LAWRENCE — As University of Kansas football coach Lance Leipold looked ahead to the spring showcase earlier this month, he naturally wanted his team to look sharp.
Leipold, who felt the Jayhawks turned the ball over more than expected this spring, didn't want to see sloppy penalties. He wanted them to tackle well and execute on both sides of the ball. There will be a few more practices after the event this spring, but we want to make sure they get the most out of them, and this will be a night where we can evaluate the athletes' performance in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
After Friday's event at Loch Chalk Park, Leipold seemed pleased with how the night went. There were highlight plays and opportunities for young athletes to show off their skills. The 2024 season opener is still months away, but expectations for the program have not yet cooled.
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Here are some takeaways from the Kansas Spring Showcase event held in Lawrence.
Lance Leipold says the setting is neat
For the past few years, Kansas has held its spring showcase event at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. However, the Jayhawks' home stadium is currently undergoing renovations. So this year Leipold and his friends held a team event at Loch Chalk Park.
Leipold described the setting as neat, intimate, and different. Just because they were inside a soccer stadium didn't mean they couldn't accomplish a lot. Senior wide receiver Quentin Skinner said he is excited to be back in front of fans.
Kansas State football could return to Rock Chalk Park in the future
Leipold said he hasn't given much thought to Kansas holding a spring showcase event at Rock Chalk Park again, but added he wouldn't mind if the idea was brought up. He wants to honor the fact that this is where the Jayhawks women's soccer team plays and appreciates how supportive the program has been this spring. He stressed that it would be an administrative rather than a personal decision.
Jaron Daniels' play attracts attention
The highlight of the night was a deep pass from redshirt junior quarterback Jaron Daniels that connected with Skinner. Skinner said it was great to see Daniels back in action after working his way back from an injury. Skinner added that even when Daniels can't take snaps, he finds ways to be around coaches and young quarterbacks and get involved.
“He’s been pitching all spring, and I think with him getting out in front of people it’s going to take a lot of people a little bit less speculation, but I don’t know,” Leipold said. “He's throwing, he's throwing deep, he's throwing all over the place. His attitude is great and it's great to see him and Quentin reunite.”
Kansas State's Confidence Remains High
It's the first time in more than a decade that Kansas has gone into the spring after winning a bowl game, and the first time the Jayhawks have done so under Leipold. Coach Leipold said the program has benefited from being able to practice in December over the past two seasons, as the team was also able to play in a bowl game in 2022. He also believes the team understands there is still a lot of work to be done, especially considering the goals. — from an opponent standpoint — it’s going to be even bigger this year.
Skinner said there are a lot of players entering their final seasons at the collegiate level this year, so that gives Kansas even more motivation. As cheesy as that may sound, he admitted that's how he felt. He explained that not only are the Jayhawks more confident, but they have a hungrier spirit.
Lance Leipold shares what he thinks Kansas accomplished this spring
Kansas welcomed several new assistant coaches this spring, including offensive line coach Darryl Agparza and assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. It involves a process of adaptation. In addition to the progress there, Leipold said he thinks they are finding answers up front after leaving the team last season.
Coach Leipold added that he thought there was depth in the running back corps, especially considering the emergence of freshman Harry Stewart III, although redshirt junior Sevion Morrison wasn't as healthy as expected. Leipold said the depth at wide receiver remains strong and linebackers are playing more downhill than ever. He also liked that the development of the Jayhawks' young cornerbacks gives them some versatility.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics for the Topeka Capital Journal. He has been named the National Sports Media Association's 2022 Kansas Sportswriter of the Year. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or @JordanGuskey on Twitter.
