Kansas Jayhawks football coach Lance Leipold opens preseason camp: ‘There was a buzz’

Year Two of the Lance Leipold era officially began at the University of Kansas on Tuesday as the Jayhawks football coach conducted an early-morning workout on the practice fields outside Memorial Stadium.

“I think we got a lot accomplished,” Leipold said of the two-hour workout that started at 8:15 a.m. “I think there was excitement. There was a buzz.”

There might have been more excitement than a year ago, simply because returning players Tuesday knew what to expect from Leipold and his staff during the start of his second training camp at KU. On the flip side, Leipold and his coaches knew what to expect from the returnees while bringing newcomers into the program into the mix.

KU returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense from a 2-10 team that played well down the stretch in former Buffalo head coach Leipold’s first season at KU.

“I think this group has a determination about them, how they are going to approach things and change really the direction of the program,” Leipold said Tuesday.

“At the same time I think there’s always that anxiety. I was anxious — a little nervousness (Tuesday). Probably (compared to) the way I felt a year ago, I didn’t have that as much this time around because we know what we have with our players (also the NCAA has moved up the starting date for football a few days for the 2022 season). Last year, we went two to three weeks plus (into preseason camp) and we were still evaluating.”

Leipold said strength and conditioning coach Matt Gildersleeve may have set the tone during a recent meeting with the players.

“As he finished going through some of the stuff from the summer with them,” Leipold said, “and the great results that they improved on, he said, ‘Nobody came here to play weightlifting. You came here to play football and now’s the time to go do it.’’’

And thus the players were ready to go in still steamy 90-degree early-morning temperatures Tuesday.

“Day One was great. We have a lot of transfers (19 from portal, most of any team in Big 12). Getting on the same page was important,” KU defensive lineman Sam Burt said. “I think that’s what today was about, show them how we practice how we work. This group is energetic. It was a good foundation day today.”

Noted offensive lineman Mike Novitsky: “It was extremely exciting. Day One you always have excitement. Everybody was excited to compete and get back out there. We’ve just got to keep that energy going right now.”

Of the steamy weather in Lawrence to start camp, Novitsky noted: “It was a little hot, but the coaches are going to take care of us. We got to do a good job recovering this afternoon. That’s what it’s going to be. We’ve got to be ready for it.”

Daniels still the projected starter

Leipold was asked again about the starting quarterback situation. Junior Jalon Daniels, who led KU to victory over Texas a year ago and started the final three games, has not officially been named the starter. However if healthy he is expected to start over senior Jason Bean.

“Again, everybody’s going to compete,” Leipold said. “Do I expect Jalon to start Game One? Yeah, but Jason had a good day today and I know there’s some throws right off the bat Jalon wishes he had back today. If you want to type right now Leipold expects Daniels to be the starter, go ahead and type it. It’s probably the best way to answer it.”

Notes

• Leipold said junior defensive end Jereme Robinson “is a young man who continues to get better. He has such a motor right now. We need that at that defensive end spot.” Of defensive lineman Malcolm Lee, he said: “Malcolm Lee’s had a really good summer.”

• Leipold said sophomore safety Jayson Gilliom would be the only player on the team not participating at training camp because of injury.

• Leipold indicated Malik Johnson (running back), Nicholas Martinez (offensive line) and Jordan Medley (wide receiver) are no longer with the program. They remain students at KU. All three were recruited by the Les Miles coaching staff.