The 2022 Kansas Jayhawks had their best overall season since 2008. Kansas has the tools to take that step forward again in 2023. They have Lance Leipold entering his third season and they have some key pieces returning from a season ago. Can the Jayhawks repeat last season’s run? Will they take it a step further in 2023? Here is the preview for the 2023 Kansas Jayhawks.
Offense
The Jayhawks bring back more offensive production than any team in college football. Kansas brings back 10 starters and even the primary backups of a team that scored on average 35.6 points per game. The biggest return for this team has to be quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels was selected on the second team All-Big 12 team and threw for 2,014 passing yards to go along with 18 passing touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Daniels was also effective on the ground as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and added 425 rushing yards with 7 rushing touchdowns. He is the focal part of this offense, but he is not alone in 2023.
Kansas brings back running back Devin Neal who rushed for 1,090 rushing yards on 6.1 yards per carry and added 9 rushing touchdowns. Neal is a key to this offense and hopefully he’ll get a healthy counterpart in Daniel Hishaw Jr. If he is healthy, that running back duo is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Daniels is also getting back his top receiver and tight end targets from last season as well.
The Jayhawks are bringing back four starters back from the offensive line and they added a former five star prospect in the transfer portal in left tackle Logan Brown from Wisconsin. Kansas also added California transfer Spencer Lovell, an offensive guard that is going to compete with the two returning guards from last year for the starting spot. Kansas’ offense was fun to watch last season and we should see more of the same in 2023.
Defense
The defense is really what hurt the Kansas Jayhawks last season. If they could play just even a little bit better defensively, they would have contended for the Big 12 title. They gave up 35.6 points per game a season ago and will look to take a step forward in 2023. Kansas returns seven starters from a season ago, but they brought in some transfers that should help this team succeed in 2023. On the defensive line, the Jayhawks brought in defensive tackle Gage Keys (Minnesota) and Devin Phillips (Colorado State) to be the force in the middle of their defensive line.
The Jayhawks do need to replace all four starters from the defensive line last season so they also added defensive ends Patrick Joyner (Utah State) and Dylan Brooks (Auburn) who will try and compete for some reps. However, the two defensive end starters in my opinion are Jereme Robinson, who had eight tackles for a loss a season ago, and Hayden Hatcher. Those two will more than likely be the ones we see on the field the most trying to pass rush off the edge.
The Jayhawks entire starting linebacker core from a season ago is back in 2023. Rich Miller, Taiwan Berryhill Jr, and Craig Young all return for their senior campaign. Kansas added some depth in the transfer portal at the linebacker position as they brought in JB Brown from Bowling Green. This linebacker group is going to need to be good so that the entire front seven can flourish. Also in the secondary, the Jayhawks brought back all four starters from a season ago.
The leader of that secondary has to be senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. He has had over 100 tackles in the last two seasons with the Jayhawks. He is essential to the Jayhawks success in the secondary. Kansas also brought in LSU transfer cornerback Damarius McGhee to come and add some depth to that secondary. If this secondary is good and that front seven can help create some turnovers, this Jayhawks defense can take a step forward in 2023.
Win Total Bet
The win total is set at 5.5 on the FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over having odds at -144 and the under having odds at +118. The Jayhawks offense is going to be able to keep them in just about any game in 2023. If the defense can take that step forward, then the Jayhawks will be in the conversation for the Big 12 title. I think Kansas will compete, but their defense will be their downfall. They easily go over the 5.5 win total here, but with the odds as high as they are I am staying away from the win total. Kansas can get to seven wins in my eyes, but I don’t know if they can get more than that.
Schedule Predictions
Blowout Win vs Missouri State (1-0)
Win vs Illinois (2-0)
Win at Nevada (3-0)
Convincing Win vs BYU (4-0)
Loss at Texas (4-1)
Win vs UCF (5-1)
Loss at Oklahoma State (5-2)
Bad Loss vs Oklahoma (5-3)
Loss at Iowa State (5-4)
Win vs Texas Tech (6-4)
Loss vs Kansas State (6-5)
Win at Cincinnati (7-5)