Kansas football Jayhawks position breakdown for 2023: Defense

Kansas football position breakdown for 2023: Defense

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 05: Defensive lineman Malcom Lee #99 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates after a fumble recovery by Nate Betts #34 during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

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Kansas redshirt senior defensive lineman Devin Phillips (40) /

Defensive Tackles

Returning Players:

Tommy Dunn Jr.
DJ Withers
Caleb Taylor
Kenean Caldwell

Newcomers:

Devin Phillips (Colorado State)
Gage Keys (Minnesota)
Marcus Calvin (High School)

Much like the defensive end group, KU’s defensive tackles will be led by a pair of transfers. Kansas lost Sam Burt and Calen Sampson to graduation last year.

Devin Phillips will immediately become one of the conference’s best inside stoppers after excelling for five years at CSU. He should anchor this group, and the Jayhawks’ run defense will largely depend on him. Gage Keys also has some promise and should start alongside Phillips. The coaching staff says he looks as agile as ever and shows small improvements every practice.

Besides those two, though, there are very few players who can fill in and make an impact. They will need to stay healthy to be the pillars of the 2023 Kansas football D-line.

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