Lance Leipold loading up a hungry Jayhawk squad on new Big 12

LAS VEGAS — Every year he’s been in Lawrence the Jayhawks have improved their win total, and it appears the best is yet to come for the 2024 season.

There’s no denying that Lance Leipold is a winner, and has a resume of success at places that other coaches couldn’t cut it. After all, he won 24 games in his final three seasons at Buffalo. Kansas only captured two victories in Leipold’s first year. However, he increased those wins to six in year two, and nine last season, which were the most in the program since 2007.

Now Leipold is approaching his fourth season with Kansas, and will be fielding his best team yet, thanks to several returning studs on both sides of the ball. There hasn’t been this much buzz surrounding the program in recent memory, and expectations are high after the Jayhawks finished last season ranked 19th in the final AP Poll.

The Big 12 Media even picked Kansas to finish fourth in the Preseason Poll that was released earlier this month. The Jayhawks also received five first-place votes, so they definitely have caught everyone’s attention. Leipold is proud to see the program has finally arrived, which is a testament to all of the hard work he’s put in over the past three years.

“My challenge is going to be is that to make sure I want our young men to be confident, and I want them to be proud of what they’ve done,” Leipold said. “I don’t want that to trickle in to complacency though, that’s my responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to our staff that we continue to do the things in the type of manner that help us get where we are.”

The Jayhawks will likely be a top-20 team entering the season, which means a bullseye will be on their backs. And rightfully so, considering the number of explosive players at the skill positions. It’s no mystery that Jalon Daniels is one of the league’s best quarterbacks when healthy, but injuries has limited his action over the past two years.

Jason Bean filled in nicely when Daniels was sidelined, and Leipold knows he can’t put all of his eggs in one basket. That’s why Cole Ballard got some valuable reps in 2023, and should be ready to go if anything happens to Daniels.

“Cole has had an outstanding offseason, and I feel very confident in his growth and where his future lies,” he said. “So continued development is going to be key, but it’s our goal and expectation that Jalon will play every snap he’s able to play dictated by score more than help.”

Daniels is surrounded with weapons, including a two-time, 1,000-yard rusher in Devin Neal. His backup Daniel Hishaw could start for several other teams around the league too. Wideout Lawrence Arnold always delivers in the clutch, and is a matchup nightmare out in space.

It’s going to be up to new Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes to how far the unit can go this fall. Grimes’ familiarity with the Big 12, and history with Leipold should make it all a smooth transition. So far in Leipold’s eyes, everything is looking promising.

Kansas’ defense has the potential to be even better, despite the loss of studs like Austin Booker, Rich Miller and Kenny Logan. Edge rusher Jerome Robinson will anchor the defensive line, and fill the void Booker left behind. Robinson generated 25 tackles, including six for loss, and finished second on the team in sacks in 2023.

Although the linebackers will be young, Leipold is high on the playmakers in the secondary. Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant are arguably the best cornerback tandem in the country. The duo combined for 90 tackles, and a jaw-dropping, eight interceptions last year. Having those two ballhawks gives Leipold a lot of options in defensive coverage.

The mystique to this upcoming season is playing the home games away from Memorial Stadium. Kansas will play the first two home games at Children’s Mercy Park, and the others at Arrowhead Stadium. Leipold is staying proactive about the entire situation too.

“We’re practicing on grass more than we ever have, and we’ll continue to find ways to do that,” the 60-year old coach said.

The new Big 12 is full of parity and there’s no clear-cut favorite. Leipold wants to take advantage of that, and has the veterans on his roster to do so. The schedule is somewhat challenging, but nothing the Jayhawks can’t navigate through without reaching at least nine wins. Everything appears to be coming full circle for Leipold, considering Kansas is no longer just a basketball school, and he’s confident his players are ready for the spotlight.

“We have over 30 seniors, and guys that have done an outstanding job helping us get this turned around.”