REPORT: Scott Fuchs leaving Kansas Jayhawks
For the third time this offseason, the Kansas Jayhawks are about to find themselves with a hole in their coaching staff that needs to be filled. According to John D Brice at Football Scoop, Kansas offensive line coach Scott Fuchs is expected to accept an offensive analyst position with the Tennessee Titans.
Fuchs, who has been the offensive line coach at Kansas for the last three seasons, has been a part of Lance Leipold's staff since 2019 including two years at Buffalo. He has twice helped build one of the premier offensive lines in college football, as his Buffalo line ranked 2nd in rushing yards and only allowed a single sack in all of the 2020 season.
Fuchs was a massive part of the turnaround of the Kansas offense, taking an offensive line that allowed 47 sacks in the 9-game season preceding his arrival and transformed them into a unit that helped the team rush for more than 2,300 yards in each of the last two seasons and only allowed 44 sacks total in the last three years.
The Jayhawks are already dealing with a lot of changes in the offensive line, as three starters in 2023 are no longer with the team. Dominick Puni was recently invited to the NFL Draft Combine, and he was joined in graduating by Mike Novitsky. Tackle Armaj Reed-Adams entered the transfer portal earlier in the offseason.
Kansas returns Bryce Cabeldue, Kobe Baynes, Michael Ford and Calvin Clements, all who had a significant role last season. They also added Shane Bumgardner, a Division II transfer that the staff seemed very high on.
It's the third significant member of the coaching staff to leave this offseason, as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki left prior to the bowl game to take the same position at Penn State, and defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson left for the same role at Texas A&M as part of Mike Elko's staff.
Leipold has shown an ability to identify and bring in talented coaches to fill holes in his staff. Kotelnicki was replaced with Jeff Grimes, who was recently at BYU and Baylor. Peterson was replaced with D.K. McDonald, who previously coached for five season at Iowa State before spending the last three season in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.
We will continue to follow this story, including some additional thoughts if the news becomes official and when a replacement is hired.
Follow Us: Twitter | Instagram | Discord | The Rock Chalk Podcast
