LAWRENCE — Kansas football went through spring ball with a competition along its offensive line, especially at center.
As Mike Novitsky’s college career came to an end, it left a hole for the Jayhawks to fill. Novitsky had been a mainstay at center during the first three years of Lance Leipold’s tenure as coach. Senior Michael Ford Jr. put himself in position to be the potential replacement, as did redshirt senior transfer Shane Bumgardner – the Division II center of the year last season from Tiffin.
Then, during the offseason, Kansas also added Texas A&M’s Bryce Foster. Foster, who’ll be a redshirt junior this fall, started 12 games in 2023 at center and was one of the best freshmen in the nation in 2021. Leipold highlighted that experience and those starts, that, at the very least, Foster will add competition and depth.
RELATED: Jalon Daniels provides the twist Kansas football’s new offensive coordinator is bringing
RELATED: Kansas football defensive end Jereme Robinson keeps praising this Jayhawks teammate
“(Foster)’s a big man, now,” Leipold said last week during Big 12 Conference media days in Las Vegas. “He’s thick, he’s strong and I’m excited about that. And, again, during his recruiting the track staff was a part of that when he came on campus. And we know that his frame, he’ll be able to split time there. And, again, at this stage of his career we know that we can make those things work out and we’re excited about him.”
Foster, who has competed in throws events in track and field, was a 247Sports Composite four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. An interior offensive lineman, he was one of the top 100 players in the country. Leipold mentioned offensive linemen can be hard to come by, and offensive linemen with Foster’s pedigree are especially so.
Foster’s ability at…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bryce-foster-making-kansas-footballs-080320407.html
Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal
Publish date : 2024-07-15 08:03:20
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
