Ryan Cantrell News

The No. 14 team in the country doesn't feel like it. This shouldn't be surprising.

At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, Jeff Spikes wouldn't be your typical kicker. But because the number of kickers on the roster continues to dwindle, coach Mark Mangino figures to go looking for a backup kicker anywhere ...

Kansas head coach Mark Mangino invited the public to watch the last part of his Jayhawk football team's practice and then get autographs from selected players on Wednesday night.

Cantrell, 6-foot-3, 295-pounds, has worked his way up the depth chart to the point that last season he started all 13 games and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention.

To understand why the Kansas Jayhawks wouldn’t be the same without Kerry Meier, you have to take a trip to the golf course.

At the spring game in April, playing without five starters from 2007, the first-team offense failed to score a touchdown in the first half against the second-team defense.

Kerry Meier is a starting wide receiver and a backup quarterback, but at this point in fall camp, his priorities are reversed.

Kansas wide- receivers coach David Beaty walked over to running back Jocques Crawford, who was slouched in his seat and counting down the minutes until he could disappear from his first media scrum as a ...

Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino will welcome his 2008 Jayhawk football team when players report to campus on Friday.

The Jayhawks should be able to follow up the impressive run with another strong season, though the addition of South Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech on the schedule will make it difficult for them to ...

Mike Rivera is a candidate for the Bednarik Award. LAWRENCE , Kan. Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, while Jayhawk linebacker Mike Rivera was tabbed to the Chuck ...

Kansas' Ryan Cantrell and Kansas State's Jordan Bedore have been named to the 2008 Spring Watch List for the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation's top center. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

“I just don't want distractions”

It's spring break for Missouri football players but not their trusty beat writer. via Columbia Daily Tribune

“He's a mature guy. He's learning the system -- this is kind of an indoctrination into college football for him”

Kansas football finished its 2007 season by winning the Orange Bowl in front of 74,111 fans and a national television audience. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

Meier still backup QB

With spring practice starting today for Kansas, Mark Mangino answered the question on many fans' minds when he said that converted wide receiver Kerry Meier would still be the team's backup quarterback.

Meier caught 26 passes for 274 yards and two scores last season after moving to receiver in the season's fourth game.

'We'll try to expand his role as a receiver,' offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. 'Obviously, losing Marcus Henry and Derek Fine, someone's gotta pick up that slack. Kerry's probably a guy who can double his output at receiver.' Read more

“Whatever is best for them, I'm all for it”

Kansas just had the best season of its football life, and now Mark Mangino is telling us the Jayhawks will be better next year.

You would be a fool not to believe him after what KU did this season. Mangino 1, Doubters 0.

'We're getting the program where we want it to be,' Mangino said, 'and I think we're only going to be better next year.'

That doesn't necessarily mean another 12 victories. After all, the schedule toughens up with a nonconference road game at South Florida and Big 12 dates with Texas and Oklahoma. Read more

Quarterback Todd Reesing celebrates with Kansas teammates after running for a touchdown in the fourth quarter Thursday. via KansasCity.com

Aqib Talib and Kansas didn't look too nervous at the start, and the Jayhawks withstood a threat by Virginia Tech in the third quarter of the Orange Bowl on Thursday night with a big play that helped them carry ... via The Plain Dealer

“I've never addressed it with him and said, 'Oh, whatever you do, don't turn it over on the first drive”

Kansas' offense has a gutsy quarterback who has set 20 school records, six receivers who have caught at least 20 passes, one running back who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and another who is just under 800 yards.

No wonder the Jayhawks are the second-highest scoring team in the nation.

Yet KU has a heck of a time getting all that firepower lit to start a game.

On the first offensive possession of their 12 games, the Jayhawks had seven three-and-outs. They scored once -- a field goal against Florida International -- and had one turnovers. Of the other three, they ran no more than seven plays before punting. Read more

Mangino wins Big 12 Coach of the Year Award Kansas won't have any more chances to add to its 11 regular season victories, but the Jayhawks picked up some postseason accolades Tuesday. via The University Daily Kansan