The Rob Breaux Show’s Big 12 Preview: Kansas
Kansas
HC: Les Miles OC: Les Koenning DC: D.J. Eliot
2018 RECORD - 3-9
Most Likely 2019 RECORD - 3-9
2019 PREVIEW
The entire city of Lawrence, Kansas is in a buzz because of the Mad Hatter Les Miles. They don’t mind that Miles hasn’t coached in three and a half years. When you buy a used car it’s still brand new to you. It doesn’t matter that it broke down for the last guy. Right? Miles comes into 2019 with an impressive 142-55 overall record, but now he’s in Kansas where the record over the same time period is the opposite. Kansas doesn’t have the athletes that LSU had but Miles KU cupboard isn’t completely bare, particularly in the running back corps with Pooka Williams and Khalil Herbert and in the defensive backfield with Mike Lee and company.
As has been the case with KU since the late 2000’s, the quarterback position is still up for grabs. Is JUCO transfer Thomas MacVittie the key to success? Even if we call the QB position “filled” we have to turn our attention to the receiving corps, which will is severely depleted. Can Emmett Jones make miracles happen? Not immediately but it should provide a bump and he went and got a couple JUCO transfer to fill the gaps. Look for Kansas to rely on the running game, and perhaps a few new tight end tricks implemented by Koenning and Miles.
As far as the defense goes, Joe Dineen is gone, along with his 543 tackles last season. I didn’t look that up but the number seems right for Dineen. The secondary was respectable in 2018 and has potential with Mike Lee, Hasan Defense and Corione Harris returning.
The good news for Les Miles is the bar is incredibly low at Kansas and they’ll be happy with a single Big 12 win and a couple non-conference victories. Hell, they might throw a parade for 5-7 and rename the street in front of the stadium for a bowl appearance.
Best Offensive Returners
RB Pooka Williams Jr, RB Khalil Herbert, OG Malik Clark, WR Stephon Robinson, LT Hakeem Adeniji
Best Defensive Returners
S Hasan Defense, DE Azur Kamara, CB Corione Harris, S Mike Lee
Newcomers
WDE Steven Parker, QB Thomas MacVittie (JUCO), WR Andrew Parchment (JUCO) , WR Ezra Naylor (JUCO)
Breakout Candidates
QB Thomas MacVittie, CB Corione Harris, WR Daylon Charlot