KANSAS

Increased Expectations Another Sign of Progress: 79 Days Until Kansas Football

The team and individual expectations being set for this season are another sign of just how far Lance Leipold has brought the program.

Andy Mitts

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If it seems like we end up talking about the progress made for Kansas Football under Lance Leipold and Travis Goff all the time, there is good reason for it. It seems like every week brings us additional news that indicate something has changed around the program.

Last year, we talked about how the feeling around the program was different on the heels of an impressive stretch to end Year 1. We talked about the potential for Kansas to take a step forward at the quarterback position, with two viable options to be the starter. And we talked about how important it was to have so much returning production from a successful offense.

This year, there are a lot of similar themes. We've already covered how the team has ramped up their own expectations and why that should leave you feeling optimistic. Vegas has increased the expectations when it comes to team wins. And individual players have started to see some preseason hype, headlined by Jalon Daniels being rated the #10 quarterback coming into the season by ESPN. And the selection of Daniels and running back Devin Neal, center Mike Novitsky and cornerback Cobee Bryant to the Athlon Sports 1st Team All Big 12 team showed that it isn't just a single player earning that respect.

And yesterday saw another big leap of recognition from a national publication, as twelve players were recognized as part of the Phil Steele All-Big 12 teams.

Picking up first team spots were Neal, Bryant and safety Kenny Logan Jr., with Daniels and Novitsky being joined by Dominick Puni on the second team. Tight end Mason Fairchild and long snapper Luke Hosford were tabbed for the third team, and then wide receiver Lawrence Arnold, defensive tackle Devin Phillips, linebacker Craig Young and kicker Seth Keller were named to the fourth team.

The thing that jumps out the most to me is the wide variety of players named to the teams, with Puni getting some recognition that I don't think will get picked up elsewhere early in the season. With 12 different positions represented in the selections, it is pretty clear that the talent base across the team continues to improve.

Obviously being named to a preseason team doesn't guarantee success. But the fact that the Jayhawks have enough players that are being consistently successful to garner this attention is a huge change. And that they have enough goodwill as a program for people to believe that those players can reach those heights is something to celebrate as a Kansas fan.

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Andy Mitts
ANDY MITTS

Andy Mitts is an alumnus of the University of Kansas, graduating in 2007. He previously covered the Jayhawks at Rock Chalk Talk and is now the editor-in-chief at Blue Wing Rising. He hosts the Kansas-themed Rock Chalk Podcast, and is VP of Membership of the Ten 12 Podcast Network. Follow him on Twitter @AndyMitts12.

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