No one expects a defense to be perfect every snap of the game; there will be lapses, but last season saw too many, resulting in a defense that allowed 409.5 yards per game and 500 yards on three separate occasions in losses against Missouri, Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
However, this was a defense that saw major improvements over the offseason in its overall depth and skill, along with some timely coaching additions and another offseason for D.K. McDonald to iron out the kinks that hindered last season’s roster.
Today’s task is to rank each position group based on two different criteria. The first being the confidence we have that they can step up in the game's biggest moments, and the second being the depth of the group if required. Just for clarification, five means the worst and one means the best.
5. Defensive Tackles
The Jayhawks losing Tre’Von McAlpine earlier this offseason is a massive miss; McAlpine would have likely ensured this wouldn’t be in last place. According to the depth chart projection website Ourlads, Eamon Smalls and Blake Herold are set to take the mantle. Smalls comes from UAB where he was a big-time player, totaling 50 tackles, including 7 against No. 15 Tennessee last season. Herold tallied 43 tackles last season, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
If the Jayhawks had McAlpine, they likely would have found themselves in fourth place, but losing the talent that he brought with 35 tackles, 2 tackles, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery last season, is enough to bump them down to last.
4. Cornerback
The projected corners for this season are Jalen Todd, Austin Alexander and Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman. There is a lot of talent amongst this group, but it is still an inexperienced sector of the field. Cummings-Coleman only brings five games with him; Todd has played for two seasons but is only racking up one year's worth of starting experience; and Alexander was thrown into the fire last season, having to make 11 starts.
3. Safeties
Corey Gordon and Taylor Davis are projected to start at the strong and free safety spots. Davis has shown decent range across the field during his 21 games with the Jayhawks and his 15 starts are welcome. Gordon, meanwhile, has seen time at both Baylor and Louisville and has totaled 18 starts. For a secondary that struggled to make important tackles last season, this more experienced pair should shore up last season’s gaps.
2. Linebackers
Last season, it looked like the Jayhawks lacked the leadership necessary to compete. This room of Trey Lathan and Bam Crouch should put that issue to bed. The pair add 209 tackles, and 25.5 tackles for loss. If the two can also aid the leadership side, they already have the skill to be a reliable combo.
1. Defensive Ends
Much like the running back room on the offense, Kansas defensive ends are stocked with depth on the second line and talent on the first. Alex Bray, Leroy Harris III, David Santiago and Dakyus Brinkley are all uber-talented prospects. The four bring 92 tackles from last season and 17.5 tackles for loss.
While the Jayhawks won’t be perfect next season, expect them to be massively improved and they should see those 409.5 yards be shrink by a decent margin if things go according to plan.
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