Kansas Football: Jayhawks to endure another tough season in 2020

Jayhawks need to find a new whole defense

The defensive side of the ball is where the Jayhawks will have the most troubles in for the 2020 season. The Jayhawks are looking to replace eight starters from last year’s defense that was ranked 120th in the nation (last in the Big 12) in points allowed per game (36.1) and 124th in the nation (last in the Big 12) rushing yards allowed per game.

Last season, the Jayhawks’ defense ranked 128th nationally in overall defensive efficiency at 48.7 percent.

Athlon Sports has the Jayhawks’ defensive line, linebacker corps, and the secondary ranked last in their respective position groups in the Big 12. The Jayhawks are returning one defensive lineman in a three-position unit. The Jayhawks return two starters and role players from last season in their linebacker corps. Finally, in a four or five-player secondary unit, Kansas only returns role players and no starters.

There are many questions about who is worthy and talented to start at the Kansas Jayhawks’ defensive line this season. The only defensive linemen that started at least six games last season is junior defensive end Caleb Simpson. Last season, Simpson only accounted for 12 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. Junior Malcolm Lee accounted for 18 total tackles and one tackle for loss is projected to start at the other defensive end.

The other dilemma is who to start at the main nose guard spot. While senior Sam Burt has the experience, he is more undersized to be to a zero-technique defensive tackle. Senior Reuben Lewis (6-4, 325 pounds) or redshirt freshman DaJon Terry (6-4, 345 pounds) might be more suited to play the nose guard position.

Middle linebacker Gavin Potter had a stout true freshman season in 2019 for the Jayhawks as he accumulated 56 total tackles (fourth on the team), 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He will be the likely veteran leader on the defensive of the ball along with senior outside linebacker Kyron Johnson. Last season, Johnson accumulated 55 total tackles (fifth on the team) and 5.5 tackles for loss. Senior middle linebacker Dru Prox comes back to start after missing the last eight games of the season due to a significant injury.

Kansas will look at a completely different group of starters for 2020 than in the previous 2019 season. They will return some significant role players but they lack a significant amount of starts.

Junior safety Davon Ferguson returns after playing all 12 games and starting in five of them. Ferguson accumulated 57 total tackles (third on the team) and three tackles for loss. Senior Kyle Mayberry looks to step in as the Jayhawks’ cornerback after six starts last season, where he was second on the team in passes defended with five.

There could be some freshmen stepping up in Jayhawks’ secondary in cornerback Karon Prunty and Valerian Agbaw Jr.