Early Looks at Kansas Jayhawks Football vs Houston & K-State + Why Cornerback is KU's best position

on today's locked on Jayhawks early looks at ku's games against Houston and yes that's right the kstate game and why the corner position is ku's most loaded for this year and Beyond you are locked on Jayhawks your daily podcast on the Kansas Jayhawks part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day how's it going I'm Derek Johnson you can find me on Twitter at D Johnson radio and we are brought to you on today's episode by FanDuel Sportsbook it's going to be a fun one thanks for joining us today and making locked on Jayhawks your first listen every day they get every day is catching each and every show we are free and available wherever you get your podcast you can also find us on our YouTube page where you can like And subscribe to the show and we're talking early previews early look ahads to the KU Houston game to the Kansas Kansas State game can they break the 15 game losing streak we're also going to get to our cornerback room preview why it's possibly the best position for KU football when you take into account top to bottom when you take into account now versus future pretty loaded for KU so we'll get into all that on today's edition which is as I said brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three-week trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV just visit fanduel.com lockon to get started today all we're going to start with our early preview the KU Houston game then we'll get into the KU K State game and then we'll finish up with the cornerback room preview so what does Houston bring to the table well this is one of those teams where they're a little tougher to figure out because a lot of faces left a lot of new faces coming in via the portal uh coaching staff gone gets fired coaching staff comes in obviously Houston hasn't um you know didn't have a great first year in the Big 12 but also they're sitting on an area that if you said in 10 years Houston ended up being one of the top half teams in the Big 12 over that 10e stretch it wouldn't shock you given the recruiting area that they kind of get to occupy and their footprint that they have uh in terms of entering the Big 12 but just four wins a season ago and that was even considering I mean they had a Hail Mary Victory and they had another victory that was a converted two-point overtime play so I mean you have a couple things to go against you all of a sudden you're a two- win team now you could also play that the other way and say well what if uh they win that game that was really close like I forget if it went to overtime it would have gone to overtime with Texas like maybe that could have flipped one the other way but obviously a year before we saw KU play Houston and that was when they were still in the American their last year in the American and that was a game at Houston and Kansas crushed them on their home field they got down like 14 nothing early and then from there it was all Kansas and that was a really impressive showing for KU and at that moment in time that year was like oh my gosh Kansas might make a bowl game and they certainly went on to do so uh but a lot of people are picking Houston this year to finish last in the Big 12 I I don't really know who I would pick to finish last to be clear but I don't know I would almost just be like if you gave me the option of will Houston finish last will they not finish last I don't know that I would pick them to finish L just because of the trust that I have in what Willie Fritz brings in as a head coach into the program uh so he comes over from Tain Willie Fritz has like Kansas City ties and I think he came over from like the FCS level and then eventually wound up at Tain obviously the last two years they won double digit games they won the the Cotton Bowl a couple years ago over USC really impressive stuff what he did there and I even remember like a year before that when they were like a I think they were like a two and 10 team and they almost beat Oklahoma in like the first week of the season so Willie Fritz very very good head coach and last season I mean he's got a lot to to work on for this houon team they ranked 90th in scoring offense 108th in scoring defense and I can tell you all these other stats and stuff but that pretty much well summarizes it they weren't very good on either end of the field so it's a big transition for them because offensively you were a pass first team under I mean not just Dana hogerson but really some of the previous coaching staffs like major Apple White before that that they were a pass first team and now you go to under Willie Fritz more of a run first team uh they do bring back five starters Donovan Smith is back at quarterback and he has the potential to be one of the better quarterbacks in the Big 12 he's a good player and an experienced one at that Parker Jenkins is a star running back and they've got a talented group there so I mean if you're talking about wanting to run the football that's a good start to have both of those guys but what hampers things is the four offensive line starters are gone off last year's team and um that's from a team that only averaged 91st most yards per carry they were 64th in sacks allowed per attempt so this was not a great offensive line to begin with last season and now you're losing all those players which theoretically if you're back filling with players who were backups to players that you know didn't make it a great offensive line that's not a good place to be but they did bring in a lot of transfers to kind of try to overcome that uh defensively it's a new scheme again basically almost completely new too deep when you're looking at the players from last year that finished the season to what they have now uh a group of five transfers they do have five returning starters but yeah it's it's it's very very new across the board there pick six previews rates them as the 16th best dline of 16 teams in the Big 12 16th best linebackers and DBS so like by far the worst defense in the Big 12 Phil steel does have them seventh for dline 11th for linebackers and 16th for DBS um they allowed the 1008 most points per game they were 101st in Rush defense totals 117th in pass defense totals uh they actually did okay at preventing big plays despite some of those bad numbers but yeah this was just not a good defense last year and now there's a lot of new faces on there so what's going to be the key for KU in this game I mean number one is don't overlook the game right it's easy to see Houston picked last in the Big 12 and say oh you're playing them at home this should be an easy Win For You especially when you're talking about this game coming on the heels of that Kansas State game where you could easily look ahead to that game in Manhattan and then you add in the Willie Fritz Factor the idea that he's performed well in these Underdog roles that he is a good coach on top of it he's going to be extra motivated I mean this was a job that he wanted he wanted the Kansas job uh when it was between Lance lipold and Jeff monin and so um don't overlook this game because even if they come into the game if Houston is I don't know two and four I don't know how many games they play before this one two and four or something like that you still can't Overlook it uh because of that kind of stuff also give them a taste of what they want to do to you because what Willie Fritz wants to do he wants to run the football he wants to establish the lines of scrimmage but in this early iteration of Houston they're still building that line of scrimmage you lose all those offensive linemen the def offensive line has some questions there give them a taste of your own medicine because you're a team this year who should have a good offensive line you know dominate with your defensive line against what could be one of the worst offensive lines in the Big 12 you be the team dominates the line scrimmage and do what they kind of want to get done uh when you're looking at their their program goals I guess so to speak and then the last one here is is hit them with the big passing plays so both those magazines when I look at pix six previews and and Phil steel agree that they have the worst defensive back room in the Big 12 and so even though their explosive pass rate defense was was actually better than any of their other like key defensive numbers it still was 77th in the country so that's still like you know a little bit below average you're gonna have opportunities to hit some big plays is going to be my assumption in this and you're gonna have some opportunities to win some one-on ones and if you're giving me a one-on-one with the K receivers versus a DB room that is not expected to be super talented for Houston I know who I'm taking on that end of the matchup so hit him with some big passing plays in this one what's going to be their expected result I was actually surprised that it wasn't more than this but looking on ESPN fpi has KU as about a 14-point favorite on a neutral site against Houston so if you're looking at a home game for KU which again kind of remains to be seen just how many points do you add for a home game even if it's an arrowhead and and maybe we'll learn about that earlier they have their first home game against TCU this will be their second home game of the season coming against Houston just how impactful is that home field going to be for k you so maybe about a 17-point favorite at home where you are going to be expected to win the game but again don't overlook him and just kind of get business done from there let's get on to the next game which is uh maybe the biggest game of the season at Kansas State at least for the regular season you hope there's you know plenty postseason chances for KU we get to that and an opponent synopsis K State what it's going to take for KU to win that one our Corner Room preview as well on lock on Jayhawks we are brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel America's number one sports book well there something a little different for you now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three-week trial for free of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV then with a YouTube TV base plan you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of Market game all you need is Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel anytime so check that out and check out fanduel.com the official Sportsbook partner of the locked on podcast Network continuing on and thank you to our every Dar tuning in each and every show don't forget to make your second listen locked on college football later we're going to have an episode coming out later this week with all of our big 12 Compadres doing a a big 12 show kind of previewing That season from a big picture look of things we'll also get to our early preview later this week of the Ku State games kuu games we got our offensive line preview still to get to we're going to try to get Nick schwar on with us later this week uh we're going to be a week away on Thursday from the KU Lenwood game so we'll break down that one a little bit more coming up on lockdown j-hawks all right kukk State this is a big one k lost 15 straight games and obviously beyond the fact that you know you want to beat your rival and that you've lost all as many games you want to end that stretch it's also the idea that your most difficult game in theory the best opponent you play and it is on the road is the at Kansas State game so if you win that game not only do you conquer all of those um you know past losses that you've had from them but also you are able to set yourself up in the best possible way because if you're taking care of your hardest game to win that means everything else is easier from there obviously we see teams get upset all the time in college football but point being you know that one kind of shows okay if we can win this game why can't we win any of the others right so obviously K State's one of the other Big 12 favorites um they are one of the most consistent programs across the league and even though they were nine and four last season they easily could have had a better record they were one in four in one score games they easily could have you know won 10 or 11 games let's please not discuss the one game that they won in the onore games they had a top 10 scoring offense a season ago that was built on running the football in a really strong offensive line they had a ton back on the offensive line a season ago but interestingly enough they only rank 106th this year in returning production according to pick six previews now part of that is because at the quarterback position like will Howard goes to Ohio State Avery Johnson takes over but kind of sounds like Avery Johnson was going to be the starter anyway so I I I know how much that affects certain the loss he certainly has huge potential but also there is a lower floor for what Aver Johnson could be to what will Howard is like will Howard kind of a known commodity at this point like insane speed and running ability for Avery Johnson question is going to be the passing I think he's going to be good but that's kind of a polarizing take around these parts nowadays um but yeah if if he is if he does live up to the hype they'll be even better at that position if he doesn't and it takes a year to adjust or he's just not that good of a passer then I don't know maybe there are some real questions about just how good they'll end up but strong running backs too for K State DJ giddens is uh a really good runner for them Dylan Edwards they added from Colorado former Derby kid who super speed at the running back position that's a really good one two Jace Brown is a a really good receiver they have an all ma transfer receiver and Dante cus they did lose Philip Brooks who was kind of a KU killer they did lose Ben cinate who was kind of their top Target at the tight end position and then the offensive line lost a ton too Cooper BBE who is uh kind of the leader of that really good offensive line among three starters but I do kind of feel like like with that offensive line like K State always reloads on the offensive line so that's one of those positions where it's like you look at like LSU like they lost two first round receivers after you know losing another first round receiver like a year or two before and losing another couple first- round receivers a couple years before that you're almost just like oh LSC will still have a good receiver this year maybe it's not as good as last year but like they'll still have it right there's some programs where their positions you're just like ah they lost this player they'll be fine right you you just almost assume it's like Alabama in the next sa day like ah they lost Mark Ingram they'll be fine Derrick Henry comes in he like ah you lost Derrick Henry he'll be fine it's like oh TJ yelen or I don't know I might be mixing up the order anyway you get my point um the defense for K State should be one of the best if not the best in the Big 12 they uh ranked really well in past defense they were 17th in the country in QB rating against last year 27th in the country in points allowed per play and now they ranked 12 in the country in returning production they have eight returning starters including five that are on one of Phil Steel's all Big 12 teams and three are on the top two teams on pick six previews each at a different level so they've got um a defensive lineman a linebacker and a a defensive back there Phil steel also gives them the number one defensive backs in the conference which I think that's probably maybe a bit controversial with Kansas and Kansas state right with KU you got Kobe Bryant Melo doson Marvin Grant and OJ Burrows but Jacob parish is kind of their stud at the corner position so what's going to be the K key for KU in this game uh let's just get the obvious one out of the way no dumb crap or maybe this goes into that same bucket or it's a different bullet point altogether either way no special teams mistake wouldn't those be swell wouldn't those be nice no dumb crap no special teams mistakes I think those kind of explain itself because that has kind of been the theme like it seems like every year KU plays K State K State does something spectacular on special teams and KU does something tacular on special team I don't even know that that's a word but you get what I'm saying uh the other big key in this one I'll be interested to see like do you spy Avery Johnson now part of this will be how is Avery Johnson throwing the football coming up to this point in time do you use an extra Defender to spy him and try to stop the run here and there right who does that end up being do you use an athletic linebacker do you use a guy like Marvin Grant we've seen KU at times struggle against guys who are dual threat quarterbacks so uh with the quarterback run and everything so I think that kind of becomes interesting the Jaylen Daniels health is obviously I mean that's a storyline for each and every game but I wanted to re bring it up in this one specifically because it is your biggest game because it's a little later in the season it's at the middle point of the season and because we haven't really gotten to see a healthy Jaylen Daniels against Kansas State so he played against Kansas State in the 2021 season but that was after Jason Bean got hurt and he gets thrust into the action then in 2022 um he it's like his it's his second game back but it's you know we saw the Texas game where it just like wasn't the same and so it's not 100% Jaylen Daniels and then you get to last year and he obviously doesn't play in the game he was injured at that point right so like can we see a fully healthy Jaylen Daniels in this series and how impactful would that be and then uh another key to this game like Devon Neil take over mode we saw this in last year's game Devon Neil tried to take over that game and did everything in his power to do so he was unbel un believable he was willing Kansas to try to find a way to win Unfortunately they still wound up on the bottom end because of some things that didn't go their way or some plays that they didn't make or some plays that K State did make um but he did everything in his power left it all on the field to win that game as did you know many other players but uh I if he does that again it gets you in the ballpark and then you hope you have a healthy Jaylen Daniels to maybe get you over the top there right so what's going to be their expected result in this one this is kind of interesting on ESPN fbii Kansas is actually a one-point favorite on a neutral site obviously the game is not on a neutral site it is in Manhattan which that could be worth three four five points so I would almost assume K State probably two and a half three three and a half Point favorite in this game again this is late enough in the season that enough could change with the records that it moves that around um but kind of tells you it'd be kind of a coin flip game to say the least let's get to our Corner Room preview I think it's the uh best position that KU has we're going to talk about why not just for now but for the future on lock on Jayhawks this episode is brought to you by eBay Motors passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you're into speed power or style eBay Motors has you covered with over 122 million parts for number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you're burning rubber not cash with all the parts you need at the prices you want it's easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins keep your ride or ey alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to us customers thanks again for joining us on lock on Jayhawks again plenty more content coming out to this week if you're interested in one of the teams we've talked about KU playing or I don't know have another sport you're interested in you can check that out all across our locked on podcast Network we are wide we are diverse we have all sorts of shows and uh check it out because we got a lot of other great hosts across the locked on podcast Network let's get to our cornerback room preview I think this is ku's best position um you can make the argument that okay for top heaviness or who's the best player you could say it's Jaylen Daniels you could say it's Devon Neil right you could still argue corner with Kobe Bryant uh they'd all be in that discussion but I think when you're talking really top to bottom when you're talking now and future this is the best position for KU because think about it like I said if you're talking who's the best player on KU that discussion is Jaylen Daniels Kobe Bryant and Devon Neil right in some order you want to throw somebody else out there and get sexy with it go for it but like those three guys consistently whoever you ask like somebody might come up with a fourth guy but those guys are getting brought up in that conversation consistently so you have that top guy who's going to be an all Big 12 All-American candidate Melo doson is your second Corner he's still an all Big 12 candidate guy I mean he was a like third team All-American on on one of the Publications a season ago um as good as Daniel haaw is his backup right as high as the potential is for like Isaiah Marshall as a backup a quarterback as uh you know high as I I seem to be on Harry Stewart coming in the that's not your second guy is also you know all Big 12 that's another level and then when you look at the backups it's a lot of Youth it's a lot of young players although you do have demarus McGee who is an upper classman but that's a former top 300 recruit former LSU transfer like that's a lot of talent and outside of that it's a lot of Youth but it's a lot of really talented youth that could be coming together so you got Kobe Bryant Melo doson as the the senior starters I mentioned dearius McGee he's a redir Jr and he seems to be making really big steps up this year then you got BJ dworf red sophomore he was somebody who was one of ku's highest graded recruits when he came into the program like he could put it all together this year Jal Croft reter freshman been very high in him Jaylen Todd true freshman very high in him uh you have Drake Gibson who's a freshman Austin Alexander is a freshman both highly recruited guys jacobe Davis highly recruited guy Richard freshman right you are loaded at this position not just for this year but I think for the future moving forward and then you have the Walk-Ons too jir Moore freshman will Gavin a Richard Jr and Tyler sukow a red Shir Jr so uh you look at this position I I think you feel good about it this year I think even when Kobe and Melo depart after this season when they graduate obviously those are going to be huge holes or shoes to fill and I don't know that you would expect KU to be as good at corner in 2025 but you still feel like it'll be a good position for KU I guess is kind of my point and that would still be with some guys who probably starting as as like sophomores next season which means you could be maybe just as good in 2026 or something like that so biggest storyline here at this position can Kobe or Melo take that jump from being a all Big 12 first team player to being like a first team All-American you know can they take that jump uh of being a really good corner to being like considerably the best or or winning the what is it the Thorp award for the DB something like that right can one of them be like a first or second round draft pick because if like it's one thing for KU to have good Corner what they do if you have that special season for one of those guys we saw what that did with a keep to Le right um it's not everything but it's a lot of things and it does a lot for you so I think that's kind of the big question here you already feel great about those corners but can they take that next step from great to I guess Elite or or whatever however you want to kind of phrase that and then Who's Gonna Fill out the two deep maybe most pertinently who takes the kin gerin role which is kind of that third Corner nickel fill in like Kobe got suspended a half for I guess you missed a half and then suspended another half for the targeting call in the Illinois game um you had I think Kobe get injured in the uh Oklahoma game the season before where he missed some time I want to say Melo doson got hurt in one of the games last season but I cannot remember off the top of my head which one it was so like point being there's gonna be opportunities for somebody else to step up seems like it'll be Demaryius McGee does he lock that down and then beyond that who's the fourth guy because then you slide into the the previous third string role right and even to begin with like if you're the fourth and fifth corner you're going to get on the field and there's a lot of young talented guys so like for my money right now I'm assuming Kobe and Melo those will be your starters I'd assume demarius McGee is going to be your third I feel like Jaylen Todd and jam Croft would be your fourth fifth but like it would not be crazy if it was dillworth or Alexander Gibson or Davis because all these guys are very talented even with their youth so I think that'll be very interesting and then when you go on top of that it's like well how does that set those up to be starters in 2025 obviously if demarus McGee the three this year as a red shirt Junior you expect him to be a starter as a red shirt Senior come 2025 but who would be that other starter be Jaylen Todd would it be jam Croft would it be Andre Alex right one of these guys right uh so better worse of the same to last year I I say better uh this to me is the best position unit that KU has top to bottom and for the future and you still have Kobe and Melo but they could be even a little bit better than they were season too with another year round of them yes you could take Kaylin gerin and Quinton Lasser played solid roles for you as third and fourth corners but even though it's less experience at the third and fourth Corners this year I think there's more pure talent at the third and fourth Corners this year for KU and there's probably even deeper Talent across those five six seven guys or however deep you want to go on this year's team so I think this position is even better than it was a season ago when it was already a strength for you uh last season on the defense all that'll do it for this episode of Locked on Jayhawks you can find our show anywhere you get your podcast including on our YouTube page where you can like And subscribe to the show we will be back on tomorrow's episode with an early preview of the kuio state and kubu games plus we'll get to our offensive line preview the big guys up front that's always a fun one so uh we'll do that on tomorrow's show and plenty more to come at you make sure you're finding all our shows and we'll see you next time on locked on j-hawks