Everyone knows that having a strong offensive line — especially in a pass-happy conference like the Big 12 — is paramount to a team’s success. And there are a handful of guys on the Kansas University football roster who give the Jayhawks a chance to trot a line with a little bit of experience and some talent onto the field this fall.
The latest entry in our ongoing series of the most crucial Jayhawks for the KU football team this fall is one of those guys.
Here’s a look:
22. Junior Visinia, 6-foot-4, 345-pound Soph. Offensive Lineman
—————————
Visinia is coming off of a solid freshman season in which he played in all 12 games and started three at right guard.
The biggest question for the Grandview, Missouri, native heading into his second season with the Jayhawks will not be focused on what he did during the offseason to make himself stronger.
Ability is not the issue here. Visinia has a solid understanding of how to play the position, is versatile enough to handle run blocking and pass blocking and has possibly the best feet of the bunch, especially when you consider his size. But there were times last season — as there are with all freshmen — when Visinia was simply overmatched from a strength perspective. And if he did not do enough in the offseason to address that then the likelihood of him making a significant jump during Year 2 drops.
Having said that, it sounds like new strength and conditioning coach Je’Ney Jackson and crew have worked these guys hard over the summer and are seeing great results both in terms of improved power and stamina.
The experience Visinia picked up last season as a true freshman just trying to figure it all out should go a long way toward making him comfortable from the get-go this season. And his presence as an anchor at right guard should be something KU can count on.
**Most Crucial Jayhawks 2015:**
