GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Iowa State possesses one of the Big 12’s most durable rushers in David Montgomery, who carried a whopping 33 times for 125 yards in a win against Texas Tech last Saturday. Kansas has solid tacklers among its linebackers, led by Joe Dineen and Keith Loneker, while DT Daniel Wise often commands double-team blocking up front. Still, Montgomery is capable of wearing down defenders, something the Jayhawks must attempt to avoid. Iowa State ranks last in the Big 12 with its third down conversion percentage (.365), so stuffing Montgomery can lead to prohibitive down and distance.
DRAFT SLANT
–P Kyle Thompson is only a sophomore, but if the continues to improve will be a player NFL scouts look at potentially signing as a free agent. Of his 50 attempts, 20 have been downed inside the opposing 20-yard line. Thompson is averaging 43.7 yards, with 13 punts of 50-plus yards. He has been among the bright spots on special teams, units that have drastically improved this season for Kansas.
ROSTER REPORT
–S Mike Lee did not start in the Oct. 27 win against TCU. Lee was ejected for targeting in the first half of the Jayhawks’ previous game but was not subjected to any lost playing time against TCU. He entered in the second quarter after Hasan Defense and Jeremiah McCullough started at safety.
–RB Khalil Herbert carried 21 times in the TCU win, 10 more than RB Pooka Williams, who came in ranked third among Big 12 rushers. Herbert, a junior who led Kansas in rushing last season with 663 yards and a 5.5-yard average, gained just 38 yards, a 1.8-yard average.
–QB Miles Kendrick will probably sit out the remainder of the season so he can still receive a redshirt. Kendrick was used as the backup early in the season before suffering an injury.
–Kansas coach David Beaty cited NCAA rules that prevented him from talking in specifics, but said he had few scholarships to give when asked about recruiting. The Jayhawks have just one commitment for the 2019 class. They signed several blueshirts last year who will count on the 2019 total. Prior to the 2018 signing period, 11 recruits who pledged to Kansas switched to other teams. Beaty is also considered to be on the hot seat in his fourth season.
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