With solely 4 days to go till the Kansas Jayhawks kick off the 2022 season, there are quite a lot of causes to be excited. The Jayhawks have one of many largest collections of expertise that they’ve had in a very long time, and a training workers that exudes confidence heading into their second season on the helm.

However everybody has not less than one participant that they’re excited to see in motion this season. To assist construct the hype for the season opener, I requested each member of the Blue Wings Rising workers to share among the gamers that they’re most excited to see this 12 months. Learn by means of our picks, after which be sure to share your personal!

Which returning participant are you most enthusiastic about this upcoming season?

Derek Noll: Jalon Daniels. It’s bizarre to have a beginning quarterback introduced greater than ten seconds earlier than the opening recreation. Excited to see what a complete preseason of snaps will do for Daniels.

Kyle Davis: On offense, I’ll go together with Devin Neal. He had a stable freshman 12 months, however with higher offensive line play and Daniels making the passing recreation a risk, Neal might be his first 1,000 dashing season.

And on protection, I believe it needs to be Kenny Logan for me, setting the tone and main the secondary in his senior 12 months.

Brendan Dzwierzynski: I’d like to say Neal, however for the sake of avoiding repetitiveness I’ll go together with Daniel Hishaw, one other working again. Is he going to be an elite piece of the offense? In all probability not, however he’s being talked up as a potential darkish horse contributor for the offense. Much more potent depth within the working backs room can be large.

Andy Mitts: It is onerous for me to select between two gamers on the most unsure offensive place for the Jayhawks. Each Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm have the potential to step up into the position of main receiver on this staff, and not less than one in all them might want to to ensure that this staff to have any success this 12 months. Which one steps up, and the position that they take to do it, can be some of the intriguing issues to look at all 12 months.

Which new arrival have you ever purchased into the hype for essentially the most?

Derek Noll: I don’t know, Ky Thomas? He appeared to be fairly productive at Minnesota, and KU has accomplished a superb job of manufacturing working backs by means of the years so I’ll say Thomas. Plus, it’s a lot simpler to be excited for a playmaker than say, an offensive lineman or one thing.

Kyle Davis: I’m excited by what I’m studying to date on Ohio State switch Craig Younger, who’s extraordinarily athletic and appears like he’ll be an incredible addition to the linebacking unit after enjoying security predominantly at Ohio State. He’s extremely quick — he was initially recruited at broad receiver — and Kansas wants extra guys who can chase speedy Huge 12 ability gamers round.

Brendan Dzwierzynski: This time I can be repetitive and I’ll go together with Ky Thomas. I bought to see Ky rather a lot when he was in highschool and did play-by-play for a number of of his video games. He’s a stud, and for my part might be an electrifying addition to the offense. I’m very excited to see what he provides alongside Neal.

Andy Mitts: I used to be tempted to cheat right here and title eight completely different guys, however as a substitute I am going to go together with the man that’s anticipated to step in to interchange essentially the most electrical participant on final 12 months’s protection: Lonnie Phelps. The numbers from final 12 months say that Phelps was extra productive than Kyron Johnson, which is a giant position to fill. I am not planning on him instantly enjoying to that degree, particularly because the competitors degree steps up, nevertheless it’s truthful to have excessive expectations for him over the course of the season. 

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