Steven Sims Jr., Austin Booker Square Off in Hall of Fame Game Thursday

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The National Football League is preparing for the upcoming 2024 season and 12 former Kansas Jayhawks are currently competing in NFL Training Camps in search of a spot on their team's active roster.

Steven Sims, Jr. (Houston Texans) and Austin Booker (Chicago Bears) face off in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday Night at 7 p.m. in Canton, Ohio, which is the first preseason game of the year.

Dorance Armstrong, Jr. is entering his seventh season in the league and first with the Washington Commanders after signing a three-year free agent contract this offseason. Armstrong entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 NFL Draft and played six seasons with the franchise. Last season, Armstrong recorded a career-high 38 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss for the Cowboys. A native of Houston, Armstrong was a two-time All-Big 12 honoree while at Kansas and he was the first Jayhawk to ever be named Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

Steven Sims, Jr. is entering his sixth professional season and second with the Houston Texans after resigning in the offseason. He previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-22) and Washington Commanders (2019-20) after entering the league as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. Last season, Sims made a splash in the postseason with a 67-yard punt return touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. From Houston, Sims played in 46 games at Kansas from 2015-18 and continues to rank No. 2 on KU's all-time list for receiving yards (2,582) and touchdowns (19), and No. 3 in career receptions (214).

Hakeem Adeniji is in his fifth season in the NFL and now playing for his third team after signing with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent this offseason. He played his first three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and started 15 games, including nine starts at right guard during the 2021 season as Cincinnati advanced to Super Bowl LVI. Last season, Adeniji signed with the Minnesota Vikings after training camp and made four appearances during the 2023 season. From Garland, Texas, Adeniji was a four-year starter at Kansas from 2016-19 and an All-Big 12 First Team selection as a senior.

Kyron Johnson is heading into his third NFL season and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was signed to the Steelers practice squad in October 2023, then went on to play in each of the team's final six games. A sixth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson played 16 games for Philadelphia as a rookie and was a member of the Eagles' Super Bowl LVII roster. From Arlington, Texas, Johnson started games in each of his four years at KU and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors from PFF in 2021.

Kwamie Lassiter II is entering his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals after signing as an undrafted free agent with the franchise following the 2022 NFL Draft. Lassiter has been on the practice squad for each of his first two seasons, with two regular season game elevations – one each season. Last year, he hauled in one reception for two yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, after playing in Week 12 of the 2022 season against the Tennessee Titans. A Chandler, Arizona, native and second-generation Jayhawk, Lassiter is No. 5 in KU school history with 148 career receptions from 2017-21.

Earl Bostick, Jr. is in his second season with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed the former Jayhawk as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on the Cowboys' practice squad and will compete for playing time in his second year as a professional. He came to Lawrence from Barnwell, South Carolina, in 2017 and spent six seasons with the Jayhawks. In 2022, Bostick received All-Big 12 honorable mention and was named an Academic All-America Second Team selection.

Dominick Puni became Kansas' highest-drafted player since 2008 when he was a third-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers at pick No. 86 in the 2024 NFL Draft. The two-year starter at KU joins the reigning NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers after not allowing a quarterback sack in 745 snaps at left tackle last season. A native of St. Charles, Missouri, Puni started 25 consecutive games at Kansas and was a two-time All-Big 12 selection, earning first team accolades from the AP and Coaches following the 2023 season.

Austin Booker made an immediate impact for the Jayhawks in 2023 before going on to be selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In his lone season at Kansas, Booker ranked second in the Big 12 with 8.0 sacks and sixth with 12.0 tackles for loss, while also totaling 56 tackles and two forced fumbles. From Greenwood, Indiana, Booker was named an All-Big 12 First Team selection and the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year at the conclusion of the season.

Jason Bean headed to training camp with the Indianapolis Colts after signing with the franchise as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. In three seasons at Kansas, Bean climbed to No. 7 in school history with 4,662 career passing yards and No. 2 with 38 touchdown passes. As a senior, Bean threw for 2,130 yards and 18 touchdowns while competing 62.3 percent of his passes. He saved his best effort for last, throwing for 449 yards and tying the single-game school record with six touchdown passes in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory over UNLV. The Mansfield, Texas, native was recently selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick in the United Football League (UFL) College Draft by the Memphis Showboats.

Kenny Logan Jr. was quickly signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams following the 2024 NFL Draft. A four-year starter at safety for the Jayhawks, Logan led KU in tackles in four-straight seasons, topping the 100-tackle mark in 2021 and 2022. He finished his career tied for No. 4 in school history with 386 tackles, which is the most in program history by a defensive back. In his final game as a Jayhawk, Logan was named the Defensive MVP of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl after recording a team-high nine tackles with one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. From St. Augustine, Florida, Logan was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, earning three honors as a defensive back and one as a kick returner.

Mike Novitsky joined the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft. He started all 38 games at center during his three years as a Jayhawk and all 58 games during his collegiate career, helping to transform KU's offensive line into one of the best in the Big 12. As a senior, Novitsky helped pave the way for the fourth-best rushing attack in the league while allowing just 16 sacks in 13 games. A native of Victor, New York, Novitsky finished his career at Kansas as a three-time All-Big 12 selection, highlighted by a second team nod in 2022.

Craig Young also signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Young played in 25 games in his two seasons as a Jayhawk, totaling 101 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and two interceptions. He finished his career at KU with three tackles, one tackle for loss and in interception in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, helping the Jayhawks to the program's first bowl win since 2008. Following his time at KU, Young competed at the Tropical Bowl, an all-star game in Daytona Beach, Florida, before earning a spot in camp with the Colts.

University of Kansas Athletics

Steven Sims Jr., Austin Booker Square Off in Hall of Fame Game Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Jason Bean

Austin Booker

Kenny Logan Jr.

Mike Novitsky

Dominick Puni

Craig Young

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