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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSA The Student Voice Since 1904
Pride and progess Jayhawks see growth in first season under new coach Nathan Swaffar @NathanSwaffar Kansas football won only two games in its first season under coach Lance Leipold. But wins and losses never tell a team’s entire story. Defining moments and individual performances shaped the Jayhawks in their 2-10 campaign. Here’s a review of the 2021 season: STANDOUT STATS Kansas finished last in many Big 12 Conference categories: overall standings, scoring, points allowed per game, yards per game and yards allowed. Redshirt junior quarterback Jason Bean tallied the most passing yards with 1,252, but sophomore quarterback Jalon Daniels threw for seven touchdowns compared with Bean’s six. Daniels also averaged more yards per game. Freshman Devin Neal led all rushers with 707 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II led receivers with 653 yards and three touchdowns. Junior safety Kenny Logan Jr. led the team and the Big 12 in tackles with 113. Senior defensive end Kyron Johnson led the team in sacks with 6.5. Johnson also tallied the most tackles for loss with 8.5. MOMENT OF THE YEAR Kansas was coming off back-toback losses heading into the Texas game. The Jayhawks also had never won in Austin. After two tough defeats, a win would give the Jayhawks momentum heading into the sea-
Emma Pravecek/Kansan
Freshman defensive lineman Tommy Dunn Jr. revs up the crowd against Oklahoma on Oct. 23 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
son’s final stretch. This game also signaled new territory for Daniels. After injuries a week earlier to Bean and redshirt senior Miles Kendrick, Daniels was thrust into the starting role. He didn’t disappoint, throwing for 202 yards and three touchdowns while adding 45 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the 57-56 win. “Outstanding. I mean just amazing,” Leipold said. But the best story to come out of this game was redshirt freshman tight end Jared Casey, who caught an overtime two-point conversion for the win.
“We made a decision earlier that if we score, we are going for two,” Leipold said. “Our athletic director, Travis Goff, I sort of gave him a look saying, ‘Hey we are going to go for this thing.’ And we did it.” MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Logan became one of the leaders of the defense this season. His physical and gritty play helped the Jayhawks stay in games. He finished with 113 tackles to lead the team, including four tackles for loss. Logan didn’t record any sacks but had an interception and forced two fumbles. Logan became one of two Jay-
hawks, along with Kyron Johnson, to earn All-Big 12 second-team honors. EXPECTING MORE SUCCESS Following the Jayhawks’ loss to West Virginia in the season’s final game, the sense of improvement was evident. “There are other games where we struggled, and the games weren’t very close," Leipold said. "You watch these last three weeks of a group, even though, like everybody, depth has been dented in many different ways. You watch different people get opportunities. And that part of their competitiveness, passion,
pride and work ethic that we’ve been emphasizing has resonated through the program." Logan said that despite a long offseason, it’s time for players to take care of themselves. Daniels said he didn’t want to start next season slow. “Next year, I want to come in with a bang,” he said. “I want to start off exactly how we finished off this season. I want to be able to compete with every single team in the Big 12, no matter who they are, I don't care the name. I want to be able to compete, and this offseason is going to allow us to be able to do that."
KU basketball is a family affair for freshman Player's decision to walk on keeps him close to grandmother Andrew Lind @lind_andrew
Kansas Atheltics
Freshman Dillon Wilhite joined the basketball team, where his grandmother has worked for 37 years.
Freshman forward Dillon Wilhite, originally from San Diego, California, has called Lawrence home after committing to Kansas basketball in May. He chose to walk on at Kansas and take a redshirt year, meaning he can practice with the team but cannot play in games. He made those decisions despite averaging a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double in high school—meaning he most likely could have seen significant playing time right away at another college program. But with strong family ties to the University of Kansas, coming to KU was the only option. Wilhite’s dad, Brad, grew up in Lawrence. His grandmother, Joanie Stephens, is close to the program. “My grandma actually works in the basketball office,” Wilhite said. “She's worked 37 years in the athletic department. She worked for Roy Williams and now Coach Self.” Now a part of Kansas basketball himself, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man is grateful to be in this position,
where he’s able to learn and play against teammates who already have made their mark in a major college basketball program. “It’s a great opportunity to be here and compete every day in practice against Dave [McCormack], Mitch [Lightfoot]—all the big guys,” Wilhite said. “It's definitely helping me get better and making the team better.” Being a walk-on takes a lot of perseverance, and Wilhite said he has accepted his role. Ahead of the season-opener against Michigan State at the Champions Classic, Wilhite made the announcement that he would redshirt this season. “I'm just doing everything I can to help contribute to the team and get us ready for games and just do my role,” Wilhite said. Ultimately, being at Kansas is all about fulfilling a lifelong dream. “It’s awesome,” Wilhite said. “I've always grown up coming to Kansas, and so to be playing against these guys who are at the highest level, it’s an awesome experience for me. I really, really love it here. I've always grown up coming to games, and I am just a big Jayhawk fan.”
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