In order for a team to have a successful season, despite all the X’s and O’s a coach may throw at you, or the ability of the guys that are being brought onto campus, you will always need a little bit of luck. Look at the Florida State team in the 2023-24 season, assuming quarterback Jordan Travis didn’t suffer a leg injury in a no-contest game vs North Alabama, then FSU would have made the playoff that season. There are hundreds of sliding door moments that could alter each team's season, thanks to injuries alone.
This Kansas team has had its own fair share of those moments; a banged-up secondary and inconsistencies in the running back room have allowed for a fair share of things to wreak havoc on Kansas’ season.
For example, running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. was tabbed to be the Jayhawks’ number one rusher this season, but injuries, which practically saw him miss out against West Virginia, Cincinnati, and UCF, have hindered his season, with Hishaw most recently returning to action in the 42-17 loss to the No.14 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
“I do feel, you know, Daniel played more in that game than we even anticipated, and he seems to be trending in a good direction for us that way. That was a high positive,” quoted head coach Lance Leipold on Monday.
Hishaw finished with 53 rushing yards on eight attempts against Texas Tech.
“Taylor Davis continues to work through things, and, you know, we're getting some gutty performances from guys.”
Davis himself spoke on this after Kansas’ loss to Tech.
This season, Davis has continued his emergence from last season with 27 tackles and an interception from a lobbed pass from backup Texas Tech QB Will Hammond. Last season, the safety totaled 33 tackles on the year.
“But I don't think we're any better or any worse than anybody in the country right now when it comes to health,” quotes Leipold.
With the weekly report now becoming a reason to keep glued to the screen every Wednesday night and onwards, Kansas fans can only hope that when the Dillons Sunflower Showdown comes around this Saturday, the availability report is kept as empty as possible.
Make sure to bookmark Through the Phog and follow us on X and Facebook with the username @Throughthephog