Perhaps the biggest move made by the Kansas Football program last season was not the acquisition of former Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards, but perhaps it was bringing back former associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki.
Kotelnicki spent the last two seasons at Penn State as offensive coordinator, where his tenure can be found when you look up the phrase “polar opposite.” In year one, Kotelnicki played a part in leading the Nittany Lions all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinal, where they fell to eventual runner-ups Notre Dame.
Year two, well, was polar. After a 3-3 start, head coach James Franklin was let go, and six days after Penn State beat the Clemson Tigers in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Kotelnicki was back at KU, after a 7-6 season was wrapped up in Happy Valley.
Kotelnicki took an extended time Saturday in front of the media, where he was asked how quickly he begins to profile his team ahead of the 2026 season.
Kotelnicki profiles his players from day one
“The literal moment I saw him first run around a cone…And then we tell the guys, and you've heard this before, too, I'm sure, like every college program says, ‘every day's an evaluation.’ That's so true.”
Kotelnicki followed Leipold to the Jayhawks from Buffalo in 2021, and Kotelnicki helped oversee Kansas reach back-to-back bowl games for just the second time in school history.
“Every time I watch somebody move, every time I watch somebody catch a ball, every time I watch somebody block, every time I watch somebody change the direction, they're painting the picture, and you know, the picture just gets a little clearer and clearer and clearer every time you watch them.”
Kotelnicki will have to deal with a revamped roster
According to 247Sports, the Jayhawks reeled in the Big 12’s 12th-best transfer class with an 85.39 average grade, and a recruiting class that ranked 13th in the Big 12, and 60th overall.
While last season did see certain players like Emmanuel Henderson Jr. break out, for 766 yards and five receiving touchdowns, things always felt way too inconsistent on the offensive end, something Kotelnicki looks to smooth out.
“And really, what you look for in my practice, and being around the players, and seeing them and evaluating is so important, 'cause you're looking for the ones who can consistently do it. Anybody can make a big time catching one-on-ones once. Can you do it day after day?
Last season, Kansas’ offense ranked 78th in yards per game at 368.8, with a rushing offense that was good for 60th (157.8), and a passing attack ranked 88th for 211.0 yards per outing.
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