Jayhawks ride two-game streak into Big 12
All the rage stemming from a brief football resurgence for Kansas seems to be centered on Pooka Williams, a freshman running back with 100-yard rushing performances in the Jayhawks’ back-to-back wins.
Defense, however, was the foundation for convincing triumphs over Central Michigan and Rutgers. The 55-14 rout of the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 15 marked the first two-game streak for the Jayhawks since the beginning of the 2011 season and their first nonconference win over a Power Five opponent since 2010.
After entering the Rutgers game tied for first nationally with a turnover margin of plus-six, Kansas (2-1) forced six takeaways, including pick-six returns by linebacker Bryce Torneden and safety Mike Lee.
The defense, anchored in the middle by two All-Big 12 picks, linebacker Joe Dineen and tackle Daniel Wise, has been both sound and opportunistic — traits that suddenly shape the Jayhawks as potential Big 12 spoilers entering a Sept. 22 clash at Baylor (2-1).
Wait. What? Spoilers? Kansas? A team that won one Big 12 game in David Beaty’s first three seasons as coach?
“We’ve got a lot of doubters, but we’re not really worried about that,” Lee said. “We block the negativity out. We always worry about the positive. As a whole team, I feel like our confidence is there and I feel like we can go and beat some Big 12 teams.”
Winning obviously builds confidence, even for a team that fell to FCS Nicholls State in its opener, prompting questions to first-year athletic director Jeff Long about Beaty’s immediate status.
Kansas was so authoritative controlling the game against Rutgers that it inserted four quarterbacks. None were thrust into a key role. Not with Williams rolling for 158 yards on the ground after netting 125 yards at Central Michigan. Khalil Herbert, a back relegated to backup status because of Williams’ four-star talents, added a 59-yard touchdown burst on his first carry.
Concerns as to how well the Kansas offensive front might mesh with the addition of three FBS transfers have begun to subside following the rocky loss to Nicholls. Williams looks that capable of patiently waiting for holes to develop and then rocking opponents with his shifty instincts and speed.
“I saw it in camp. He’s a freak,” Dineen said. “He’s an impressive, impressive running back. He’s a student of the game. He loves to learn. He’s obviously making a huge impact for us right now, but he’s going to be one of the best to come through here, I think.”
Lofty aspirations considering Kansas produced legendary rushers such as Gale Sayers and John Riggins.
Still, for anyone to be heralding any of the current Jayhawks as potential all-time greats is a definite bonus for a program that looked to sink even further into oblivion with the Week 1 loss at home to an FCS visitor Kansas paid $400,000 to schedule.
Baylor represents a promising opportunity for Kansas to start well in Big 12 play. The Bears trailed 23-0 at home before falling 40-27 against Duke on Sept. 15. Poor execution dogged the Bears throughout much of that defeat, a problem the Jayhawks could capitalize on if their defense remains opportunistic.
Dineen, however, found himself among veterans who cautioned younger teammates to continue embracing the process.
“The message was don’t get complacent,” Dineen said. “Like, we haven’t arrived yet. There’s a lot of room for us to get better and grow. ? Enjoy the win, because it’s a good feeling for sure, but keep in mind we have a lot of football left to play and we’ve still got to get better.”
