The Jayhawks are 5-3 (2-2) with losses at South Florida, Oklahoma and to Texas Tech (I'd mention their wins but they don't have any good ones). The Jayhawks return 15 starters off of a team that finished 12-1 (7-1) in 2007 but played what had to be the softest schedule for a BCS school in the history of college football.
QB Todd Reesing has thrown for 2,476 yards and 19 TD's along with 8 INT's so far in 2008. He had 412 yards and 3 TD passes vs. Louisiana Tech and has thrown 6 of his INT's in Big XII action. Of Reesing's 19 touchdowns only 8 of them have come in Big XII play.
RB Jake Sharp has accounted for 466 rushing yards (4.6 yards/carry) and 5 rushing TD's this season. His biggest game came against Colorado when he carried the ball 31 times for 118 yards (3.8 yards/carry) and had 3 TD's. Angus Quigley has accounted for 253 rushing yards (5.3 yards/carry) and 2 rushing TD's this season. His biggest game came against Louisiana Tech when he carried the ball 15 times for 84 yards (5.6 yards/carry).
Sharp and Quigley will run behind an offensive line that starts 4 seniors (LG Adrian Mayes, C Ryan Cantrell, RG Chet Hartley and RT Matt Darton) and 1 freshmen (LT Jeff Spikes). It is an offensive line that has allowed Reesing to be sacked 16 times in 8 games.
WR Dezmon Briscoe is the team's leading receiver. Briscoe had 12 catches for 269 yards (22.4 yards/catch) at Oklahoma. He has had double digit yards/catch in 6 of the Jayhawks 8 games this season. The Jayhawks have 6 other players who average double digit yards/catch (WR Kerry Meier, WR Johnathan Wilson, Sharp, WR Daymond Patterson, WR Dexton Fields and TE Tim Biere.
On defense, the Jayhawks return 9 starters but their losses were major losses. The strength of the defense is at LB where MLB Joe Mortensen and WLB Mike Rivera both return. It's a defense that has allowed 37, 33, 45 and 63 points this season in games that they are 1-3 in.
