Kansas Football Players To Report To Camp Friday

July 31, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino will welcome his 2008 Jayhawk football team when players report to campus on Friday. More than 95 players are expected to arrive for the beginning of training camp.

The players will go through meetings, complete physicals and check out equipment on Friday. The team will hold its first practice of the 2008 season on Saturday and will hold one workout per day until Thursday when the Jayhawks will have the first of five two-a-day practices scheduled throughout the month.

There will be two practices open to the public during training camp. Fans can watch the Jayhawks workout on Friday, August 8 and Friday, August 15. Both practices are scheduled for 9 a.m.

A Fan Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, August 20.

Kansas returns 40 lettermen, including 15 starters from last year’s team which went 12-1 and finished seventh in the national polls last season. Among the returnees are 2007 All-Big 12 First Team selection Joe Mortensen, Second Team selections Marcus Herford and Todd Reesing and Honorable Mention choices Ryan Cantrell, James Holt, Mike Rivera and Darrell Stuckey.

A number of Jayhawks have already been named to national award watch lists for this year including Russell Brorsen and John Larson for the Lott Trophy (Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year), Cantrell for the Rimington Trophy (Outstanding Center), Mortensen for the Bronko Nagurski (Outstanding Defensive Player) and Lombardi (Outstanding Defensive Player within five yards of the ball), Reesing for the Davey O’Brien (Outstanding Quarterback) and Maxwell (Outstanding Player), and Rivera for the Chuck Bednarik Award (Outstanding Defensive Player).

Kansas will open the 2008 campaign hosting Florida International on Saturday, August 30 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through KU’s website at www.kuathletics.com.