Kansas Jayhawks Defensive Players To Watch vs. Texas

The Texas Longhorns torched the Kansas Jayhawks' defense in 2022 for 55 points and 539 yards of total offense. Will it be a similar story this year?

The Kansas Jayhawks' defense didn't do their offense any favors last season.

The Jayhawks' defense was 127th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards allowed and 124th in opponent scoring in 2022, but this season, they have turned things around. Kansas' defense is only allowing 22.8 points per game and holding opponents to under 300 yards on average.

However, Kansas is no longer playing non-conference opponents like Missouri State, Nevada and Illinois. The Jayhawks faced their first conference test against BYU last week, allowing 366 yards and 27 points to the Cougars.

The No. 3 Texas Longhorns are a different beast offensively, though. Kansas defensive coordinator Brian Borland will have his hands full trying to scheme up the Longhorns, but here are three players they will lean on when facing Quinn Ewers and Co. Saturday.

SAF Kenny Logan Jr.

Jayhawks safety Kenny Logan Jr. can do it all for the Kansas defense.

He leads the defense with 23 tackles, while also intercepting a pass for a touchdown and breaking up two others and forcing a fumble.

The St. Augustine, Florida, native was named a Preseason First Team All-Big 12 honoree, according to Phil Steele.

With Texas' array of weapons in wide receivers Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Johntay Cook, Logan will be responsible for preventing the deep bombs down the field.

CB Cobee Bryant

While Logan plays effectively over the top, Cobee Bryant isn't the reason for many down-the-field passes.

The reigning First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 is off to a great start this year, intercepting two passes and breaking up another. Bryant has recorded eight tackles, two of which have gone for a loss, while also returning a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown.

Bryant's 83.9 defensive and 93.1 run defense grades are both top three, according to Pro Football Focus, while 80.2 coverage grade is 18th among all cornerbacks with at least 170 snaps played.

It will be a really fun one-on-one matchup between Bryant and Worthy. At 6-0 and 175 pounds, Bryant gives up one inch to Worthy but has 11 more pounds on him.

His opposite cornerback, Mello Dotson, has broken up a Big 12-high six passes already this season, so the Jayhawks are trying to build their best version of the "No Fly Zone" defense.

DL Austin Booker

Austin Booker transferred from Minnesota in the offseason, bringing that Big Ten grit to the Jayhawks' defensive line.

Booker is tied with Jereme Robinson for the team lead with 3.5 sacks, while his 4.5 tackles for loss are second behind linebacker JB Brown's five.

The Greenwood, Indiana, native is the third-highest-graded Kansas defender this season with a PFF defensive grade of 80.9.

Booker will have a challenge regardless of which side he lines up on, as Texas has one of the best offensive tackle duos in the country in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Christian Jones — both of whom helped contribute to zero sacks allowed against Alabama.