Three keys for Kansas Jayhawks football against the Arkansas Razorbacks

The Kansas Jayhawks will play of their first bowl recreation because the 2008 season as they’ve been making ready to tackle the Arkansas Razorbacks within the sixty fourth AutoZone Liberty Bowl. With some questions being posed within the press conferences right now in regards to the relative ranges of motivation of every crew, there are some questions on what it’s going to take for Kansas to come back away with the victory. So with that, what three issues would be the largest keys to this recreation?

Jalon Daniels – Playmaker

The Kansas Jayhawks offense averaged 34.2 factors this season, however the Arkansas Razorbacks additionally managed to attain 30.7 factors per recreation. This soccer recreation might simply be a high-scoring affair, with the over/beneath at the moment set at 68.5 factors. What it boils all the way down to is Kansas must rating touchdowns led by quarterback Jalon Daniels, this Jayhawks offense will likely be potent and have the flexibility to strike via the air or on the bottom.

Earlier than Daniels injured his shoulder he was one of many prime quarterbacks within the nation. He threw for 1,470 yards with 13 touchdowns with solely two interceptions. Not solely was he stellar via the air he was utilizing his legs successfully. Daniels rushed the soccer for 398 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Jayhawks are anticipated to have their full arsenal on offense heading into the sport.

The Jayhawks averaged 424.2 yards on offense this season, with 230.3 coming via the air and 193.9 on the bottom. The Razorbacks will likely be with out their defensive coordinator, former Missouri head coach Barry Odom. Odom has accepted the top teaching job at UNLV and won’t be in attendance. The Razorbacks may also be with out beginning linebackers Bumper Pool and Drew Sanders. Pool will miss the sport attributable to damage, whereas Sanders elected to organize for the NFL draft. Arkansas additionally had a number of others enter the portal on the defensive aspect of the soccer.

QB Containment

The Kansas Jayhawks’ protection confronted quite a few Heisman candidates this 12 months, so they’re conversant in potent offenses. Okay.J. Jefferson is a really athletic and proficient quarterback who threw 2,361 yards this season with 22 touchdowns and solely 4 interceptions. Much like Daniels, Jefferson additionally makes use of his legs and was in a position to rush for 510 yards and add seven scores on the bottom. One factor going towards him is the turnover on the huge receiver place. Out of 4 main contributors on offense for Jefferson, just one will play within the bowl recreation. Tight finish Trey Knock together with Ketron Jackso Jr. will check the switch portal and Jaedon Haselwood elected to enter the NFL draft.

The Jayhawks struggled this season as they completed in final place within the Massive 12, permitting 33.8 factors per recreation. The protection additionally completed within the Massive 12 with 451.7 yards per recreation. Kansas must discover a technique to drive the Arkansas offense into punts or create turnovers and make them play from behind.

Remedy the Arkansas run recreation

This recreation will depend on the Kansas Jayhawks protection stepping up and holding an excellent SEC soccer program in containment. The Razorbacks have a really elusive and highly effective operating again in Rocket Sanders. Sanders was in a position to end second within the SEC on the bottom with 1,426 yards and ten touchdowns. As acknowledged above the Jayhawks’ protection struggled towards good offenses, and so they have been gashed considerably on the bottom all the season.

Kansas allowed 193.8 yards speeding per recreation this season which once more places them in final place within the Massive 12. Arkansas was second within the SEC averaging 223.4 yards on the bottom. There’s positively some disparity in these statistics and if the Jayhawks need to have an opportunity at profitable this soccer recreation the protection must cease the speeding assault.