As the Kansas Jayhawks football team gets ready for its road game against Illinois on Saturday, Lance Leipold, the team’s coach, is pleased with the team’s general health. This is noteworthy because seven Jayhawks, including wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and defensive tackle Caleb Taylor, were injured during Thursday’s 48-3 victory over Lindenwood at Children’s Mercy Park.
On Monday, Leipold gave a quick update on both players’ injuries: Taylor was included on the KU depth chart that was made public on Monday, and Kubecka was seen on the sidelines on Thursday with a brace on his leg. Regarding each other’s situation, Leipold remarked, “I’m not sure yet on both.”
“I believe Caleb will arrive earlier than Keaton.” Watch out for defensive end Bai Jobe as well. Against Lindenwood, the Michigan State transfer saw some late-game relief action. And he finished with two tackles even though his hand was in a cast. Leipold provided an explanation of Jobe’s position within KU’s defensive end corps on Monday.
The coach remarked, “Bai is in a competitive situation.” “With his hand, I haven’t actually received the final word on where it will be this week. We’re getting closer, so to speak, but when I go out there, he appears exactly as wrapped up as he always has. They’re still X-raying and reduce-casting. There are glimpses of his speed and agility, and he plays with intensity. All we need to do is keep working and see where it leads. However, I am enthusiastic about this group’s athletic potential and future.
KU has faced Illinois before; in Lawrence, they defeated the Fighting Illini 34–23 in the previous season. The home-and-home series between the two colleges will conclude on Saturday. Leipold thinks this season’s Illinois team is superior to last year’s after Illinois defeated Eastern Illinois 45-0 on Thursday. He declared, “They’ve gotten better since last year; they are a physical Big Ten team.” “They’re going to run the ball with the tight ends and be physical up front. They will not defeat themselves. The Champaign, Illinois, game on Saturday is slated to begin at 6 p.m. on FS1.
