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2009 Kansas Jayhawks Football Preview

Overview
For the first time in decades the Kansas Jayhawks FOOTBALL team stands at the pre-season top of the Big 12 North Division. The Jayhawks have almost completely shook off the title that the University of Kansas is just a basketball school. After appearing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history, and with a team loaded with talent, the Hawks are poised to appear in their third straight bowl game.

With national eyes focused on the Jayhawks chances of making their third straight bowl game and competing for the Big 12 North division title, the local eyes have their sights set much higher.

Defense

Rebuild is a word you hear uttered in national circles when you peer into the Jayhawks defensive line up, but when you peal back the east and west coast biased eye lids you get a retooled defense sprinkled in with top notch talent, enough to keep the Hawks in every game they play this season.

After losing all 3 former All Big 12 linebackers to graduation, the Jayhawks are shifting their defense to a more Big 12 friendly 4-2-5 scheme that should allow the Hawks to defend the pass much better and allow their young linebackers to gel within the system by the time conference play rolls around.

Leading the way for the Hawks front six will be star sack master Junior DE Jake Laptad who will have help up front from returning tackles Richard Johnson and Caleb Blakesley should give the front 4 enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks for their new line backing core to make plays.

The secondary will be lead by All-Everything Senior Safety Darrell Stuckey. Stuckey a preseason all Big 12 and All-American Safety is also on every post season award watch list a defensive secondary player can be nominated for. Stuckey won't be alone in the in the secondary as Senior Safety Justin Thornton returns and gives the Hawks great leadership to build on.

Offense

This group of players really needs no introduction. If rebuilding or reloading are the words mentioned with the defense, the offense hears things like "Loaded" and "Elite" echoing through out not only local eyes, but national pundits as well.

Powered by Heisman Trophy and Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list nominee Senior Quarterback Todd Reesing and two Biletnikoff Award (presented annually to the nation's outstanding college football receiver) watch list receivers in Senior Kerry Meier and Junior Dezmon Briscoe the Jayhawks should be able to score with anyone in the country.

If that alone isn't enough weapons for the Jayhawks, All Big 12 running back Jake Sharp returns to the back field, as well as Junior burner receiver Johnathan Wilson, Reesing should have no problems rewriting all the KU record books this season.

What can make the season a success?

Depending on who you ask, nationally people would say a second place finish in the Big 12 North and a 3rd consective bowl win would be a big success for the KU program, but here in Jayhawk country anything less than a Big 12 North Title and a 10 win season would be a utter disaster.

What can make the season a disaster?

See Above... if the Jayhawks don't win the North and/or not reach 10 wins (this does include a bowl game win) the Hawks would not have accomplished what they are setting out to do.

Prediction: 11-3 (10-2 regular season)

The Jayhawks have one of the most challenging schedules in the country. With road games at Colorado, Texas Tech, rival Kansas State, and Texas and home games against Southern Miss, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and the Boarder Showdown game with Missouri at Arrowhead to end the year the Jayhawks should have their hands full.

If the Hawks can run the table and go 1-2 against the south a 10 win regular season and a Big 12 North title is within reach, go 2-1 against the south and win the Big 12 Championship game in December, you could utter words nobody has uttered around campus unless you we're referring to the basketball program.

I believe if the Hawks take care of business, and find away to either slow down or out gun the Texas Tech Red Raiders, a 10 win season, a birth in the Big 12 Title game, and a New Years day bowl game is realistically within reach.

Schedule:
Sept. 5 NORTHERN COLORADO
Sept. 12 at Texas-El Paso
Sept. 19 DUKE
Sept. 26 SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Oct. 10 *IOWA STATE
Oct. 17 *at Colorado
Oct. 24 *OKLAHOMA
Oct. 31 *at Texas Tech
Nov. 7 *at Kansas State
Nov. 14 *NEBRASKA
Nov. 21 *at Texas
Nov. 28 *MISSOURI
Dec. 5 Big 12 Championship, Arlington, Texas
* - Big 12 Conference game.