Trust, confidence grew among Kansas football’s players on offense as spring ball unfolded
LAWRENCE — As he reflected on Kansas football wrapping up spring ball, Jeff Grimes highlighted a conversation he had with his players.
Grimes, the Jayhawks’ assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, mentioned how senior wide receiver Lawrence Arnold felt everyone played with more energy as the spring progressed. Grimes mentioned how redshirt junior offensive lineman Nolan Gorczyca felt that happened because they all gained trust with one another as the spring unfolded. It serves Grimes’ first spring at KU in this role, with his most recent stops in college including Baylor and BYU.
Grimes, of course, would like it if they had another week or two together. There was a lot that they all addressed during these early practices. But Grimes still described it as productive, especially compared to how other springs he’d been a part of elsewhere had gone.
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Here are a few things to think about as Kansas’ offense heads toward the summer:
Jeff Grimes highlights the quarterback position
Grimes praised the improvement that’s happened inside the quarterback room, which focuses on redshirt junior Jalon Daniels, redshirt freshman Cole Ballard and freshman Isaiah Marshall. Daniels hasn’t been able to be a full participant through the spring, as he recovers from injury, but has approached each day with the right mindset. Ballard and Marshall, both young talents in what can be a difficult offense, have continued to showcase growth.
There could be some time before Marshall sees the field in a game, because of Daniels’ return as the starter and Ballard’s experience from this past season. But Grimes noted what he tells each player is they should be pushing to ensure they’re ready to play. Grimes added if they aren’t preparing to be the starter, they never will be.
Harry Stewart III continues to stand out at running back
Harry Stewart III joined Kansas as an early enrollee this spring and hasn’t wasted his opportunity to get some experience. Grimes said he’s been impressed by how well Stewart has learned the offense. Stewart, in Grimes’ perspective, can have a role this season.
A lot of that certainly will have to do with how physically ready Stewart is to compete in college. More than just saying he’s listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, he looks the part. Grimes has also been impressed with Stewart’s combination of size, power and speed.
Kansas hasn’t been losing key contributors to the transfer portal
So far, a couple notable names who’ve announced they are transferring away from Kansas are freshman running back Red Martel and redshirt freshman wide receiver Surahz Buncom. But while that affects the depth the Jayhawks would have enjoyed at both positions, neither are significant losses for Grimes and company. Martel was an early enrollee like Stewart, and Buncom didn’t factor into the conversation at his position as a true freshman.
Roster retention is an important topic in the current landscape of the game. When it comes to players Kansas will rely upon in 2024, so far the Jayhawks have not been hit hard this spring in that regard. The margin of error does, though, shrink some unless there are some additions.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Confidence grows among Kansas football’s offensive players this spring
