Breakout Player Candidates - BWR Roundtable: 14 Days Until Kansas Football

With the end of Fall Camp approaching, which players seem poised to have a huge breakout year?

We are nearing the end of Fall Camp, with just 2 weeks until the season opener. And as we get closer to real action, it's natural to wonder which players have taken the biggest leap in the offseason. So we asked our crew which player they think is the most likely to break out for the Kansas Jayhawks this season.

Previous editions of the Roundtable have covered a variety of topics. Our first article talked about carrying lessons forward from 2022. Then we looked ahead to the upcoming schedule. We asked about the threshold of guaranteed success that would be needed to lock it in. We also highlighted some important questions surrounding the team heading into camp before looking at newest additions to the Big 12.

Which player is the most likely to have a breakout season this year?

Derek Noll: I wrote about this a few months ago, but I’ll say it again: I love a player with something to prove. Daniel Hishaw is that man. He saw his season cut short last term but I have full confidence that with Devin Neal being the focus of opposing defenses along with Jalon Daniels’ ability to scramble and make plays from nothing, that Hishaw will get overlooked or at least underestimated at times. This guy could be a starter in a lot of programs so I’m looking for him to complete the season without being injured and put up totals that he was on pace for last season (800 yards, 10+ TDs).

Kyle Davis: I think this could be a big breakout year for the linebackers. I’ve seen mention of Taiwan Berryhill Jr. looking good in practice, but I’m going with Craig Young. I’ve been high on him since he got here last year, so no reason to stop now. Young was already second on the team in sacks last year with 4.5, and with that turnover on the defensive line we mentioned in a previous question, I wonder if he’s going to be used more to get after the quarterback.

Brendan Dzwierzynski: I like Derek’s angle on a player with something to prove, so give me one of those in the wide receivers room. Trevor Wilson’s speed is legitimate, but his 2022 never really got off the ground (for on and off the field reasons). A true slot receiver could be a dangerous weapon for this team as a complement to Grimm, Skinner, Arnold and a tight ends group that I love. There are a lot of talented bodies among the pass catchers, but if Wilson figures it out I really believe he can be a dangerous weapon.

Andy Mitts: I agree with Kyle that one of the best candidates is at linebacker, but I think Craig Young has already broken out. Instead, I keep hearing about Cornell Wheeler, who I didn’t have listed in my linebacker preview. But Matt Gildersleeve talked about how often he has been standing out in Fall Camp, and it’s hard to ignore it that often. Given the importance that the coaching staff has put on that attitude and consistency, Wheeler is a good bet to be the guy that jumps into prominence this season.

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