KANSAS

Former Kansas Jayhawks Star Shines Brightly in NFL Rookie Season

Only two Jayhawks were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but early indications are the San Francisco 49ers got a third-round steal out of Lawrence.

Rich Cirminiello

Mar 2, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni (OL59) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mar 2, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni (OL59) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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Kansas football fans knew all about the potential of Dominick Puni, the All-Big 12 offensive lineman who spent two years in Lawrence after transferring from Central Missouri. NFL fans are just now getting to up to speed on the former Jayhawk now as well.

Puni won the starting job at right guard for the San Francisco 49ers and then looked anything like a rookie in his debut against the New York Jets. He played a key role in the Niners 32-19 win over the Jets on Monday Night Football.

Puni's play caught a lot of analysts off guard but it came as no surprise to those who watched him the past two seasons. He was a two-year starter with the Jayhawks, earning First Team All-Big 12 and really taking his technique to another level as a senior in 2023.

Puni was lightly recruited coming out of Francis Howell Central High School in Missouri, and he's had that chip on his shoulder ever since. He has an ideal build for a classic interior road grader, with the explosiveness and athletic fluidity to do damage at the second level.

San Francisco took Puni in the third round with the 86th overall pick, which could wind up being one of the steals of the 2024 draft. The rookie is bound to have rookie moments. Heck, he struggled in the Week 2 loss to Minnesota. But his potential is enormous, and he'll just keep getting better as this debut season unfolds.

Kansas Jayhawks Bowl Projections Entering Week 4

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Rich Cirminiello

RICH CIRMINIELLO

I've been the VP of College Awards for the Maxwell Football Club since 2008. I oversee and manage all aspects of the Maxwell Award (CFB Player of the Year), Bednarik Award (Defensive POY) and Munger Award (CFB Coach of the Year), including creating watch lists, steering the selection committee and choosing players of the week. I appear weekly on SportsGrid TV to discuss college football, both as a guest and a co-host of various live shows. I oversee and manage two additional college awards, outside the purview of the Maxwell Football Club - former Seattle Seahawk RB Shaun Alexander's Freshman of the Year Award & the Buddy Teevens Award, which was created by Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and Omaha Productions in honor of the late Dartmouth coach. I'm contracted out each May by Phil Steele to help edit the magazine and write select articles leading up to the publication of his annual College Football Preview in June.

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