Kansas football continues to make its way through fall camp. Here are some takeaways about how the Jayhawks’ special teams units are performing.
LAWRENCE — Kansas football has continued to make its way through fall camp this year, and as a result been able to have a closer look at its special teams units.
Here are some takeaways about where the Jayhawks stand:
Is anyone standing out at punt return?
Like head coach Lance Leipold earlier in fall camp, Taiwo Onatolu didn’t name anyone specifically Tuesday when asked if anyone had stood out at punt return. Onatolu, KU’s defensive ends coach/special teams coordinator, instead noted that the competition there is something they’ll watch unfold over the next couple of weeks.
In that group, Onatolu said there are a few guys they like.
Whichever player wins that job, Onatolu explained, first and foremost, just has to be someone who doesn’t turn the ball over. Get the ball back to the offense. Outside of that, the individual would conceivably be someone who can be a dynamic playmaker.
What about kickoff return?
When Leipold spoke not too long ago, he did name senior wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. — an Alabama transfer — as someone who was taking a lot of reps there. Onatolu, though, stopped short of bringing up any specific names. Onatolu mentioned they have multiple guys in contention who are dynamic options.
Has kicker Laith Marjan continued to impress?
Onatolu described redshirt senior kicker Laith Marjan, a South Alabama transfer, as a personality who’s been confident and competitive. Although Onatolu thinks Marjan has remained an accurate kicker and is fired up about him because of his previous success, Onatolu has also been impressed by the way Marjan approaches trying to improve after mistakes.
Marjan is a member of the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, after being a semifinalist for the honor last season.
What does the competition look like at punter?
It has long appeared that redshirt senior Finn Lappin would be KU’s punter this fall, after transferring in from McNeese State, but there is more competition within the room. The Jayhawks added senior Efren Jasso, a transfer from Prairie View A&M, to the group. Onatolu explained they are always trying to build depth and competition, and added they’re going to be at their best when everyone at every position is competing.
Lappin said Tuesday that the competition among them, and redshirt senior Grayden Addison, gets the best out of them all. Personally, Lappin feels fully immersed in his new program after being around in the spring. Lappin has been working on his consistency and ability to adapt to the varying styles of punts Kansas will look to employ.
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 position outlook: Special teams units are in focus
Category: General Sports
