Kansas football fall camp position analysis: Safeties can help lead defensive turnaround

Topeka Capital-Journal
LAWRENCE — If Kansas football is able to take a step forward defensively this season, what the Jayhawks have among their safeties figures to play a key role.
There are veterans back, like senior Kenny Logan Jr., redshirt junior Marvin Grant and junior O.J. Burroughs. There are players who figure to at least foster more competition, like redshirt sophomore Jalen Dye, junior Akili Hubbard and freshman Taylor Davis. It’s a position group with a lot of names worth knowing.
Here are four thoughts about Kansas’ safeties as fall camp continues:
The experience that returns matters
Last season, Logan led Kansas in tackles and was a regular starter along with Burroughs. Grant didn’t miss a game and contributed significantly after transferring in from Purdue. Defensive coordinator Brian Borland said the first week of fall camp that — while a couple of years ago he was sweating profusely every play because he didn’t know what might happen — he’s not losing any sleep this year.
“We can put three guys in there that’ve played a heck of a lot of football over their careers,” Borland said. “I think they’re kind of the quarterbacks of the coverage and the defense back there and have a lot of confidence that, regardless of whatever we’re calling, that they understand what’s happening. They see formations. They see alignments. And they make the calls and the checks that need to get made.”
Kenny Logan Jr. is looking to make the most of his final year
There’s no next year for Logan, when it comes to his college football career. The Jayhawks’ veteran has one more fall at Kansas before it’ll be time to see what the professional ranks might bring him. And after being limited in spring as he recovered from shoulder surgery, he’s eager to make the most of it as the program aims for a second-straight bowl appearance.
“I’m always motivated, but it’s just — it’s the end of the road,” said Logan, who’s led the Jayhawks in tackles each of the past three seasons. “So, you’ve got to go make it your best. You’ve got to go play every play like it’s your last. So, I’m definitely hungry. I know my team is hungry. So, I’ve just got to make sure I’m doing my part to have a great year and helping everybody around me have a great year.”
Marvin Grant said he’s healthy again, too
Grant also wasn’t able to be fully involved this spring, as he said he was working his way back from a groin injury. But Grant did outline that he’s back healthy as well, and feeling fresher after getting time for his body to recover. Going through fall camp for the second time at Kansas, he said he’s much more comfortable this time around.
“Marvin’s a great safety, a great guy that we added in the back end,” Logan said. “So, just having that combination of all of us out there, or switching here and there, is going to be great. So, I’m definitely excited to see what he do this year.”
Grant finished sixth among Jayhawks in tackles during the 2022 season.
Taylor Davis’ athleticism has stood out early
Davis joined Kansas as a 247Sports Composite three-star safety out of the state of Texas with the 2023 recruiting class. He’s listed by the Jayhawks at 6-foot and 180 pounds. Grant said that Davis has been trying to soak up any information Davis can, and that Davis is an athletic talent who is aiming to play as soon as possible.