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Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds as a junior at KU, Williams rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, emerging as an electric offensive player for the long struggling program. KU's offense floundered, though, this year, and Williams' effectiveness declined. After rushing for just 21 yards on 11 carries in KU's loss at West Virginia, Williams announced he was opting out of the season. In four games as a junior, Williams averaged only 3.8 yards per carry - he averaged 7.0 yards as a freshman and 5.2 as a sophomore.

Williams ran for 196 yards (65.3 yards per game) and scored two rushing touchdowns in 2020. Earlier in his career, he totaled 1,125 rushing yards (102.3 per game) as a freshman and 1,061 as a sophomore (96.5 per game). Williams revealed his opt out plans on Oct. 19, hours after being named the Big 12's Special Teams Player of the Week, an honor he picked up by returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on what proved to be the final play of his KU career. In a statement released at the time of his opt out, Williams said part of his plan involved moving back to Louisiana to be closer to his mother, who was dealing with health issues. - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#20 RB) Jr/2021

RB *Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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12/10/20 - Logan Klusman, Sr/2021, Kansas, 6-1, 235 (DS#12 LS) + More +

2020 PATRICK MANNELLY AWARD SEMIFINALIST: Logan Klusman, Kansas,...Klusman handles long and short snaps on special teams and hasn’t had an errant snap on the season. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Klusman is in his fifth year at Kansas and has appeared in all nine games for the Jayhawks this season. Klusman, a communication studies major, minoring in business, was an active member of the Kansas Football Student-Athlete Committees this season, helping organize different committees for his teammates, such as the Social Action Committee, Career Development Committee, Community Impact Committee and Player Wellness Committee. - Kansas Football

(DS#12 LS) Sr/2021

LS Logan Klusman, Kansas
News Source: Kansas Football
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12/06/20 - *Pooka Williams Jr., Jr/2021, Kansas, 5-10, 170 (DS#20 RB) + More +

Kansas running back Pooka Williams has declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. The star Jayhawks running back posted on Twitter announcing he will move on from Lawrence. Williams announced back in October that he would opt out for the rest of the 2020 season after playing the first four games. He cited personal reasons, including being closer to his mother and family in Louisiana, as the reasons for his departure. The First-Team All Big 12 selection has garnered 2,363 rushing yards and 534 receiving yards in his 2+ years at KU. He finishes his Jayhawks career 9th all-time in career rushing yardage. - WIBW TV News, Kansas

(DS#20 RB) Jr/2021

RB *Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
News Source: WIBW TV News, Kansas
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12/03/20 - Kyle Thompson, Sr/2022, Kansas, 6-3, 222 (DS#999 P) + More +

Senior punter Kyle Thompson, who holds two of the highest season punting averages in Kansas football program history, won't be booting the ball for the Jayhawks anymore. Thompson announced Wednesday afternoon his decision to enter the NCAA's transfer portal as a graduate transfer and conclude his career elsewhere in 2021. An undisclosed ailment kept Thompson from suiting up for KU's four most recent games. A 6-foot-4, 222-pound specialist from El Cajon, Calif., spent nearly five full seasons in the program after redshirting during his first year, in 2016.

Thompson cited his "own personal reasons" for going another direction to close out his career - with the NCAA's blanket waiver for eligibility due to the pandemic, Thompson could theoretically have played at KU again next year. One of the busiest specialists in college football during the opening few weeks of the season, Thompson punted 26 times in KU's first four games before he was unable to play for unspecified reasons. Thompson averaged 39.9 yards per punt. Twelve of his kicks ended with a fair catch and nine punts set the opposing offense up inside its own 20-yard line. - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#999 P) Sr/2022

P Kyle Thompson, Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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11/29/20 - Thomas MacVittie, rSr/2022, Kansas, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

For the first time since KU's season opening loss to Coastal Carolina, senior quarterback MacVittie played for the Jayhawks. Injured in the second half of KU's 2020 debut, MacVittie didn't start this time, as he did in the opener. True freshman Daniels remained KU's No. 1 QB. MacVittie appeared on the field for the first time since Sept. 12 when he subbed in for the opening snap of KU's second possession. The senior kept the ball for a two-yard run. He entered again following KU's touchdown late in the first quarter, as the Jayhawks went for two. Again, MacVittie ran, this time after a high snap from Jones, and he was stopped short of the goal line. - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2022

QB Thomas MacVittie, Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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11/25/20 - Kyron Johnson, rSr/2022, Kansas, 6-0, 231 (DS#18 OLB) + More +

With the season winding down, at least one starting senior for KU hopes to take advantage of an NCAA blanket eligibility waiver for 2020 and play an extra year. Senior outside linebacker Kyron Johnson shared Monday with reporters that he thinks he will return for the 2021 season. "Knowing my circumstances, it's really just another person just to lead and really more along the lines of not doing it for my own well being, but for the others," Johnson said of his desire to come back for another season. "To put KU on the map basically. We're not on the map. And people know that. It's good to say that - it's OK."

The NCAA determined back in August, before fall sports began, that all Division I athletes would receive an extra year of eligibility, due to the complications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes who are able to take advantage of this unusual extra year of eligibility won't count against their team's scholarship limits until the 2022-23 academic year begins. - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#18 OLB) rSr/2022

OLB Kyron Johnson, Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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11/21/20 - Jason Bean, rSr/2024, Kansas, 6-2, 196 (DS#20 QB) + More +

Jason Bean accounted for two touchdowns to lead North Texas to a 27-17 victory against Rice on Saturday. Bean broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown run and tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jaelon Darden in the second quarter to give the Mean Green a 14-10 halftime lead. DeAndre Torrey had 102 yards rushing on 19 carries, and his 1-yard TD run capped the scoring for North Texas (3-3, 2-2 Conference USA) midway through the fourth quarter. Bean was 9-of-20 passing for 120 yards and added 94 yards rushing. Ethan Mooney made field goals from 27 and 30 yards for North Texas. Mike Collins was 23 of 34 for 327 yards passing with two touchdowns for Rice (1-2, 1-2). He tossed a 14-yard TD pass to Austin Trammell in the first quarter, and a 17-yarder to Jake Bailey with eight seconds left in the game. Trammell had six catches for 116 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2024

QB Jason Bean, Kansas
News Source: AP College Football
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11/05/20 - Jalon Daniels, rSr/2026, Kansas, 6-1, 219 (DS#16 QB) + More +

When Jalon Daniels decided late last year to play football at the University of Kansas, the young quarterback from Lawndale, Calif., saw it as an opportunity to do something remarkable. "I've always wanted to be the guy to turn around a program," Daniels said. Even so, the true freshman said he had "no idea" when he arrived on campus that he would get a head start on those endeavors within a few months by becoming the Jayhawks' starting QB. Daniels spoke to reporters on Monday for the first time this season - the Kansas football program typically doesn't make true freshmen available for interviews. Of course, KU didn't give Daniels the keys to the offense right off the bat. When Les Miles' second season with the program kicked off on Sept. 12 versus Coastal Carolina, senior Thomas MacVittie started and rotated in and out of the lineup with junior Miles Kendrick. Daniels was the third QB on the depth chart and made his college debut doing mop-up duty in KU's home loss to Coastal.

Miles knew at the time that Daniels, who didn't turn 18 until this past week, couldn't be asked to take on the task of being a No. 1 QB at that point. "Entering the season, he didn't have enough snaps to get him ready," Miles said. "Period. No matter how you put it." In order for a freshman such as Daniels to start right off the bat, he would have to graduate early and play an entire spring practice schedule to get enough reps, Miles said. But two weeks after this season began - likely out of necessity, with MacVittie hurt and unable to play - Daniels became KU's starting QB as the Jayhawks opened Big 12 play at Baylor. - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#16 QB) rSr/2026

QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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11/04/20 - Kenny Logan Jr., rSr/2024, Kansas, 5-11, 209 (DS#21 SS) + More +

On the wrong end of another blowout defeat Saturday, Kansas football could at least take solace in what turned into a breakout game for safety Kenny Logan. No stranger to those kinds of performances himself, wide receiver Andrew Parchment has a working theory on what allowed his sophomore teammate to produce highlight after highlight. "That's Florida, you know what I mean," said Parchment, a product of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "I feel like once Kansas gets down in Florida for the next couple of (recruiting) classes, I feel like we'll have a lot more players just like that." Territorial pride aside, Logan was a sorely needed revelation for the Jayhawks. KU (0-6, 0-5 Big 12) fell 52-22 to then-No. 23 Iowa State at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, but it wasn't for a lack of trying from Logan. The St. Augustine, Fla., native - one of seven Sunshine State players on the Jayhawk roster - notched both a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and an interception in the second half of a contest that saw KU trail by just 16 with seven minutes remaining.

A former three-star recruit, Logan also had three tackles and one pass breakup versus the Cyclones. It was an outing head coach Les Miles said he sensed Logan would be capable of when he offered the 6-foot, 195-pounder a spot in his first Jayhawk recruiting class. "We watched his film. We did an evaluation. He is just what you saw (Saturday)," Miles said. "He has the potential to break a play. He has that potential to break a game open. Yeah, I probably underexpressed his talent, but his talent is pretty extreme. He's fast and tough and will strike you. "Yeah, I think we'll look forward to him for quite some time." - Topeka Capital Journal

(DS#21 SS) rSr/2024

SS Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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11/02/20 - Seth Keller, rSr/2024, Kansas, 5-08, 167 (DS#22 K) + More +

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Seth Keller, Texas State,...Scored 10 points for Texas State against Louisiana. Keller scored Texas State's first seven points in the game with a touchdown run and extra point. The sophomore's touchdown came on a fake field goal when he ran 12 yards around the left end into the end zone and made all four of his extra-point attempts. - Sun Belt Football

(DS#22 K) rSr/2024

K Seth Keller, Kansas
News Source: Sun Belt Football
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10/27/20 - Jalon Daniels, rSr/2026, Kansas, 6-1, 219 (DS#16 QB) + More +

The Jayhawks are relying on freshman quarterback Jalon Daniels to run their offense, one that lost its best player in running back Pooka Williams to an opt-out. Daniels has completed 57% of his passes for 381 yards, an interception and no touchdowns. "He's had the ability to use his legs to make plays down the field," Campbell said. "He's got a really strong arm. He can make all the throws, and then on top of it, as soon as you want to play pass coverage, he's got such good athletic ability, he can make you pay in the running game. "It'll challenge the discipline and detail of who we are and certainly who we want to be on defense." - Des Moines Register

(DS#16 QB) rSr/2026

QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
News Source: Des Moines Register
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10/26/20 - *Pooka Williams Jr., Jr/2021, Kansas, 5-10, 170 (DS#20 RB) + More +

OCT 19 BIG 12 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Pooka Williams Jr., RB, Jr., Kansas,...A 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter helped Williams Jr., collect his award. It was the first kick return TD by a Jayhawk since 2016 and the first of his career. Williams increased his career kickoff return yardage to 443. - Big 12 Football

(DS#20 RB) Jr/2021

RB *Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
News Source: Big 12 Football
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10/25/20 - *Pooka Williams Jr., Jr/2021, Kansas, 5-10, 170 (DS#20 RB) + More +

According to Kansas football head coach Les Miles, the Jayhawks are expecting to have running back Pooka Williams back on the roster in 2021. Williams' decision earlier this week to opt out came without much clarity on his future plans. But Miles, fielding questions from reporters for the first time since the announcement, said on Saturday the star rusher could be back on campus for the spring semester. "What he said is in January that he's coming back," Miles shared following the Jayhawks' first game without Williams, a 55-14 loss at Kansas State. "So it'll be interesting to see," Miles added. "Certainly we'd love to have him."

In Williams' absence, sophomore Velton Gardner handled most of the load at running back, as anticipated. Gardner rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries, while true freshman Daniel Hishaw Jr. added 14 yards on six rushes. "When (Williams) left, he left to be with his mother, who's sick," Miles responded during his postgame press conference, when asked whether Williams might transfer or enter the 2021 NFL Draft. "I think those minutes and time are something that he'll look back on and not regret leaving the team to be with his mom." - Lawrence Journal World

(DS#20 RB) Jr/2021

RB *Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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10/23/20 - Jason Bean, rSr/2024, Kansas, 6-2, 196 (DS#20 QB) + More +

Bean offers the type of dual-threat ability UNT has rarely had at quarterback over the years. He might not be as refined of a pocket passer as Aune. That didn't matter in the Mean Green's win over MTSU because he poses a constant threat in the running game. Bean broke free for a pair of 48-yard touchdown runs, guided UNT to 768 yards of offense and pulled the Mean Green out of a three-game slide. "The way I can run changes things a little bit," Bean said. Yeah, it does. Bean rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns to help move UNT to 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in Conference USA play. What made the performance even more impressive was Bean did enough in the passing game while throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns to keep MTSU honest. And don't forget Bean came into UNT's game against the Blue Raiders stone cold. He was planted firmly on the Mean Green's bench the last two weeks while Aune cleared the 300-yard mark in passing yards in losses to Southern Miss and Charlotte. "Jason stepped in and made some huge plays," UNT coach Seth Littrell said. "I'm proud of the way he stayed ready. That takes maturity. At some point in time we are going to need both of those guys." - Denton Record

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2024

QB Jason Bean, Kansas
News Source: Denton Record
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10/22/20 - *Pooka Williams Jr., Jr/2021, Kansas, 5-10, 170 (DS#20 RB) + More +

Pooka Williams has opted out of the remainder of the 2020 college football season, a decision that could signal the end of the standout junior running back's electrifying Kansas career. Williams, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, announced his decision to step away from the program Monday night via a graphic posted to Twitter. A likely NFL Draft selection when his collegiate career ends, Williams is eligible to take that path beginning next spring. If Williams' collegiate career is over, it ended with a bang. Williams returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on his final touch in last Saturday's 38-17 defeat at West Virginia, a play that represented his 18th touchdown with the Jayhawks - 12 rushing, four receiving, one passing and that special teams highlight.

Through two-plus seasons, the all-purpose player compiled 415 rushing attempts for 2,382 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 66 receptions for 534 yards. Williams' junior campaign has been a struggle, though - he carried the ball 11 times for just 21 yards against the Mountaineers, dropping his yards per carry to 3.8 in 51 totes. Playing through an ankle injury sustained early in the Jayhawks' season, Williams has also struggled to find openings behind a largely ineffective offensive line. - Topeka Capital Journal

(DS#20 RB) Jr/2021

RB *Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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