Previewing the Wide Receivers: 61 Days Until Kansas Football
Much like last year, we are using Sundays in the Countdown to the return of Kansas Football to take a deep dive into one of the 10 main position groups. Each week, we'll highlight the key players to watch and give you an idea of what to expect from the position this year. This week, we continue our series with more of the offense. So far, every position has had a similar outlook to the year before, and today is no exception.
Previous Positions Covered:
Last Season
A reminder that this preview is focused solely on the wide receiver position, even though the running backs and tight ends are heavily involved in the passing game.
Just like last year, only five wide receivers had a significant contribution. And I may have stretched the definition of "significant" for this one to include those with roughly 100 yards.
| Player Name | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawrence Arnold | 44 | 716 | 16.3 | 4 |
Luke Grimm | 52 | 623 | 12.0 | 6 |
Quentin Skinner | 26 | 440 | 16.9 | 5 |
Tanaka Scott | 8 | 109 | 13.6 | 0 |
Kevin Terry | 8 | 93 | 11.6 | 0 |
The wide receiver position was both a blessing and a curse last season, with a lot of serviceable options but a lack of a true "go-to" receiver (no matter how much Brendan LOVES what Luke Grimm brings to the table). The Jayhawks came into each of the last two seasons with a lack of established talent at the position, but the reasons for that were quite different.
Two years ago, both quarterbacks and receivers were unproven, with a new transfer in Jason Bean, and returning players in Miles Kendrick and Jalon Daniels who had yet to show they could consistently get the ball where it needed to go. And the receivers didn't really do much to stand out, leading to some wondering if even good quarterback play would have made a difference.
Last season, the Jayhawks had some intriguing pieces, including a bunch of guys that had shown flashes at times, but there was no true standout. And while there seemed to be a consensus that someone was going to be able to step up and lead the position, there was a lot of room to debate who that was going to be. But in all honesty, no one really did.
Cause For Concern
The issue here is the lack of a proven top receiver. Kansas has a lot of guys that can put together a good night. They have a lot of players who are able to cause problems in the right situation. But they don't really have someone who is consistently going to challenge the opponents and require someone on him at all times.
And when you get past the two-deep, there isn't a ton of proven depth either. There are six freshman on the roster, and not many other options unless someone takes a huge step forward.
Reasons for Optimism
Big play potential. The Jayhawks had a lot of long plays from the wide receiver position, and the expectation is that this will continue. The top 3 receivers for the Jayhawks each had multiple games with a 20+ yard reception. Arnold had 8 games, and was the most consistent deep threat over the course of the season. Grimm wasn't to be outdone with 6 of his own and a bunch of double digit yard receptions. And Skinner had 6 of them, including two receptions of 55 or more yards.
Projected Depth Chart
There is a similar problem to last season, where it was difficult to come up with a full two-deep. But this time, it's not because of the lack of players, but instead because the starters are so well established and the backups so unproven. But here is my best guess at the two-deep for a three-WR set:
WR1: Lawrence Arnold / Kevin Terry
Arnold was by far the biggest overall threat on the roster, with the ability to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. He is the closest thing the Jayhawks had to a go-to, and opponents will treat him as such.
Terry has some potential on the edge, and he seemed to come on at the end of the season. He's far from a sure thing, but there was a lot of promising signs.
WR2: Quentin Skinner / Tanaka Scott
Skinner is the deep threat for the Jayhawks, with his blazing speed and canny sense to haul in awkward catches. It took quite a bit of time for him to build consistent rapport with the quarterbacks, but he developed into a reliable weapon. If Arnold doesn't get the most yards on the team, Skinner is a good bet with his huge play potential.
Scott was able to overcome the off-the-field issues that held him out of the opener to contribute positively, but it was very uneven. He had a huge 52-yard reception against TCU, but then only had 3 more catches for 21 total yards the rest of the year.
WR3/Slot: Luke Grimm / Doug Emilien
Grimm is your prototypical possession receiver. And it is clear that he has the trust of both Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean. His ability to find an open space in the middle of the field has helped get the offense out of a jam often. He's closer to a WR1 than a WR 3, but he is perfect for the slot.
Emilien transferred in with a lot of potential last season, but he came very late in the offseason. That led to him lagging from what many expected. The full offseason this year should give him an opportunity to grow into a backup role.
Depth
It's not fair to say that depth is non-existent on this team, but the proven depth is very thin. With six freshman on the roster, it's hard to know how any of them are going to perform. But if something happens in the top three receivers, Kansas fans would be justified in worrying about how the Jayhawks overcome it.
Coaching Staff
Terrance Samuel returns for his second season on Lance Leipold's staff. Prior to coming to Lawrence, Samuel has spent 24 years coaching in various programs, including Syracuse, Michigan State, UNLV, Arizona and Central Michigan. He previously worked with Leipold at Nebraska-Omaha.
Samuel has plenty of experience working with a young stable of receivers, and has previously coached two Big 10 Receiver of the Year winners in Tony Lippett and Aaron Burbridge.
Overall Thoughts
Last year, the wide receivers were a legitimate concern. With no clear-cut top option and a worrying lack of depth, it was hard to find a positive. But this year, Kansas has a system that works and some great personnel for it. The lack of proven depth could be a concern, but Samuel and Andy Kotelnicki have both proven the ability to get creative, supplementing the receiving corps as needed.
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