'09 Opponent Preview: Kansas

Jayhawks at a Glance
Head Coach	Mark Mangino
At Kansas	8th Year / 45-41 Overall
2008 Record	8-5 Overall, 4-4 Big 12
Home/Road/Neutral	5-2 / 1-3 / 2-0
Off Starters Ret/Lost	8 / 3
Def Starters Ret/Lost	7 / 4
Lettermen Returning	42
Off/Def/Spec	18 / 21 / 3
Lettermen Lost	18

2008 Team Stats
	Stat	NCAA	Big 12
Total Offense	432.38	21	7
Rushing Offense	126.77	83	9
Passing Offense	305.62	8	5
Points/Game	33.38	22	8
Total Defense	396.69	89	7
Rushing Defense	123.08	28	4
Passing Defense	273.62	114	10
Pts Allowed/Game	28.85	82	7

Returning Stat Leaders
Rushing	Jake Sharp (860 yds, 12 TDs)
Passing	Todd Reesing (3,888 yds, 32 TDs)
Receiving	Dezmon Briscoe (1,407 yds, 15 TDs)
Tackles	Darrell Stuckey (98)
Sacks	Jake Laptad (7.0)
INTs	Darrell Stuckey (5)

NORMAN, Okla. -- SoonerSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at OU's Week 7 meeting with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Game Buildup

A week after the always emotional Red River Rivalry, the Sooners turn right back around to face Kansas, one of the top contenders in the Big 12 North. The Jayhawks are one of six bowl teams Oklahoma plays away from home this season.

Former Sooner assistant Mark Mangino welcomes his old boss to Lawrence for the first time, as the 2005 OU-Kansas game was played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Season Outlook

Mangino has turned Kansas into a perennial contender in the Big 12 North. After taking the nation by storm in 2007, the Jayhawks appeared in consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history last season.

Perhaps no player has been more instrumental to KU's success in recent years than Todd Reesing, who returns for his final season in Lawrence. He leads a high-powered offense that the Jayhawks hope can carry them to their first Big 12 title game appearance in 2009.

Player to Watch

Todd Reesing | QB | No. 5 | Senior
He may not possess the size of a prototypical quarterback, but Reesing is simply a gamer.

The crafty signal-caller put his playmaking ability on display in Norman last year, constantly evading pressure from the Sooner defense. He already holds virtually every school school passing record, including career and season marks for yards, completion percentage and touchdowns.

With a 20-6 career record as a starter, as long as Reesing is under center, the Jayhawks have a chance.

Other Key Players

Dezmon Briscoe

Darrell Stuckey

OL Jeff Spikes, So.

DB Chris Harris, Jr.

DT Jamal Greene, Jr.

WR Kerry Meier, Sr.

Jake Laptad

Jake Sharp

DT Caleb Blakesley, Sr.

DB Daymond Patterson, So.

Scouting Kansas' Offense

While Reesing attracts much of the attention, Kansas is more than just a one-man show on offense.

Multi-talented receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier give the Jayhawks two dynamic threats on the outside. Both had over 1,000 yards receiving last year as KU produced a school record for passing yards per game.

Jake Sharp is an experienced running back who has rushed for over 800 yards each of the last two seasons despite not being a full-time starter. He also provides the Jayhawks with another receiving threat out of the backfield.

Kansas must replace three starters on the offensive line, but Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes are both back after starting as freshmen a year ago.

Scouting Kansas' Defense

The Jayhawks will utilize a new 4-2-5 defensive scheme in 2009, emphasizing the team's strength in the secondary.

Senior Darrell Stuckey leads the unit as one of the top returning safeties in the country. Stuckey compiled 98 tackles and five interceptions on his way to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors a year ago. Chris Harris, Daymond Patterson, Phillip Strozier and Justin Thornton are all back as well, giving KU five DBs with starting experience.

Kansas also returns three starters up front, including Caleb Blakesley and Jake Laptad who both earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition last season.

All three starting linebackers from a year ago are gone, but Justin Springer and Arist Wright have both been in the program for at least three years. Former running back Angus Quigley also hopes to make a splash on defense after making the transition to linebacker.

Game Implications

It's another big game on the Big 12 schedule. Both teams are looking to position themselves for a run to the conference championship game.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stay tuned throughout the summer as we provide an in-depth look at each of OU's 2009 opponents.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors