If not for a toe injury that sidelined him for four games in the middle of the season, Khalil Herbert might have made a bigger impact as a true freshman in 2016. As it was, Herbert left a positive impression. He showed his break-away speed on a 66-yard touchdown run at Memphis and generally had the look of a running back who has a natural feel for how to use his blockers.
As frequently as Kansas is expected to pass under new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, the running backs who can pass-protect and develop into receiving threats stand the best chance to make it onto the field. Herbert has strong potential in both areas.
“I’ve seen him on film,” Meacham said. “He looks like this just tiny dude, but he’s actually a rocked-up guy, a bigger, thicker guy. For some reason, he puts pads on and he looks smaller.”
A sophomore out of Coral Gables, Fla., Herbert stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 200 pounds. His ability to run with pads low to the ground could be a factor in him looking smaller on film. Plus, it makes him a smaller target and gains him extra yards because when he’s brought down, he falls forward. His speed is just one factor that gives him a chance to develop into a productive pass-catcher out of the backfield.
“Khalil has such smooth hands,” head coach David Beaty said. “He could play receiver if he needed to.”
In trying to guess which running back will lead the team in rushing yards, Herbert certainly deserves high mention in that conversation, along with Taylor Martin, and if he can get up to speed on all the responsibilities that come with the position and prove he’s not a ball-security risk, Dom Williams could force his way into the conversation as well.
“Khalil continues to improve,” Beaty said. “Great vision, smooth feet, very patient, getting even more patient, which is good.”
Said Meacham: “He’s just a guy you can trust. You put him in and he’s going to do it right and he’s going to do it full speed.”
Herbert averaged 4.3 yards per carry last season and stood out in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honors.
