Kansas Football Returns to Campus

Aug. 3, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

First-year Kansas head football coach Turner Gill will welcome the team back to campus for the first day of fall training camp this afternoon.

The Jayhawks will have two meetings, and participate in a team-building activity Tuesday, before holding their first practice of the season on Wednesday afternoon.

“Our staff is ready and excited to start this great journey,” Gill said.

Kansas returns 38 lettermen and 17 starters from last year’s squad, which went 5-7. Among the returnees are three who earned Freshmen All-America honors, including offensive tackle Tanner Hawkinson, linebacker Huldon Tharp and safety Lubbock Smith. Also returning to the squad are Big 12 Honorable Mention recipients defensive end Jake Laptad and punter Alonso Rojas.

A solid core of starters returns for the Kansas offense, including four on the offensive line (Sal Capra, Jeremiah Hatch, Hawkinson and Brad Thorson), a pair of wide receivers (Bradley McDougald and Johnathan Wilson) as well as tight end Tim Biere.

A mix of experience and youth returns on the defensive side of the ball for KU. In all, 22 lettermen, including seven starters, are back from last year’s team. Among the returnees are Laptad, and John Williams on the defensive line, Dudley and Tharp at linebacker and Anthony Davis, Chris Harris and Smith in the secondary.

The Jayhawks will open the 2010 season by hosting North Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. The game can be seen across the country on Fox College Sports Central.