Last season, the Kansas Jayhawks' wideout corps had its highs and its lows.
The problem was that when the offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense wasn’t there to properly support it, so games like the thrilling 42-31 Border War loss or the 37-34 heartbreaking loss to Cincinnati instead feel more like a defensive letdown than an offense on fire.
Overall, KU finished with the nation’s No. 88 passing attack at 211 yards per game. Numbers that don’t particularly look great on the eye.
Of course, this isn’t all to do with who KU had in its wide receiving room. For as great as former QB Jalon Daniels was, there were also moments where Daniels’ accuracy was a little off-balance, as his passing rate of 62.1% ranked 74th in the country.
Depth chart help is provided here by Ourlads.
The Jayhawks are going to be refreshing their WR room
Of the six wideouts who finished with over 100 yards last season, only two are returning in Cam Pickett and Keaton Kubecka. Pickett finished last season second on the team in returning yards with 476 yards and three touchdowns. Kubecka added 157 yards and one touchdown.
Starting at wide receiver X, that projected chart sees redshirt senior Nik McMillan, redshirt freshman Jaden Nickens and redshirt freshman Bryson Hayes round out those three.
McMillan hails from Buffalo, where he notched 1,237 yards and five touchdowns over his last three seasons. However, his most recent season in the MAC saw him go for 981 yards while ending the season with six straight 100+ yard games and seven total.
Nickens is one of the most exciting young prospects the Jayhawks have, as his 6-foot-3, 190-pound build makes him a threat in the red zone and in deep-ball situations. Nickens didn’t see the field his freshman season, but fans should be very excited to see what he can develop into.
The three-star Hayes made just one appearance last season.
At wide receiver, Z lands Nahzae Cox, Kubecka and Jackson Cook.
Cox has played just one season at the FBS level, for Middle Tennessee last season. In his one year with the Lightning, Cox totaled 40 receptions for 473 yards and 5 touchdowns through the air.
We already profiled Kubecka, but he looks to experience a welcome step up in the chart and should expect more production in his redshirt junior season.
Cook made one appearance last season against Wagner.
Lastly in the slot sits Pickett and Tate Nagy.
Last season, Nagy compiled two catches for 20 yards.
A much more spread-out passing attack
Overall Grade: A-
Across the starting three of Pickett, Cox and McMillan, each of those offers a dynamic threat and an ability to break open a play at any moment. Pickett may be leaned on the most as he already has a year with the system (even though the playcalling duties have changed, Jim Zebrowski remains as the team’s passing game coordinator).
Beyond the front line, Nickens will look for a breakout year and Nagy and Kubecka are looking for their own standout seasons.
More Kansas Football News
Add us as a preferred source on Google