Wednesday Walkthrough: Missouri State Week

We dive into what Lance Leipold had to say ahead of the Jayhawks' season opener.

Finally, mere days from now, Kansas Jayhawks football returns and we will embark on one of the most hyped and most important seasons in recent KU history. Before the most high-profile games of the 2023 slate, coach Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks will kick off this Friday night against the Missouri State Bears from the Division I FCS ranks. That’s where the Wednesday Walkthrough steps in.

Just like last season, every week we’ll keep you in the loop with what Leipold had to say about KU’s upcoming challenge, notes on the opponent and players to keep a keen eye on. The quest for a second straight bowl game is on, and we’ll have you covered along the entire route there.

Let’s dive into Kansas versus Missouri State.

LISTENING IN ON LANCE

“He hasn't practiced a lot, but he went through everything today. We'll plan on playing everybody that's available.”

There’s been plenty of understandable concern about Jalon Daniels and his health entering Week 1 after it was reported that he was dealing with back tightness during camp. It makes sense why KU has been careful with the Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year, but Leipold made it clear that he’ll be good to go against Missouri State. Don’t be surprised to see plenty of action against the Bears for Jason Bean and possibly even Cole Ballard and Ben Easters, but it’s full-steam ahead with Daniels this week.

“I want us to play just like we're playing anybody each and every week, that we go out and play to our best and show the improvement in every area[.]”

If you’ve ever heard Leipold speak about an upcoming opponent, you won’t be surprised to know that he avoided saying anything that could be construed as negative about Missouri State. When given a chance to mention anything he wants to see this Friday to get ready for next week’s game against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Leipold replied with the business-as-usual answer.

“Especially up front, that's a rotating position. It could be by amount of snaps, could be down and distance; all those guys will play.”

Leipold was asked about the “or” listed next to Tommy Dunn and D.J. Withers on KU's first depth chart, although every position along the line has an "or" included on that two-deep. There may not be a true star in that group yet (more on a potential one later), but everyone listed is going to have a chance to make an impact. Even if the Jayhawks' talent level in its defensive front isn't "elite," it will help a great deal to have fresh bodies constantly rotating in and out.

“Pound the rock. That's the expectation for the running back room … It's easy to see a highlight where a guy goes for 50. But it's the little moments that keep us on schedule that I'm really looking forward to from our running back room.”

We’re bringing you a coordinator quote in every Wednesday Walkthrough this season, and this week’s is courtesy of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The beginning of this quote references what he wants to see out of the group headlined by Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw, who’s returning from injury. The second part references what Kotelnicki calls “erasers,” or players who can erase a bad play around them (such as a bad block, as an example for running backs). Most observers would agree, the Kansas run game certainly has a pair of those.

NEW: The Kansas football depth chart is out. #KUfball pic.twitter.com/zYKwlc4Vys

— Michael Swain (@MSwain247) August 28, 2023

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

When: Friday, Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas

Spread: N/A

Let’s get this out of the way here: Friday games are a bad thing, especially when you don’t have to put a game there. You can at least understand the logic behind the Illinois game in Week 2 being on a Friday for the sake of national exposure, but it feels wholly unnecessary to have an ESPN+ game on a Friday night, even considering the need to guarantee full broadcast crews. No recruiting visits for Week 1 or the ability to go out and watch recruits isn’t exactly a great selling point, either. Whatever. On to the game itself.

As outlined in our Blue Wings Rising 100 Days to Kickoff countdown preview of the Bears, they’re in a state of flux right now. Bobby Petrino is out as Missouri State’s coach, replaced by the team’s former defensive coordinator, Ryan Beard. The Bears are also coming off their worst season since a 1-10 campaign in 2019, finishing 5-6 a year ago.

Missouri State was picked ninth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, and of the 12 teams in the league it has the fourth-fewest number of preseason all-conference picks. The only first-teamers are two of its specialists, punter Grant Burkett and long snapper Caden Bolz. One name that may be familiar is running back Jacardia Wright, who started his career with the Kansas State Wildcats from 2019-21 before transferring to Missouri State. He earned second-team preseason All-MVFC honors this year after rushing for 711 yards in 10 games last season.

We won’t see a spread for this game until much closer to kickoff time, but it’s safe to assume the Jayhawks will be a heavy, heavy favorite over their FCS foes. For whatever it’s worth (it may not be much), KU closed as a 31-point favorite in last year’s season-opening win over Tennessee Tech.

JAYHAWK TO WATCH

In last year’s season opener, Lonnie Phelps dominated to the point of being nearly unstoppable. The Miami (Ohio) transfer recorded seven tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks, immediately proving why he was such a highly touted acquisition in the offseason.

Don’t expect to see the same exact numbers from Colorado State Rams transfer Devin Phillips, but Friday night could be a similar kind of opportunity for him to show why the coaching staff has raved about him this summer. As an interior lineman instead of an edge rusher, you probably won’t see him put up sack numbers like Phelps, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t and won’t be a disruptor. In fact, that’s exactly what Kansas needs and should expect out of him.

Hype has been building, at least somewhat, for the Jayhawks’ interior defensive line as the regular season approaches. Phillips has a chance to be the best player on that developing unit, and a strong showing against Missouri State could be an important spark for KU’s defensive front.

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