After nine days, here are the final position group rankings:
1. TE
2. RB
3. QB
4. WR
5. DB
6. OL
7. ST
8. DL
9. LB
My take on TE and RB: It is amazing to see the tight ends listed as the strongest group, considering the recruiting pedigree of the position compared to our others. Mason Fairchild leads the group, and is one of the best tight ends we've had in the 2000s. He had over 400 yards receiving and six touchdowns last year, and made some absolute circus catches while also being arguably our best blocker on the edge. He also is a frigging genius. Jared Casey is the folk hero option at the position, and with good reason--when you need a clutch catch, the man seems to always step up and find a way to get open. Trevor Kardell is probably the best athlete at the position, and worked through some injuries last year to have a good spring and summer camp. Will Huggins remains the tantalizing option who, if it all comes together, has the potential to be the best of the bunch based on his size and speed. Tevita Noa provides nice blocking and apparently had a good camp at times this year. Quintin Conley had offers from major programs before getting hurt his senior year at Pembroke and is an athlete. And the two freshmen, Dillon Mong and Jaden Hamm, are very interesting prospects. Hamm comes from just down the road in Eudora and was one of the top recruits in the class last year, a late steal from Arkansas. Mong has put on 30 pounds since stepping on campus and at 6'7", brings a size mismatch against almost any defensive back or linebacker. The only guaranteed departures from this group after this year are Fairchild and Noa, but with Carson Bruhn coming next year, the depth continues to remain elite. Understandable how this won the best position group.
The running backs are led by the perennially underrated Devin Neal. 1,273 total yards and ten touchdowns, averaged 6.3 a touch last year, and just grinds it out every week. If he isn't my favorite player on the team for his approach to the game and the way he interacts with his teammates and the community, he is right up there. Daniel Hishaw has everyone excited by his return, and with good reason. He came from out of nowhere last year to be an absolute hammer and deliver tough yards for the team while also showing off speed. He also was a high school QB, and I am fully expecting to see him throw the ball at least once this year if he can stay healthy--and his health is a real concern after the broken hip he suffered last season, one of the worst injuries I have seen in person. His return this year is pretty remarkable. The third back is also pretty solid in Dylan McDuffie. He is in his sixth season of college football, having played for three years under Leipold and Kotelnecki at Buffalo before the left. In his one season at Buffalo without them, he gained over 1000 yards--meaning that KU is one of very few schools in the country that has two 1000 yard rushers on the team. He didn't do much at Georgia Tech last year, but had a great camp. Torry Locklin is a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game, and Sevion Morrison is speed personified--he just needs to hold onto the ball and stay healthy. The freshman, Johnny Thompson Jr., appears to have tons of potential, as well. And this entire group is eligible to come back next year (although another season like last year will probably mean that Devin has to consider his options with going pro), and the recruiting class coming in next has two potential studs with Harry Stewart and Red Martel. Both already have college-ready bodies.
Thanks for voting--we'll see if we revisit these rankings through the year and whether any changes happen. Look forward to seeing you all at the stadium tomorrow!
1. TE
2. RB
3. QB
4. WR
5. DB
6. OL
7. ST
8. DL
9. LB
My take on TE and RB: It is amazing to see the tight ends listed as the strongest group, considering the recruiting pedigree of the position compared to our others. Mason Fairchild leads the group, and is one of the best tight ends we've had in the 2000s. He had over 400 yards receiving and six touchdowns last year, and made some absolute circus catches while also being arguably our best blocker on the edge. He also is a frigging genius. Jared Casey is the folk hero option at the position, and with good reason--when you need a clutch catch, the man seems to always step up and find a way to get open. Trevor Kardell is probably the best athlete at the position, and worked through some injuries last year to have a good spring and summer camp. Will Huggins remains the tantalizing option who, if it all comes together, has the potential to be the best of the bunch based on his size and speed. Tevita Noa provides nice blocking and apparently had a good camp at times this year. Quintin Conley had offers from major programs before getting hurt his senior year at Pembroke and is an athlete. And the two freshmen, Dillon Mong and Jaden Hamm, are very interesting prospects. Hamm comes from just down the road in Eudora and was one of the top recruits in the class last year, a late steal from Arkansas. Mong has put on 30 pounds since stepping on campus and at 6'7", brings a size mismatch against almost any defensive back or linebacker. The only guaranteed departures from this group after this year are Fairchild and Noa, but with Carson Bruhn coming next year, the depth continues to remain elite. Understandable how this won the best position group.
The running backs are led by the perennially underrated Devin Neal. 1,273 total yards and ten touchdowns, averaged 6.3 a touch last year, and just grinds it out every week. If he isn't my favorite player on the team for his approach to the game and the way he interacts with his teammates and the community, he is right up there. Daniel Hishaw has everyone excited by his return, and with good reason. He came from out of nowhere last year to be an absolute hammer and deliver tough yards for the team while also showing off speed. He also was a high school QB, and I am fully expecting to see him throw the ball at least once this year if he can stay healthy--and his health is a real concern after the broken hip he suffered last season, one of the worst injuries I have seen in person. His return this year is pretty remarkable. The third back is also pretty solid in Dylan McDuffie. He is in his sixth season of college football, having played for three years under Leipold and Kotelnecki at Buffalo before the left. In his one season at Buffalo without them, he gained over 1000 yards--meaning that KU is one of very few schools in the country that has two 1000 yard rushers on the team. He didn't do much at Georgia Tech last year, but had a great camp. Torry Locklin is a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game, and Sevion Morrison is speed personified--he just needs to hold onto the ball and stay healthy. The freshman, Johnny Thompson Jr., appears to have tons of potential, as well. And this entire group is eligible to come back next year (although another season like last year will probably mean that Devin has to consider his options with going pro), and the recruiting class coming in next has two potential studs with Harry Stewart and Red Martel. Both already have college-ready bodies.
Thanks for voting--we'll see if we revisit these rankings through the year and whether any changes happen. Look forward to seeing you all at the stadium tomorrow!
