Kansas football coach Lance Leipold discussed a number of topics Wednesday during Big 12 media days. Here is what he told reporters on the main stage.
FRISCO, Texas — Lance Leipold’s opening statement on the main stage Wednesday at Big 12 Conference media days saw the Kansasfootball coach highlight his excitement to play the team’s season opener in a new-look David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium this fall.
Here’s a recap of everything else Leipold had to say:
How has Jalon Daniels empowered others to lead after the talent and leadership the Jayhawks lost from 2024?
Leipold mentioned redshirt senior quarterback Jalon Daniels is healthy after being limited this spring due to injury, and the thing Leipold loves about him is he’s the same person he was four years ago — humble and hard-working. It’s been an interesting road for Daniels and the program at large, and when Leipold sees him play at his best, Leipold doesn’t think there’s many better.
Leipold added Daniels has never made an excuse or deflected responsibility when something hasn’t gone his way, which the locker room respects. Daniels has an energy and positivity that is contagious among his teammates.
If Lance Leipold could bottle up one, or a few, things from KU’s mid-November run last fall, what would it be?
Leipold started off by acknowledging that before those three straight wins against Iowa State, BYU and Colorado, Kansas had a tough beginning of the year. Not only did it not play its best when needed, but it didn’t close out games it had opportunities to amid a 2-6 start.
However, Leipold praised the players for sticking together and not wavering from their daily process. Once the performances turned the corner, he thought the Jayhawks became the team they always thought they could be.
Why is Kansas’ schedule starting with a Week 0 game, followed by a Friday matchup?
Leipold said Kansas’ Week 0 game on Aug. 23 at home against Fresno State times up well with the stadium efforts and will also provide the program with exposure given the limited number of games happening at that time. Playing on a Friday, Aug. 29 at home against FCS-foe Wagner, also gives the Jayhawks an extra day of preparation as it returns to Saturday games the next week when they go on the road to face rival Missouri on Sept. 6.
How does Lance Leipold approach planning for the long term with his program, amid changes in the Big 12?
Regarding his program, Leipold pointed to building consistency. He also highlighted how losing numerous scholarship players to the transfer portal the past two years hasn’t been a serious issue for the Jayhawks, before mentioning that roster continuity is an important ingredient for them.
Regarding revenue-sharing, he wants Kansas to be able to be competitive attracting players. Of course, he still wants to develop players they recruited out of high school, but in addition to that supplement with transfer portal talent.
What is the state of Kansas football’s running backs room?
Leipold praised how special Devin Neal was at running back for Kansas in recent years, as well as who Neal was off of the field and his effect as a Lawrence native who stayed home to play college ball. Neal is off to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, so there’s a void to fill at that position.
In redshirt senior Daniel Hishaw Jr. is a returning player who has speed, power, good hands and an ability to be effective in pass protection. Hishaw has had to deal with injuries himself during his career but is a valuable player when healthy.
In redshirt senior Leshon Williams, a transfer from Iowa, is another powerful player who did have success at times at his previous stop. Toward the end of spring ball, Leipold explained, Williams started to get his legs back and is capable of helping Hishaw shoulder the responsibility.
What does Lance Leipold think about a scheduling model that would have his team play its 3 non-conference games against power-conference opponents?
Leipold, whose team plays three non-conference games and nine games in Big 12 play, called it an interesting concept. He understands scheduling is a big topic given the current playoff era of the sport.
Whatever is decided, he is looking for something that has some continuity across the board so that when people compare teams, they are in a better position to do so. Considering some conferences have grown to the size they are, everyone doesn’t play everyone in them anymore each year.
After a ‘debacle’ last season, and having to weather the storm after a rough start, what does Lance Leipold think about Jim Zebrowski as offensive coordinator?
Leipold disagreed a little bit with the individual who asked the question, for using the word “debacle” in the question, before highlighting some areas he felt showcased the offense developed into being a productive one during the season. And while he acknowledged there were some hiccups, then-offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was viewed as valuable enough that Wisconsin hired Grimes to be its offensive coordinator.
Going back to Zebrowski, who was on staff already at KU and has also worked for Leipold at Buffalo and Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold said Zebrowski understands their culture and has been a significant part of the offense. When Kansas saw Penn State hire away Andy Kotelnicki in 2023, Zebrowski called the bowl game the Jayhawks won that season against UNLV.
The return of Matt Lubick as co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach is another reason Leipold is confident in what the group can be capable of. Lubick spent a couple years as an analyst for Leipold at Kansas and last year was the offensive coordinator at Nevada.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football coach Lance Leipold main stage 2025 Big 12 media days
Category: General Sports
