Patrick Norton

The Jayhawks have one of the most negative outlooks you can find in the game. With new Athletic Director Jeff Long in the building, the writing is on the wall for head coach David Beaty. With three wins in three seasons, another projected failure ahead in 2018, basketball season can’t come soon enough in Lawrence, Kansas.

Prestige Ranking (If NCAA Football 19 existed): 2*

The worst Power 5 team, arguably the worst FBS team in the nation, but people forget that they did wind up victorious in the 2008 Orange Bowl with then-head coach Mark Mangino and quarterback Todd Reesing leading the charge.

Last Year’s Record: 1-11 (0-9 Big 12):

Couldn’t even beat a winless Baylor team.

Projected Returning Starters:

Offense: 7

WR Steven Sims Jr, WR Jeremiah Booker, LT Hakeem Adeniji, C Andru Tovi, RT Antione Frazier, RB Khalil Herbert, QB Peyton Bender

The offensive line is in shambles, the quarterback situation remains a mess, but at least Steven Sims Jr and Khalil Herbert are still here. There’s nothing good that can be said about this team, as unfortunate as that may sound. A lot of this leads back to coaching and recruiting. They sign all of these highly touted three and four stars, but lose them all soon after and are forced to settle with average JUCO transfers. Sure, they may have three returning starters from the O-Line, but that’s a crapshoot and nobody knows at this point if those are the guys KU will roll out with Week 1.

Defense: 5

DT Daniel Wise, LB Joe Dineen Jr, DB Bryce Torneden, DB Mike Lee, DB Hasan Defense

Joe Dineen Jr is the heart and soul of the defense, even more so that Dorance Armstrong is no longer a part of the linebacking corps. Dineen has NFL talent and could’ve left for the draft after last season (along with Mike Lee), but decided to stick around for his senior season with KU. It couldn’t hold up when on the field seemingly 90% of the game and with disgusting starting position allowed by the offense, but there is a bit of talent on this phase.

Specialists: 2

K Liam Jones, LS Logan Klusman

Key Losses:

Dorance Armstrong is the only guy from last year’s Kansas roster that creates a noticeable hole. As a Chicago Bears fan, I’m still upset we didn’t draft him, but at least he didn’t go to the Packers. The OLB/EDGE was a constant force on the defensive side of the ball, even forcing the offenses of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State keep an eye out for where Armstrong was on the field. He’s irreplaceable.

Key Newcomer Offense: Kyle Thompson

Kyle Thompson is going to see plenty of action punting the ball away on 4th down this season. Cole Moos got the majority of the touches last season, but if Thompson can force the opponents into poor field position, maybe the score won’t be THAT bad once the fourth quarter ends.

Key Newcomer Defense: Corione Harris

The freshman defensive back is going to see plenty of playing time in 2018, and luckily for Harris, KU has a recent history of producing top DB talent in the NFL. Chris Harris Jr and Aqib Talib were the top corner-backing pair in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, winning the 2015 Super Bowl, and yes, both are former Kansas Jayhawks. As the newcomer with the brightest future for the Jayhawks, let’s hope Harris can follow in his fellow Jayhawk’s footsteps.

Breakout Player of the Year: Khalil Herbert

In an offense that made you turn the set off when they were on TV, Herbert actually put together a couple of quality performances together, but after running all over West Virginia in the first Big 12 match of the 2017 season, Herbert was unable to break through and overpowered by other conference opponents. In a two-week span, Herbert put up a combined 428 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the Mountaineers and THE University of Ohio. However, the rest of the season consisted of 235 yards rushing and zero touchdowns. If Herbert can add a consistent flavor to this season, weak Big 12 defenses better be on the look out.

Five Year Recruiting Rank (Bill Connelly): 70

Alcohol Prediction: Whatever you can get your hands on.

You’re going to wish the University wasn’t a dry campus after watching a quarter of this team in 2018.

Outlook 2018:

They say it’s supposed to get worse before it gets better, but there’s no “better” anywhere in the near or distant future. A true tire fire of a program that hopefully gets ripped to shreds after the season by AD Jeff Long. There’s no excuse to keep Beaty and his staff beyond 2018, and it’s not that hard to see Long agreeing with that assessment. Hell, they’re being out-recruited by MULTIPLE FCS programs:

2018 Record (overall: 1-11) (Big 12: 0-9)

With their non-conference opponents set as Nicholls State, Central Michigan and Rutgers, I have a difficult time seeing the Jayhawks collecting more than a home victory against Nicholls State on September 1st. Central Michigan slapped the Hawks at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence in 2017, so it’s reasonable to see them protecting their home turf in Pure Michigan. And once you hit the Big 12, it’s pretty much over.