As the summer draws to a close, it's that time of year when national newspapers look around the country to see which players are ready to step up for their teams this season, and with the publication of Phil Steele Magazine, the Jayhawks are off to a strong start: Steele has named four All-American teams and four All-Big 12 teams, with the Jayhawks being named to nearly all of them.
The highlight of the selection is senior Kobe Bryant, who was named to the Preseason All-American Second Team and the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team. The Jayhawks cornerback is coming off a strong second season, and his return is a big reason why the Jayhawks are expected to compete in the conference race this year.
Joining him on the All-American team is senior running back Devin Neal, who was named to the fourth team nationally and second team in the conference. There are a ton of great options at running back in the Big 12 alone, so it's not too surprising to see Neal's performance drop off from last season, but it wouldn't be surprising if he again exceeds expectations in this offense.
The Jayhawks had three defenders, two offensive players and one special teamer named to the All-Big 12. Senior defensive end Jeremy Robinson and senior cornerback Mello Dotson were named to the second team. Senior wide receiver Quentin Skinner and senior offensive guard Michael Ford were named to the third team. Kansas was represented on the fourth team by redshirt junior linebacker J.B. Brown and redshirt senior long snapper Luke Hosford.
Some of the Jayhawks' biggest names aren't on the list, including quarterback Jaylon Daniels, wide receivers Luke Grimm and Lawrence Arnold and a number of defensive newcomers who look to be key pieces of the team, but fans should remember that these honors typically go to players who are not only expected to make big contributions this season, but also build on last year's strong performances.
It's not surprising that only one wide receiver was selected, as there are a ton of offensive weapons on this roster. None of them have the individual credentials to make the roster. There is a limited number of players that can make it onto these teams due to the circumstances.
Daniels spent most of last season on the bench and struggled with nagging injuries that limited his playing time on the field, so it's fair to wonder how his season will go until he shows he's recovered from those injuries.
But what's clear from these early honors is that the Jayhawks continue to garner the respect that comes with their success over the past few seasons, and if the recruiting process improves further and Leipold and his staff continue to develop the players they bring to campus, we can expect to see even more of that in the coming years.
