards a pop (six yards better per attempt than the next guy behind him).The punt returner spot will be maybe the most interesting competition on the team, because all three guys who have fielded them at one point or another this year will all be back. Raimond Pendleton showed promise early, returning a punt for a score in the first game of the year, but then suffered from a case of the dropsies which he never quite shook. He’s been replaced by both Dezmon Briscoe and Anthony Webb. Webb has shown the best hands out of any of them, but he has also looked allergic to sticking his right arm in the air when the situation calls for a fair catch. That can be taught in a summer, though.**The dark horse in all of this is, of course…**…that should the Jayhawks finish out the season with, say, a BCS bowl berth, the number of recruits with Lawrence as a potential destination will grow almost immediately. Heck, it already has. Dodge City quarterback Kale Pick, who within a 24-hour window de-committed from Arkansas and slid his pledge over to Kansas, already has quite the [YouTube resume][5]. More are sure to follow.In other words, one of the 2007 team’s side-victories could wind up being the removal of the whole ‘uh oh, Texas and OU are back on the schedule’ conversation from the Jayhawk fan-base lingo. [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/football/schedule/2007/ [2]: http://www2.kusports.com/football/schedule/2008/ [3]: http://www2.kusports.com/football/depthchart/2007/ [4]: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=jn-talib103107&prov=yhoo&type=lgns [5]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZuP4cp259M
