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LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s approach this spring, along its offensive line, has been a bit different than it was a year ago.
It's not just that the Jayhawks are replacing both starting tackles and a starting guard. This group in 2025 also isn’t as veteran-laden as the one in 2024. KU offensive line coach Daryl Agpalsa said he’s seen a lot of growth and competition, and allowed there is still a lot of work to do.
RELATED: KU reveals updates to Kansas football’s Anderson Family Football Complex this year
Here are a few updates on the progress of this position group this spring:
The ability to return Bryce Foster at center is a significant boost for Kansas’ offensive line, not to mention having Kobe Baynes back at guard, especially because that means there will be some familiarity along the offensive line as Jalon Daniels comes back at quarterback. Foster, a former Texas A&M transfer, became an All-Big 12 Conference honoree last season. But as Agpalsa outlined, there can’t be enough people snapping the ball.
Outside of Foster, the three people Agpalsa mentioned in that regard are Amir Herring, Tyler Mercer and Kael Farkes. Herring is a former Michigan transfer. Mercer is a newcomer who transferred in from North Texas.
Spend enough time around Kansas’ offensive line group, and the topic of cross-training across various positions is going to come up eventually. It has again this spring. But according to Agpalsa, the Jayhawks probably aren’t moving people around as much as they have in the past.
Considering the groups skews toward the younger side, the most important thing Agpalsa and the rest of the coaching staff is trying to do is make sure players are comfortable somewhere first. If they are cross-training someone, that means there’s already a lot of confidence in that individual knowing their assignments elsewhere. Once a younger players develops comfort in a certain spot, cross-training can ensue.
Agpalsa liked what he saw during Kansas’ early spring practices from Nolan Gorczyca. Although the Jayhawks are facing the reality Gorczyca is set to miss the rest of spring due to injury, Agpalsa anticipates getting Gorczyca back eventually and saw from those practices Gorczyca had that the team can count on him this year. Jack Tanner, a newcomer who transferred in from Tulsa, is someone who’s impressed Agpalsa with his knowledge and could be a name to know at right tackle.
Gorczyca’s emergence as a key player this fall would see him take a significant step forward late in his career at Kansas, but according to Agpalsa that happens more often than one might think. It can be tough to sit behind another player and be ready to go when that turn finally comes. Should Gorczyca come back healthy and be able to start at right tackle, he’ll likely be starting opposite of Calvin Clements at left tackle.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Insight from Kansas football OL coach Daryl Agpalsa this spring
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It's not just that the Jayhawks are replacing both starting tackles and a starting guard. This group in 2025 also isn’t as veteran-laden as the one in 2024. KU offensive line coach Daryl Agpalsa said he’s seen a lot of growth and competition, and allowed there is still a lot of work to do.
RELATED: KU reveals updates to Kansas football’s Anderson Family Football Complex this year
Here are a few updates on the progress of this position group this spring:
Who’s working at center behind Bryce Foster?
The ability to return Bryce Foster at center is a significant boost for Kansas’ offensive line, not to mention having Kobe Baynes back at guard, especially because that means there will be some familiarity along the offensive line as Jalon Daniels comes back at quarterback. Foster, a former Texas A&M transfer, became an All-Big 12 Conference honoree last season. But as Agpalsa outlined, there can’t be enough people snapping the ball.
Outside of Foster, the three people Agpalsa mentioned in that regard are Amir Herring, Tyler Mercer and Kael Farkes. Herring is a former Michigan transfer. Mercer is a newcomer who transferred in from North Texas.
Is there a lot of cross-training going on?
Spend enough time around Kansas’ offensive line group, and the topic of cross-training across various positions is going to come up eventually. It has again this spring. But according to Agpalsa, the Jayhawks probably aren’t moving people around as much as they have in the past.
Considering the groups skews toward the younger side, the most important thing Agpalsa and the rest of the coaching staff is trying to do is make sure players are comfortable somewhere first. If they are cross-training someone, that means there’s already a lot of confidence in that individual knowing their assignments elsewhere. Once a younger players develops comfort in a certain spot, cross-training can ensue.
As long as Nolan Gorczyca is unavailable due to injury, who’s getting looks at right tackle?
Agpalsa liked what he saw during Kansas’ early spring practices from Nolan Gorczyca. Although the Jayhawks are facing the reality Gorczyca is set to miss the rest of spring due to injury, Agpalsa anticipates getting Gorczyca back eventually and saw from those practices Gorczyca had that the team can count on him this year. Jack Tanner, a newcomer who transferred in from Tulsa, is someone who’s impressed Agpalsa with his knowledge and could be a name to know at right tackle.
Gorczyca’s emergence as a key player this fall would see him take a significant step forward late in his career at Kansas, but according to Agpalsa that happens more often than one might think. It can be tough to sit behind another player and be ready to go when that turn finally comes. Should Gorczyca come back healthy and be able to start at right tackle, he’ll likely be starting opposite of Calvin Clements at left tackle.
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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Insight from Kansas football OL coach Daryl Agpalsa this spring
Continue reading...
