Kansas Big 12 Football Media Day Notes
July 21, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Big 12 Conference Media Days
WHO IS HERE? — Kansas head coach Mark Mangino, along with three players – QB Todd Reesing, LB Mike Rivera and S Darrell Stuckey – are here for interviews. Biographical information on each of those four is available later in these notes, as well as in the media guide. Here to assist from the media relations office are Mike Strauss, Beau White and Chris Theisen. Please do not hesitate to call on us for assistance.
KU’S MEDIA DAY SCHEDULE — Here is a look at where Coach Mark Mangino and the Kansas players will be during the day. Mike Strauss will be with Coach Mangino, while Beau White will escort the Jayhawk players on Tuesday.
9-9:45 a.m. – Print
9:45-10:25 – TV
10:25-11:05 – Radio
11:05-12:05 – National TV
NATIONAL HONORS — Here is a look at some of the national recognition Kansas players have received during the preseason:
DE Russell Brorsen
* Lott Watch List (Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year)
OC Ryan Cantrell
* Rimington Watch List (Most Outstanding Center)
Ret. Marcus Herford
* All-America First Team (Phil Steele Magazine)
* All-America Second Team (Athlon Sports
* Preseason All-Big 12 (Media)
DE John Larson
* Lott Watch List (Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year)
LB Joe Mortensen
* Bronko Nagurski Watch List (Most Outstanding Defensive Player)
* Lombardi Watch List (Most Outstanding Defensive Player within five yards of the ball)
* All-America Second Team (Athlon Sports)
* All-America Third Team (The Sporting News)
* Preseason All-Big 12 (Media)
QB Todd Reesing
* Davey O’Brien Watch List (Most Outstanding Quarterback)
* Maxwell Watch List (Most Outstanding Player)
LB Mike Rivera
* Check Bednarik Watch List (Most Outstanding Defensive Player)
BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL — Kansas has been picked to finish second in the Big 12 North Division according to the league’s media in a poll that was released last week. The Jayhawks were selected to place behind Missouri in the North with Nebraska third, Colorado fourth, Kansas State fifth and Iowa State sixth. Oklahoma was the media’s choice to win the South followed by Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Baylor.
TEAM QUICK FACTS — Here is a quick look at the numbers returning for KU:
Lettermen Returning: 40
Offense: 17
Defense: 22
Special Teams: 1
Lettermen Lost: 18
Offense: 9
Defense: 7
Special Teams: 2
Starters Returning: 15
Offense: 6
Defense: 9
Special Teams: 0
Starters Lost: 9
Offense 5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 2
Offensive Starters Returning (6):
LG Adrian Mayes… Started all 13 games at left guard… Was team’s offensive MVP vs. Kansas State… Was an Academic All-Big 12 Second Team selection.
OC Ryan Cantrell… Started all 13 games at center… Earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors… The senior-to-be started five games as a freshman and all 13 last year as a junior.
RG Chet Hartley… Started all 13 games at right guard after transferring from junior college.
WR Dezmon Briscoe… Was one of conference’s best freshmen, recording 43 receptions for 496 yards and a freshman school record seven touchdowns.
WR Dexton Fields… Has led KU in receptions in each of the last two years, pulling in 63 for 834 yards and six touchdowns in 2007… Will look to become third player in history to lead KU in receptions in three different seasons (Otto Schnellbacher and David Verser have accomplished the feat).
QB Todd Reesing… Should be a strong candidate for a number of national awards after throwing for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns in first season as a starter in 2007… All-Big 12 Second Team in 2007.
Others with multiple 2007 starts: WR Kerry Meier (started five games), WR Tertavian Ingram (started the first two games).
Defensive Starters Returning (9):
LE Russell Brorsen… Started all 13 games at left end… Recorded 36 tackles on the year… Had an interception at Kansas State… Was an Academic All-America First-Team selection.
LT Caleb Blakesley… Started all 13 games at left tackle… Made 13 tackles on the season.
RE John Larson… Started all 13 games at right end… Had 12 tackles for loss among his 43 tackles on the year… Recorded two interceptions on the year… Was an Academic All-America Second-Team pick.
LB James Holt… An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection… Started all 13 games and recorded 99 tackles on the year to rank second on the team… Had 13 tackles for loss to also rank second on team.
LB Joe Mortensen… An All-Big 12 First-Team selection as a middle linebacker… Led team with 106 tackles, a figure which ranked ninth in the Big 12… Led KU and was second in the Big 12 with 15 tackles for loss… Had at least 10 tackles in four different games.
LB Mike Rivera… Was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick… Started all 13 games at outside linebacker… Registered 96 tackles, including 10.5 for loss… Had three games with at least 10 tackles.
SS Patrick Resby… Started the first nine games of the year before suffering an injury… Had 22 tackles in the first nine games of the year.
FS Darrell Stuckey… Was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick… Was fourth on the team with 72 tackles… Had two interceptions and recovered two fumbles.
CB Chris Harris… A freshman All-America Honorable Mention selection by The Sporting News… Was Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year by the AP… Started 10 games as a true freshman… Recorded 65 tackles on the year… Had two interceptions.
Others with multiple 2007 starts: S Justin Thornton (started the last four games of the season), CB Kendrick Harper (started three games in the middle of the season, in between injuries).
RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
Category Top Returnees Key Losses
Rushing Jake Sharp (147-821) Brandon McAnderson (190-1,125)
Todd Reesing (92-197)
Passing Todd Reesing, 276-446, 3,486) None
Kerry Meier (25-29, 275)
Receiving Dexton Fields (63-834) Marcus Henry (54-1,014)
Dezmon Briscoe (43-496) Derek Fine (46-394)
Kerry Meier (26-274) Brandon McAnderson (21-213)
Tackles Joe Mortensen (50-56–106) Aqib Talib (42-24–66)
James Holt (51-48–99)
Mike Rivera (39-57–96)
Darrell Stuckey (36-36–72)
Interceptions Justin Thornton (5) Aqib Talib (5)
Punting Kerry Meier (4, 32.2) Kyle Tucker (46, 38.9)
Field Goals None Scott Webb (18-26)
Punt Returns Raimond Pendleton (14, 12.1) None
Kickoff Returns Marcus Herford (31, 28.6) None
2008 JAYHAWKS WITH 2007 BIG 12 HONORS
All-Big 12 First Team – LB Joe Mortensen
All-Big 12 Second Team – KR Marcus Herford, QB Todd Reesing
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention – OC Ryan Cantrell, LB James Holt, LB Mike Rivera, S Darrell Stuckey
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year – KR Marcus Herford
2008 JAYHAWKS IN 2007 NCAA STATISTICS (TOP 50)
KR Marcus Herford – 15th in kickoff returns (28.65)
QB Todd Reesing – 11th in points responsible for (16.62), 14th in passing efficiency (148.82), 20th in passing yards (268.15), 26th in total offense (283.31)
S Justin Thornton – t40th in interceptions (0.38), t44th in passes defended (1.08)
2007 TEAM STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Kansas led the NCAA in:
Turnover Margin (+1.62)
Kansas led the Big 12 in:
Scoring Offense (42.77)
Pass Efficiency Defense (105.34)
Total Defense (317.31)
Scoring Defense (16.38)
Turnover Margin (+1.62)
Tackles For Loss (7.69)
2007 STATISTICALLY — While Kansas’ major statistical rankings in the Big 12 and NCAA are listed in the left column on page four of this book, here is a look at some of KU’s top 10 miscellaneous national statistical rankings from 2007:
– 3rd in fewest penalties per game (4.08)
– t4th in passes intercepted (23)
– t4th in turnovers gained (35)
– t4th in turnovers lost (14)
– 5th in fewest yards penalized per game (39.08)
– 7th in passing efficiency (152.18)
– 9th in pass efficiency defense (105.34)
– 9th in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.54)
– 9th in third-down efficiency defense (32.2)
– t10th in fewest interceptions thrown (7)
– t11th in tackles for loss (7.69)
ANDERSON FAMILY FOOTBALL COMPLEX COMPLETE — The $31 million football facility built on the southwest corner of Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium has been completed and the football staff moved in last week. The 80,000-square foot building includes offices, academic areas, a weight room, locker rooms, an audio-visual room, meeting rooms, a cardio room, a hydro-therapy room, a nutrition area and a display area. In addition, two grass practice fields were built just southeast of the stadium.
Kansas Football Notable
– Mark Mangino is the only coach in history to have won both the National Coach of the Year and the Frank Broyles Award for assistant coach of the year.
– QB Todd Reesing established 21 school records, as well as a Big 12 record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception (213) in 2007.
– LB Mike Rivera has been a leader in community service for the Jayhawks, while earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors on the field and Academic All-Big 12 Academic honors in his career.
* S Darrell Stuckey was a favorite in the KU player polls taken during the off-season. The starting safety, who was fourth on the team in tackles last year, was first in the vote for nicest player on the team, third for most likely to succeed, and tied for fifth in most competitive.
– Kansas has won 15 of its last 17 games.
– Kansas has won nine straight home games and is 18-2 at home in the last three years.
– Kansas has set season attendance average records in each of the last three years, including a mark of 46,784 last season.
– Kansas has played in three bowl games in the last five years after seven straight seasons without a bowl appearance.
– Kansas was the only school in the country to rank in the top five in both scoring offense and scoring defense in 2007.
– Kansas led the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.62) last year.
– Kansas had four players drafted into the NFL after the 2007 season, the most since four were picked in 1996.
– Kansas became the fourth school to have its football team win a BCS game and then have its basketball team play in the Final Four three months later. KU’s football team won the Orange Bowl before the basketball team won the national basketball championship last season.
– Kansas scored 72 touchdowns and punted just 51 times during the 2007 season. Meanwhile the Jayhawks held the opponents to just 27 touchdowns and forced 86 punts.
– This year Kansas plays the top three teams in the South Division of the Big 12 according to the media’s preseason poll.
– KU trailed for only 72 minutes and 44 seconds all of last season.
