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The new look Jayhawks began spring practice on March 24th and the spring game is scheduled for April 25th. Today we will check out the new offensive line coach and see whose going battle in the trenches this season.
More youth in the coaching ranks here. HCDB looked to one of the most improved offensive lines, that of the Cal Golden Bears, and hired the coach responsible for leading the big men up front. Zach Yenser, a former 4-year starter at Troy, has found success at each of his stops including working on top-15 offenses in both years at Cal. He comes to KU as Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach.
The O-line is another unit with decent depth and experience. Three linemen played in all 12 games last year and 5 players started at least 3 games. Joe Gibson (So.) will likely retain the starting center position he took over last season and Larry Mazyck (Sr.) and Jordan Shelly-Smith should get a good look at the tackle spots. Junior Visinia and Bryan Peters have experience on the interior and will compete with several reserves from last season and yet another Trinity Valley CC transfer.
Here is the current* OL roster:
|
#
|
FULL NAME
|
HT.
|
WT.
|
YR.
|
Notes
|
|
78
|
Larry Mazyck
|
6/8
|
343
|
Sr.
|
12 GP, 9 GS (RT)
|
|
77
|
Joe Gibson
|
6/3
|
293
|
RS So.
|
7 GS at C, 8 games total, OL and ST
|
|
79
|
Jordan Shelley-Smith
|
6/5
|
296
|
Jr.
|
Switched to OL in fall camp, played all 12 games in 2014 - Played games at TE in 2013
|
|
75
|
Junior Visinia
|
6/4
|
375
|
So.
|
Played in all 12 games, 3 GS
|
|
70
|
Keyon Haughton
|
6/2
|
290
|
Sr.
|
Started 5 games at C, lost starting job
|
|
76
|
Bryan Peters
|
6/3
|
298
|
Sr.
|
11 GP, 1 GS (RG)
|
|
62
|
D'Andre Banks
|
6/3
|
309
|
Jr.
|
Transfer from Trinity Valley CC (12-0 team)
|
|
72
|
Will Smith
|
6/3
|
327
|
Jr.
|
Transfer Butler CC, 3-star
|
|
55
|
Jacob Bragg
|
6/4
|
284
|
R-Fr.
|
Per ESPN, 2013 No. 3 center in Texas, 4 star
|
|
71
|
Devon Williams
|
6/4
|
304
|
R-Jr.
|
RS last season, 15th best OT prospect per Jcgridiron.com
|
|
65
|
Jayson Rhodes
|
6/4
|
300
|
RS So.
|
Transfer, Blinn College, converted DE
|
|
67
|
Joe Bloomfield
|
6/6
|
268
|
So.
|
|
|
64
|
Kyle Pullia
|
6/4
|
273
|
Jr.
|
|
*With transfers, early enrollees, and nearly 30 walk-ons this is an attempt to present a comprehensive list for spring practice. With all of the new faces in the program, and those to come over the summer, the roster will remain dynamic throughout the offseason.