Last season saw the emergence of redshirt sophomore safety Taylor Davis for the Kansas Jayhawks. Despite Kansas’ 5-6 record, Davis emerged as a future piece for defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald’s defense.
During the 2024-25 season, Davis compiled 33 total tackles and a pass defended during his nine games last Fall.
Last week, in Kansas’ comeback 27-20 victory against the UCF Golden Knights, another name came up for contention; this time, it is redshirt senior Jalen Dye.
After crediting Dye’s performance, which saw the safety force a fumble in the third quarter with the game knotted up at 20, and a sack to go along with his three total tackles, defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald spoke on Dye’s potential.
“...Like I said before, a couple of weeks ago, he's a guy who's been working and working and working, but he hasn't really gotten his opportunity on the field, but it's fun when guys get their opportunity on the field," quoted McDonaled earlier this week.
Dye has mounted nine total tackles on the year, with his biggest statement against the Golden Knights.
“These seasons are long, so just like Taylor Davis last year, he really did get a shot till the second half of the season, and maybe this is Jalen Dye’s time to be the new TD [Taylor Davis] of the year.”
According to Friday’s latest Big 12 availability report, Kansas will be missing Jalen’s brother, Devin, who has been a ball hawk for this secondary, as his one interception and four passes defended prove his worth in coverage gold.
Kansas will also be missing LaQuan Robinson and cornerback Syeed Gibbs. Gibbs’ last action came in the Jayhawks’ 37-34 loss to Cincinnati last month, where Gibbs notched two tackles in the heartbreaker.
In a few hours, Dye will have to be on his A-game as the Jayhawks will be in Lubbock to take on the No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders, in what will be the most dynamic offense Kansas faces this season, as quarterback Behren Morton leads the nation’s best total offense as Tech’s 568 yards per game is bound to cause havoc for Dye and this Kansas secondary which has given up 218.2 yards in the air which ranks 65th in the nation.
Texas Tech and Joey McGuire are off to an undefeated 5-0 start, with the lowest margin of Red Raider victory being 24 points. The Texas-based side has raked in at least 34 points in every single matchup, with three matchups comprising at least 45 points on the board, further proving the test the Jayhawks have against them, Saturday evening.
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