PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Pooka Williams broke a 60-yard touchdown rush early in the first half of the Oklahoma State game and finished with 98 yards and a touchdown. The true freshman has broken at least a 40-yard gain in each of the four games he has played in. He has eight rushes of 20 or more yards. Against the Cowboys, he caught six passes for 60 yards.
–WR Steven Sims set a career-best with 10 receptions against Oklahoma State. The senior also snared a touchdown reception, the 17th of his career, moving him into a tie for third place all-time at Kansas. Sims also sailed 21 yards on an end around on the Jayhawks’ first possession. The last Jayhawk to catch at least 10 passes in a game did so in 2009.
–WR Jeremiah Booker has touchdown receptions in three straight games, the first Jayhawk to achieve the feat since 2013. Booker caught a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
–CB Elmore Hempstead became the eighth Jayhawk to intercept a pass this season. The junior swiped the first of his career in the Oklahoma State loss. The last time Kansas had more players grab interceptions was in 2009 (nine).
SERIES HISTORY: West Virginia leads Kansas 6-1. The Jayhawks’ only victory since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012 was in 2013, the lone conference win coached by Charlie Weis. Kansas has lost four straight to the Mountaineers since then, allowing 33, 49, 48 and 56 points. QB Will Grier fired for 347 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in a 56-34 shootout last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m just kind of bummed. I know I can be a lot better just on simple things, some more major than others.” — Kansas QB Carter Stanley.
