It looks like Kansas coaching staff wasn’t done in the transfer portal after all. When Ky Thomas announced he was leaving the coaches looked for possible replacements.
After talking with several running backs, they have flipped former Buffalo and Georgia Tech running back Dylan McDuffie.
The staff knows about McDuffie because they recruited him to Buffalo. Andy Kotelnicki was the lead recruiter when he signed with the Bulls.
In 2021 he took over the running back job late at Buffalo and rushed for 1000 yards. The running backs coach from Buffalo went to Georgia Tech and McDuffie followed him.
He got carries early at Georgia Tech and they dwindled throughout the season. He also played on special teams. The Yellow Jackets struggled to run the ball season ranking 91st in the country.
He first entered the portal last March when he chose Georgia Tech. He picked up offers from Oklahoma State, Duke, Virginia, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic.
After playing a season at Georgia Tech he entered the portal again and weighed his options after picking up offers. He committed to Charlotte earlier this month.
From what I gather he didn’t take an official visit to KU, but he doesn’t need to. Players like Dre Doiron, Mike Novitsky, Rich Miller, Eddie Wilson, and others did not take an official to KU.
All the players who came from Buffalo knew what they are getting with the coaching staff and skipped their official visits. They already knew the coaching staff and what to expect since they played for them at Buffalo.
McDuffie could talk with his former teammates and hear what it is like playing at Kansas under Leipold. If he hears positive reports an official visit isn’t necessary.
What this means: In Leipold’s first season the offense barely made it through with the running backs on the roster. When Devin Neal got banged up the last couple weeks in 2021, they were down to one scholarship back and had to rely on Pesek-Hickson for the carries.
Going into last season everyone felt good about the running back room. There was depth and quality with Neal, Hishaw, Thomas, Morrison, and Locklin.
But by the season’s end the position group was beat up. Neal was not close to 100% healthy and Hishaw missed most of the season. Thomas never got on track and with someone needing to step up they only gave Morrison 23 carries for the season. Locklin isn’t a true running back and they move him around the field lining him up in different spots.
Going into this spring they needed to shore-up depth at the position. Hishaw is still coming off a surgery and you hope he will stay healthy. Neal has shouldered the load the last two seasons and by end of the year has fought through injuries. The hope is Neal can get help where he doesn’t have to be the go-to guy and keep him fresh. A healthy Neal and Hishaw can take the offense a long way.
Getting McDuffie is a big piece adding depth to the group. He has proven he can play the D1 level and people have told me he is a durable back. He is close to 220 pounds and plays with a physical style. And maybe most importantly, the staff knows what they are getting with him.
After talking with several running backs, they have flipped former Buffalo and Georgia Tech running back Dylan McDuffie.
The staff knows about McDuffie because they recruited him to Buffalo. Andy Kotelnicki was the lead recruiter when he signed with the Bulls.
In 2021 he took over the running back job late at Buffalo and rushed for 1000 yards. The running backs coach from Buffalo went to Georgia Tech and McDuffie followed him.
He got carries early at Georgia Tech and they dwindled throughout the season. He also played on special teams. The Yellow Jackets struggled to run the ball season ranking 91st in the country.
He first entered the portal last March when he chose Georgia Tech. He picked up offers from Oklahoma State, Duke, Virginia, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic.
After playing a season at Georgia Tech he entered the portal again and weighed his options after picking up offers. He committed to Charlotte earlier this month.
From what I gather he didn’t take an official visit to KU, but he doesn’t need to. Players like Dre Doiron, Mike Novitsky, Rich Miller, Eddie Wilson, and others did not take an official to KU.
All the players who came from Buffalo knew what they are getting with the coaching staff and skipped their official visits. They already knew the coaching staff and what to expect since they played for them at Buffalo.
McDuffie could talk with his former teammates and hear what it is like playing at Kansas under Leipold. If he hears positive reports an official visit isn’t necessary.
What this means: In Leipold’s first season the offense barely made it through with the running backs on the roster. When Devin Neal got banged up the last couple weeks in 2021, they were down to one scholarship back and had to rely on Pesek-Hickson for the carries.
Going into last season everyone felt good about the running back room. There was depth and quality with Neal, Hishaw, Thomas, Morrison, and Locklin.
But by the season’s end the position group was beat up. Neal was not close to 100% healthy and Hishaw missed most of the season. Thomas never got on track and with someone needing to step up they only gave Morrison 23 carries for the season. Locklin isn’t a true running back and they move him around the field lining him up in different spots.
Going into this spring they needed to shore-up depth at the position. Hishaw is still coming off a surgery and you hope he will stay healthy. Neal has shouldered the load the last two seasons and by end of the year has fought through injuries. The hope is Neal can get help where he doesn’t have to be the go-to guy and keep him fresh. A healthy Neal and Hishaw can take the offense a long way.
Getting McDuffie is a big piece adding depth to the group. He has proven he can play the D1 level and people have told me he is a durable back. He is close to 220 pounds and plays with a physical style. And maybe most importantly, the staff knows what they are getting with him.
