Previewing the Running Backs: 68 Days Until Kansas Football

We continue our positional previews, sticking on the offensive side with another position with a clear depth chart.

© Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Much like last year, we are using Sundays in the Countdown to the return of Kansas Football to take a deep dive into one of the 10 main position groups. Each week, we'll highlight the key players to watch and give you an idea of what to expect from the position this year. This week, we continue our series with more of the offense. It's another position that fans probably aren't too worried about this season: the running backs. In fact, the situation is very similar to last season.

Previous Positions Covered:

• Quarterbacks

Last Season

There were five Jayhawks with double-digit carries from the running back position last season, but the Kansas staff didn't limit the scheme to only have those players run the ball. With both quarterbacks looking to run often and multiple wide receivers with opportunities to run on sweeps, the Jayhawks had a very dynamic running game.

Player Name	Attempts	Net Yards	Average	TDs
Devin Neal	180	1,090	6.1	9
Daniel Hishaw	44	259	5.9	5
Sevion Morrison	23	165	7.2	1
Ky Thomas	53	162	3.1	2
Torry Locklin	12	32	2.7	1
Jalon Daniels	77	419	5.4	7
Jason Bean	38	222	5.8	4

The Jayhawks started the season with four legitimate threats at the position, with Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw as the two front-line backs. Sevion Morrison and Ky Thomas all got involved early in the season as well, but it was pretty obvious early in the season that Neal would be the workhorse back with Hishaw coming in for a change of pace. Thomas and Morrison each came in situationally, but all four of them were seen frequently.

But then the injury bug hit. Hishaw's electric 73-yard touchdown run was the highlight of the Duke game, but he suffered a season-ending injury the next week against Iowa State. Neal was able to take over as the lead back, and the other running backs struggled in their first year in the system.

Cause For Concern

Much like last season, the main concern is health. Jalon Daniels was injured on a running play, and Hishaw's injury changed the way that Kansas had to be successful the rest of the year. The Jayhawks play a very physical style of football, which opens them up to a lot of injury potential. 

Spring football didn't do much to assuage those concerns, as Kansas spent the majority of those practices with a very limited positional group. Add in the transfer of Ky Thomas, and the Jayhawks still have a fantastic one-two punch, but there are some question marks down the depth chart.

Reasons for Optimism

The Jayhawks may have the best running back in the Big 12 this season in Devin Neal. He has already been named to multiple preseason First-Team All Big 12 teams, and it's hard to argue that he is deserving. Add in an electric secondary option in Daniel Hishaw, who showed a lot of development early last season to become more than just a bruising goal-line back, and Kansas might have the best primary backup as well.

Sure the depth is a little bit unproven, but Kansas has a good crop of players that they are expecting to contribute, including Torry Locklin who saw more work late in the season. Sevion Morrison will look to take a step forward, and there are multiple wide receivers who could step in for some snaps here and there to spell Neal or Hishaw.

Projected Depth Chart

Last year I struggled with coming up with just a two-deep, because Kansas had so many options for the primary backup behind Neal. This year, the depth chart is a little bit more clear-cut, but we are still going to give the top four here:

RB1: Devin Neal

This isn't even a question, as Devin Neal has been THE guy since he came to campus, and he has only gotten better as time went on. It took him a while to get going last season, partly because of how uncertain the depth chart was. But he hit his stride in November, rushing for 414 yards combined in games against Oklahoma State and at Texas Tech. He still needs to work on some consistency, but he absolutely can have a break out season this year. 

RB2: Daniel Hishaw

I wasn't prepared for how much he developed last year, as he was usually the goal-line back during his freshman season. He didn't get many opportunities in other situations under Les Miles, and injuries robbed him of a lot of playing time. But reports are that he is back and stronger than ever, and he will be eager to show the beginning of last season wasn't a fluke.

RB3: Sevion Morrison

Morrison was the more effective of the "second rotation" and was usually good for a big run in each game he saw the field. It's fair to question if he will be able to do the same with more snaps, but he undoubtedly has the talent to be a front-line guy.

RB4: Torry Locklin

Locklin gets thrown in here because of the clutch plays he had in the Liberty Bowl. I don't think RB4 is going to get many snaps, especially when Jason Bean is able to provide a threat similar to what Locklin brings, but I also don't think Bean will actually line up as a running back very often, if at all.

Honorary Full-Back: Jared Casey

I doubt that he will be listed in this role, but he spent a lot of time at the tight end position dropping back to provide run blocking, especially on the edge. If anyone on the roster gets used like a full-back, it's Casey.

Depth

Kansas saw a lot of players leave the roster including the depth guys that played in the Spring Showcase, but have brought in a few guys to help fill out that depth. Georgia Tech transfer Dylan McDuffie may have a chance to see the field, and freshman Johnny Thompson and Carson Morgan will try to have an impact. And Billy Conaway rounds out the roster at the position.

Coaching Staff

The running backs will be coached by Jonathan Wallace, who joined the staff in February 2020, after the first season under Les Miles. His first season saw a successful quartet of Pooka Williams, Velton Gardner, Daniel Hishaw and Amauri Pesek-Hickson. Last season saw him effectively juggle the injury situation while continuing to development the players in the room.

Prior to joining the Jayhawks, Wallace coached the tight ends at Air Force in 2019, and spent the 2018 on staff at Bethel with former Kansas offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon. The former Auburn quarterback/wide receiver spent two years as a graduate assistant at Auburn.

He has a history of success in his short time coaching, and has previously shown the ability to juggle a running back room with multiple talented options.

Overall Thoughts

I'm not quite as high on this group as I was last year, especially with multiple guys transferring out. But those were questions about depth, not about the top-end abilities of the unit.

Kansas will have one of the toughest rushing attacks in the conference this year, with both a stable of great to competent running backs and a pair of quarterbacks that could take off and run at any moment. Expect them to use that to their advantage and have another successful offensive season.

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