LAWRENCE, Kan. – Emmett Jones is the latest addition to Kansas football head coach Les Miles’ staff, as he was hired Tuesday and will oversee the Jayhawks wide receivers. Jones arrives at KU fresh off of coaching some of the top receivers in Texas Tech history.

“Emmett Jones is a dynamic wide receivers coach,” said Miles. “The players he has worked with have really flourished under his guidance. He has developed them to have highly productive careers in college and also to go on to find success at the next level. His familiarity with the Big 12 landscape will also help us greatly in recruiting.”

Jones recently completed his third season as outside receivers coach on Kliff Kingsbury’s staff at Texas Tech after being promoted to the position immediately following the 2015 season.

Jones, who previously served as Tech’s Director of Player Development in 2015, saw his unit find immediate success during the 2016 campaign as the Red Raiders led the country in total offense (566.6 yards per game) as well as passing offense (463.0 yards per game). Tech averaged 43.7 points per game – its third-highest mark in school history – which ranked fifth nationally among FBS programs.

Under Jones’ direction, Tech’s outside receivers accounted for 1,835 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, which were led by Dylan Cantrell, who finished with 650 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. Cantrell wrapped his career with 1,873 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, the majority of which came during his final two seasons under Jones.

Cantrell and fellow receiver Keke Coutee both heard their names called during the 2018 NFL Draft as Cantrell was selected in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Chargers. Fellow outside receiver Derrick Willies also received an opportunity at the next level as he signed a free agent agreement with the Cleveland Browns shortly after the draft.

T.J. Vasher developed into a significant deep threat under Jones after catching 29 passes for 545 yards and six touchdowns as only a redshirt freshman in 2017. Vasher turned in two 100-yard performances during Big 12 play as he recorded all but two of his receptions during the final eight games of the year. He averaged 18.8 yards per catch overall, which ranked 22nd nationally at the end of the season.

In 2018 Jones coached Antoine Wesley, who was named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, All-Big 12 First Team by the Associated Press and All-Big 12 Second Team by the league coaches and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

Wesley was among the FBS leaders in 2018 in almost every receiving category after hauling in 88 passes for 1,410 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranks second nationally in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (117.5) as well as eighth in receptions per game (7.3). He was the Big 12 leader in all three categories. Wesley’s 1,410 receiving yards ranks third all-time in Texas Tech history.

Jones arrived in Lubbock to oversee Tech’s player development in February 2015. In his one season in that role, Jones served as a mentor for the Red Raider offense and was also instrumental in Tech’s on-campus recruiting activities.

Jones came to Tech following three seasons as the head coach at South Oak Cliff, one of the top high school programs in the state of Texas. The Golden Bears were a combined 30-8 under Jones, advancing deep in the Class 4A and 5A playoffs over all three seasons. In addition, South Oak Cliff was a hotbed for talent and annually produced several players who signed with Division-I programs, including five players who signed in 2014.

South Oak Cliff was the first head coaching position for Jones after making several stops as an assistant in the Dallas area. Jones previously spent seven seasons at nearby Dallas Skyline High School prior to his arrival at South Oak Cliff. He began his tenure at Skyline as wide receivers coach before later being promoted to offensive coordinator.

Jones, who was a walk-on at Texas Tech during the mid-1990s, began his coaching career at his alma mater Seagoville High School from 2001-04. He later joined the Dallas Lincoln staff for one year before heading to Dallas Skyline.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach Les Miles tabbed the leader of his defense as he announced the hiring of D.J. Eliot to be his defensive coordinator. Eliot arrives at KU with 20 years of coaching experience in the collegiate ranks, including the last six as a defensive coordinator.

“D.J. Eliot has time and again elevated the defenses he works with,” said Miles. “He knows how to get the best out of his players, both on and off the field. I am very excited to have him on board to lead our defense.”

Eliot’s pedigree includes coaching stops at Florida State, Miami, Colorado and Kentucky, as well as time with proven winners and program builders Jimbo Fisher and Mark Stoops. Additionally, Eliot is among a select group of defensive thought-leaders that regularly clinic around the principles of the 3-4 defense, including Miles’ former defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.

Prior to joining the Jayhawks, Eliot spent the 2017-18 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Colorado. His 2018 Buffaloes defense ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in total defense, but was especially good on third downs, ranking third in the league. During his stint at CU, cornerback Isaiah Oliver was selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Eliot joined the Colorado staff from Kentucky, where he was the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for four seasons (2013-16). He helped coach UK to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, the first postseason appearance for Kentucky since 2010.

At his previous two coaching stops, Kentucky and Florida State, he coached eight players who were drafted in the NFL, including two first round picks. Linebacker Bud Dupree was a 2015 first round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first Kentucky first-rounder in 12 years, and defensive end Bjoern Werner from Florida State, who was selected by Indianapolis in 2013.

Overall at Kentucky, he coached 11 Wildcats who earned All-SEC recognition and in three of his four years with the school one of his linebackers recorded over 100 tackles in a season. Avery Williams recorded 102 stops in 2013, Josh Forrest posted 110 in 2014, a figure that ranked No. 3 in the SEC that season, while Jordan Jones had 109 in Eliot’s final year with UK.

At Kentucky, the Wildcats set a new school record for defensive touchdowns scored in a season with six in 2014; UK recorded 23 takeaways that year. UK jumped 45 places in total defense rankings from 2013 to 2014 under Eliot, finishing in the top half of the nation in that statistic. In 2015, UK ranked 28th in the FBS in passing defense by giving up only 198.1 yards per game, And in 2016, sophomore safety Mike Edwards finished the regular season leading all SEC defensive backs in tackles (93) while tying for the team lead in interceptions with three, two coming against No. 11 Louisville and Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson in the Cats’ 41-38 victory.

His presence at Florida State helped lead a revival of FSU’s defense. The year prior to his arrival, the Seminoles ranked 108th in total defense and rushing defense. However, by 2012, FSU ranked second nationally in total defense (254.1 yards per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.7 points per game).

In his three seasons at Florida State (2010-12), the ‘Noles went 31-10 and he helped FSU tie for the national lead in sacks with 48 his first year there. In his second season FSU limited opponents to just 2.35 yards per carry, which led the nation in that category. His defensive ends on the 2012 team, Werner and Cornellius Carradine, combined for and 31 tackles for losses, including 24 sacks, when FSU finished 12-2. Werner went on to be named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year on his way to earning All-America honors.

In his second of three seasons at Rice (2007-09), he helped the Owls go 10-3 and win the 2008 Texas Bowl, the program’s first bowl win since 1950 and first 10-win season since 1949.

Eliot got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Wyoming, as a graduate assistant in 1999. From there he went to Houston as a graduate assistant for two years before landing in a similar position at Miami for the 2002 season; the Hurricanes went 12-0 and were ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season before falling 31-24 in double overtime to Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.

He spent two years in Division I-AA (FCS), coaching the linebackers at Texas State (San Marcos). He helped lead a defensive turnaround (34.8 to 20.3 points per game, as well as 395 to 314 yards allowed). In 2005, the Bobcats went 11-3, reaching the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs.

Eliot lettered at linebacker at Wyoming for coach Dana Dimel and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in natural science in 1999. He earned his master’s degree in education from Houston in 2002.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas’ offensive staff is starting to take shape as head coach Les Miles announced the hiring of Luke Meadows to coach the offensive line. Meadows comes to KU with 21 years of collegiate coaching experience, including two seasons working hand-in-hand with Jayhawks offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey.

“Luke is an outstanding coach at a position that is really instrumental to the success of our offense,” said Miles. “His familiarity with Chip and the style offense he wants to run is a huge asset to us as we look to implement the offense with our staff and players. We are excited to have Luke and his family joining us at Kansas.”

Lindsey and Meadows spent the 2014-15 seasons at Southern Miss and during their time in Hattiesburg the offense improved from 17.9 points per game to 39.9, the rushing offense jumped from 72.9 to 179.8 yards per game (leading the league in 2015), and the total offense improved from 315.5 to 509.5 yards per game. In 2015, USM became the second team in NCAA history to have a 4,000 yard passer, a 1,000 yard receiver, and two 1,000 yard rushers. In addition, USM had one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, leading all schools with plays of 20+ yards (109) and second in plays of 30+ yards (54).

“I am excited to reunite with Luke, who I worked with at Southern Miss, where we had a record-setting offense,” said Lindsey. “He is one of the best fundamental offensive line coaches I have been around. Another important thing about Luke, though, is the relationships he develops with his players. We share the same philosophy in that the relationships we build with our players at Kansas will be our number one priority.”

During his career, Meadows has coached one Academic All-American, five All-Americans, 25 all-conference, 21 academic all-conference, and two all-newcomer awards at the offensive line position. In addition, he has coached 16 players who have been drafted or signed as free agents in the NFL.

Meadows arrives in Lawrence after spending the 2017-18 seasons at Eastern Michigan where he served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Meadows overhauled the Eastern Michigan offensive line in 2017 to rank second in the MAC and 28th nationally in the fewest sacks allowed. EMU’s offense ranked third in the MAC in passing offense at 257.3 yards per game. The line also gelled down the stretch in the rushing attack, as EMU racked up 815 yards on the ground over the final four games, which included four 100-yard rushers.

Under Meadows’ tutelage, Jimmy Leatiota earned Second Team All-MAC honors is also a candidate for the Outland Trophy.

Meadows was the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national champion Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. The Broncbusters steamrolled through their 2016 schedule en route to an 11-0 record by outscoring the opposition by an average of 19 points per game. The program captured its first Jayhawk Conference title since 2001 and finished off the program’s first-ever perfect season with a 25-22 victory over Arizona Western College in the NJCAA Football Championship Game. Overall, the offense racked up 194.8 yards and 15.7 first downs per game on the ground.

Meadows joined the Broncbuster staff after serving two years as the offensive line coach, with Lindsey serving as offensive coordinator, at Southern Miss. He arrived after a 1-11 season and he and Lindsey combined to help the Golden Eagles make a major jump to 9-5 in 2015, while winning the Conference USA West Division title.

Prior to his time at Southern Miss, Meadows with a wealth of experience after spending two seasons (2012-13) at Florida Atlantic University, where he was elevated to offensive coordinator midway through the 2013 campaign.

Before joining the staff at FAU, Meadows worked at South Dakota State for 10 years, serving as an offensive line coach from 2002-05 before being promoted to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator (2006-11). He was the longest-tenured assistant on John Stiegelemeier’s SDSU coaching staff for 10 seasons, six as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

In that time, four players earned All-American honors, one academic honor, 19 selected all-conference and 16 received academic all-conference recognition, while two all-newcomers were awarded to his offensive linemen.

A Hot Springs, South Dakota, native, Meadows began his coaching career as an undergraduate student at SDSU. After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1999, he continued as a graduate assistant with the Jackrabbits during the 1999-00 seasons, coaching the running backs, including Jackrabbit career rushing leader and All-American Josh Ranek.

In 2005, Meadows coached an offensive line that helped pave the way for the leading rushing attack in the Great West Football Conference, averaging 227.4 yards per game. During Meadows’ time on staff, the Jackrabbits posted four of the top 10 single-season rushing totals in school history and five of the top 10 singlegame rushing performances. In addition, SDSU recorded four of the top-10 scoring averages in the program’s history, including 35.6 points per game in 2008. The 2008 squad also set an SDSU single-season record with 427 points in 12 games, scoring 40 or more points in a game six times.

With Meadows on the coaching staff, SDSU established 11 team single-game and single-season offensive records, including rolling up 689 yards of total offense in the 2005 Hobo Day victory over Missouri-Rolla. Jackrabbit players he coached also established 30 new individual school records during his tenure. Under Meadows’ guidance, Jackrabbit offensive linemen combined for seven First-Team All-Conference selections, 10 Second-Team selections, and a pair of All-Americans. Mitch Erickson, who ended his collegiate career in 2007 with his third straight First-Team All-Great West Football Conference selection, was nearly a consensus All-America pick within the Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a senior. Likewise, center Ryan McKnight earned multiple All-America honors during his senior season in 2010, including First-Team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Also during the 2010 season, the Jackrabbit offensive line ranked second in the Football Championship Subdivision, yielding only six sacks the entire campaign. Erickson signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos and later spent time with the Seattle Seahawks. Casey Knips and Casey Bender, both starters on the Jackrabbits’ 2009 FCS playoff team, received invitations to NFL camps in 2010 with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

After working as a graduate assistant for South Dakota State (1999-00), Meadows spent a season as offensive line coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Dedric Lawson had 20 points and eight rebounds, and No. 2 Kansas beat Wofford 72-47 on Tuesday night after center Udoka Azubuike left with a right high-ankle sprain.

Azubuike was injured after landing awkwardly on a block attempt midway through the first half, and coach Bill Self said the 7-footer will be out indefinitely.

The Jayhawks (7-0) once again started sluggish and led by three at halftime. A second-half push kept their undefeated season alive, as they outscored the Terriers 43-21 after the break and 26-6 in the final 10 minutes.

Devon Dotson had 16 points for Kansas.

With Azubuike out, Wofford (6-3) won the rebounding battle 45-36, including 19 on the offensive glass. Cameron Jackson led Wofford with 15 points and 10 boards.

Leading scorer and star senior Fletcher Magee had just seven points and was an uncharacteristic 0 for 9 from behind the arc.

Neither team shot the 3-ball well, as they connected on just a combined 8 for 49. Wofford entered tied for No. 12 in the nation in 3-pointers per game with 11.

This was the first time Kansas and Wofford have ever played. The Jayhawks are now 12-0 all-time against opponents from the Southern Conference.

BIG PICTURE

Wofford dropped its third of four games against Power Five schools. The Terriers beat South Carolina and hung with No. 14 North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Kansas stays undefeated, but the Jayhawks are still chasing that first consistent, convincing victory while playing one of the country’s toughest nonconference schedules.

UP NEXT

Wofford returns home to an easier test as it hosts Kentucky Christian on Thursday.

Kansas faces New Mexico State on Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., an arena where the Jayhawks have struggled in.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach Les Miles made his first hire on the offensive side of the ball, as he announced Chip Lindsey as the Jayhawks’ offensive coordinator. Lindsey, who has two decades of coaching experience, comes to KU after spending the previous two seasons serving in the same role at Auburn.

“It is a great day when you can add a coach like Chip Lindsey to your staff,” said Miles. “He has a proven track record of putting exciting, electric offenses on the field and he also has built a strong reputation of developing his players. With the returning players we have on offense and the pieces that we are putting together now in recruiting, we have the potential to be much improved.”

After previously working on the Auburn staff as an offensive analyst during the Tigers’ SEC Championship and BCS National Championship game run in 2013, Lindsey returned to Auburn in January 2017, as offensive coordinator.

Lindsey is coming to Kansas after two seasons with the Tigers, including the most recent campaign that included wins over Pac-12 Champion Washington and nationally-ranked Texas A&M.

In 2017, Auburn became just the eighth team in SEC history and the first in Auburn history to rush and pass for 3,000 yards in a season. The Tigers also ranked 26th nationally in total offense and set an Auburn record scoring 327 points in SEC play, winning the SEC West. All-SEC quarterback Jarrett Stidham, the second Auburn QB ever to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, led the SEC and ranked ninth nationally in completion percentage. Running back Kerryon Johnson was SEC offensive player of the year, and Ryan Davis set an Auburn receiving record with 84 catches.

Lindsey returned to Auburn from Arizona State, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2016.

As offensive coordinator at Southern Miss from 2014-15, he developed the Conference USA 2015 Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Nick Mullens, who ranked second in the league in passing yards (4,145) and TD passes (36), and ranked in the top eight in the nation in both marks in 2015.

The Southern Miss offense broke five single-season school records in 2015: completions (312), passing yards (4,263), total offense yards (6,758), touchdowns (67) and points (528), as the Golden Eagles recorded nine wins, a Conference USA West title, and a berth in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl against Washington.

Lindsey’s 2015 Golden Eagle offense ranked fifth in the nation in total touchdowns, seventh in total points, eighth in total passing yards and completions, and 12th in points per game and passing yards per game. The 2015 Golden Eagles tallied more than 4,200 passing yards and just under 2,500 rushing yards. The national leader with 102 explosive plays, they were just the second school in FBS history with a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and two 1,000-yard rushers.

Prior to his first stint at Auburn, from 2011-12, Lindsey served as head coach at Spain Park (Ala.) High School, leading the school to its first Class 6A regional championship.

Lindsey served as quarterbacks coach at Troy University in 2010, following a long and distinguished career as a prep coach (1997-2009) in football and baseball. At Troy, he coached the 2010 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Corey Robinson.

A two-time Coach of the Year honoree (2008-09) at Lassiter (Ga.) High School, he guided the development of Parade All-American Hutson Mason, who broke every single-season state passing record in 2009, including passing yards (4,560) and touchdowns (54). The Trojans went 12-1 and won a regional championship in 2009, and Lindsey received state Coach of the Year honors from the Atlanta Falcons and the Cobb County Touchdown Club. The Associated Press, Marietta Daily Journal and Cobb County Touchdown Club named him the 2008 Georgia Coach of the Year.

Lindsey served as offensive coordinator at Hoover (Ala.) High School in 2007 as the team finished 10-2 and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs. Lindsey’s first experience as a head coach came from 2005-06 at Colbert Heights (Ala.) High School, where he earned 2006 Coach of the Year honors from the Florence Times-Daily.
Lindsey spent the 1997-2004 seasons as an assistant coach, including Florence, Deshler, Sparkman, and Springville High Schools in Alabama.

Lindsey played football at the University of North Alabama before transferring as a student to Alabama, where he received his bachelor’s degree in history and English in 1997. He earned a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix in 2005.

— KU Athletics —

IRVING, Texas – Kansas senior Lagerald Vick and redshirt junior Dedric Lawson came up big in the Jayhawks’ overtime win against Stanford on Dec. 1 and have been rewarded for their efforts. Vick has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week, while Lawson is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the conference, the league announced Monday.

In KU’s 90-84 overtime win against Stanford Dec. 1, Vick scored 19 of his 27 points in the final 7:30 of regulation and overtime. The Memphis guard made a 3-pointer with just under seven seconds remaining to send the game into the extra period. Vick then scored KU’s first eight points in OT. His seven 3-pointers marked the third time this season he has made seven or more treys.

Lawson tallied his third-straight and fourth double-double of the season with 24 points and 15 rebounds against the Cardinal. The Memphis forward was 10-for-11 from the free throw line and his 15 rebounds marked a season high. Lawson has now scored 24 or more points in three-straight games and 20-plus four times this season.

Through games of Dec. 2, Vick leads the Big 12 in scoring at 20.8 points per game. He also leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 59.6 and in 3-pointers made per game at 4.7. Lawson is the only player in the Big 12 averaging a double-double. He leads the conference in rebounds at 11.2 per game and his 18.8 scoring average is fifth in the league.

Kansas is 4-for-4 in Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season with Vick and Lawson each being named twice. This is the second time KU has swept the weekly honors in 2018-19 as Lawson was the player and freshman guard Quentin Grimes the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 12. Additionally, this is the second time in the 23-year history of the Big 12 that Kansas has swept the weekly honor twice in one season with the other in 2013-14.

No. 2 Kansas (6-0) hosts Wofford (6-2) in Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. (Central). The game will be televised on Jayhawk TV and ESPN+.

2018-19 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Nov. 12 – Dedric Lawson, Kansas, F, Jr.
Nov. 19 – Lagerald Vick, Kansas, G, Sr.
Nov. 26 – Dedric Lawson, Kansas, F, Jr.
Dec. 3 – Lagerald Vick, Kansas, G, Sr.

Newcomer of the Week
Nov. 12 – Quentin Grimes, Kansas, G, Fr.
Nov. 19 – Talen Horton-Tucker, Iowa State, G, Fr and Jaxson Hayes, Texas, F, Fr.
Nov. 26 – Jaxson Hayes, Texas, F, Fr.
Dec. 3 – Dedric Lawson, Kansas, F, Jr.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach Les Miles began to shape his staff as he announced the hiring of Chevis Jackson to coach the KU defensive backs on Sunday. Jackson, who played an instrumental role on Miles’ 2007 LSU team that took home a National Championship, spent the previous three seasons mentoring the defensive backs at Ball State.

“Chevis is one of the top young coaches in the game,” said Miles. “He works hard to make a positive impact both on and off the field with the student-athletes he works with. He knows what it takes to be successful on the greatest stage in college football and will help instill that mindset to our program.”

Named the 2017 Mid-American Conference Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com, Jackson served as a lead recruiter for the Cardinals, in addition to coaching the defensive backs during his time at BSU.

Prior to his stint at Ball State, Jackson spent the 2015 season as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, LSU, working on Miles’ staff that guided the Tigers to a 9-3 mark and a final national ranking of No. 16.

During the 2013-14 seasons, Jackson worked as a defensive graduate assistant at South Alabama, where he helped the Jaguars earn a bowl bid for the first time in program history, a bid to the 2014 Camellia Bowl. South Alabama’s defense ranked second in the Sun Belt in both scoring defense and total defense in 2013.

Jackson was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter at cornerback for Miles at LSU. During his time with the program, the Tigers made two SEC Championship game appearances, winning the title in 2007. Jackson recorded two tackles and returned an interception 34 yards in helping lead LSU to a 38-24 win over Ohio State in the 2008 BCS National Championship game.

An All-SEC First Team honoree in 2007, Jackson was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for four seasons with five different teams – Atlanta, Jacksonville, New England, Denver and Carolina.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Pooka Williams Jr., was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and also picked up All-Big 12 First Team honors as both a running back and kick returner, joining seniors linebacker Joe Dineen Jr., and defensive lineman Daniel Wise as the Big 12 Conference awards were announced Wednesday. Williams, Dineen and Wise led the way as Kansas football had a total of 11 members of the program pick up all-conference honors as voted on by the 10 league coaches.

A New Orleans native, Williams is the first Jayhawk to garner Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors and is also the first KU freshman to be named All-Big 12 First Team at any position. One of the most explosive players in the league with 15 carries of 20+ yards, Williams rushed for a total of 1,125 yards on 161 carries, good for 102.3 yards per game, 7.0 yards per carry and seven rushing touchdowns. He added 289 yards and two scores on 33 receptions and 246 yards on 11 kick returns to lead the Big 12 and rank sixth in the FBS in all-purpose yards at 150.9 per game. Williams also threw for a touchdown-a nine-yard pass against Oklahoma.

Williams is one of two players in the Big 12 Conference to record a 100-yard rushing game (4) and a 100-yard receiving game (1) joining TCU’s Jalen Reagor. He is also one of only two players in the league to score a touchdown by way of passing, rushing and receiving in 2018 joining Texas’ Lil’ Jordan Humphrey and is one of just three true freshman in Big 12 history to accomplish the feat.

Williams’ 1,125 rushing yards tie him for eighth place in KU’s single-season history books, ranking him second among Jayhawk freshmen on that list. His 252 rushing yards at Oklahoma rank sixth in KU’s single-game records, while his 16.8 yards per carry against the Sooners was both a Big 12 Conference and Kansas record for a game with a minimum of 15 carries. His 1,660 all-purpose yards rank third on KU’s single-season list.

Williams was tabbed the Big 12 Conference’s Newcomer of the Week on four occasions during the 2018 season. He is the one of just two Jayhawk running backs to be tabbed All-Big 12 First Team, joining Jon Cornish (2006). He is also one of just two Kansas returners to earn All-Big 12 First Team accolades, joining Charles Gordon (2005).

A Lawrence, Kansas, native, Dineen closes out his Jayhawk career leading the Big 12 Conference in tackles for the second-consecutive year-just the second player in conference history to do so joining Texas Tech’s Lawrence Flugence (2001, 2002, 2003). Dineen turned in a career-best 147 tackles, which ranks sixth on KU’s single-season chart. His 12.3 stops per game in 2018 also ranks fourth in the FBS.

For the second-straight season, Dineen led the FBS and the Big 12 Conference in solo tackles with 108 during his senior campaign. Dineen collected 11 tackles-for-loss in 2018, giving him a KU-record 45.5 in his career, making him both the single-season TFL record-holder (25.0 in 2017) and career record-holder. Additionally, Dineen’s 391 career-tackles rank fourth in Kansas history.

Dineen was honored by the league coaches as a first-team member for the first time in his career after earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2017. He was tabbed Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice during his senior season. Dineen is currently a Senior CLASS Award finalist, a Jason Witten Man of the Year semifinalist and a Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist after picking up its weekly award one time this season and being a weekly award nominee three other weeks. He was named Midseason First Team All-America by Sports Illustrated, an Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree and a finalist for the Pop Warner Little Scholars Collegiate Player of the Year.

Wise earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for the second-consecutive season, becoming the first Jayhawk to do so since Aqib Talib in 2006-07 and is the only KU defensive lineman to earn back-to-back first-team honors since the inception of the Big 12. A native of Lewisville, Texas, Wise led the Jayhawk defense with 12.5 TFLs in 2018. His career total of 44.0 tackles behind the line scrimmage rank second in KU history, just 1.5 behind Dineen.

Wise led KU in sacks in 2018 with 5.0, while he added five quarterback hurries and 34 total tackles as a senior. In addition to concluding his career at Kansas ranked second in TFLs, Wise ranks sixth in sacks with 18.5. His 16.0 TFLs in 2017 rank 10th in KU single-season history, while his 7.0 sacks in 2017 also rank 10th on KU’s single-season charts.

Williams, Dineen and Wise give KU three All-Big 12 First Team honorees for the first time since 2014 when linebacker Ben Heeney, punter Trevor Pardula and cornerback JaCorey Shepherd each earned a first-team nod from the conference coaches.

In addition to the trio of first-team honorees, KU junior offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji and sophomore punter Kyle Thompson each were tabbed to the All-Big 12 Second Team.

A native of Garland, Texas, Adeniji picked up All-Big 12 Second Team honors for the first time in his career after being recognized as an honorable mention honoree during his first two seasons as a Jayhawk. Adeniji started all 12 games at left tackle for KU, helping pave the way for Williams’ outstanding all-purpose performance.

Thompson, who hails from El Cajon, California, was the Big 12’s top punter in 2018, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. He recorded 17 kicks of 50 yards or longer and dropped 26 of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Thompson turned in a career-long 76-yard punt in KU’s season-finale against Texas.

Four Jayhawks picked up honorable mention nods from the conference coaches in senior kicker Gabriel Rui and juniors defensive backs Hasan Defense, Mike Lee and Bryce Torneden. Additionally, both Wise and Dineen earned honorable mention honors for Defensive Player of the Year (Dineen) and Defensive Lineman of the Year (Wise), while freshman cornerback Corione Harris was honorable mention Defensive Freshman of the Year and sophomore wide receiver Stephon Robinson was honorable mention Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Overall Kansas football had 11 players recognized with 15 honors, its most players honored since it had 11 recognized in 2016 and its most honors since it had 17 honors in 2005.

— KU Athletics —

IRVING, Texas – Kansas redshirt junior Dedric Lawson posted back-to-back double-doubles in being named the most valuable player of the NIT Season Tip-Off and has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the league, the conference announced Monday.

This is the second time this season Lawson has earned the honor and the third-straight week Kansas has taken home the conference player of the week. Lawson’s two weekly league honors, Nov. 12 and 26, were sandwiched by Jayhawk senior Lagerald Vick being named Nov. 19.

Lawson scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Kansas’ 77-68 win versus Marquette (11/21) in the NIT semifinals. The Memphis native also had three assists and two blocked shots against the Golden Eagles.

In KU’s 87-81 overtime win against No. 5 Tennessee (11/23) in the title game, Lawson scored 24 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and had five assists. It marked the first time since 2003 a Jayhawk has posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He averaged 25 points and 12.5 rebounds in Kansas’s NIT title run and in the title game against the Volunteers, Lawson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime.

Lawson is the only player in the Big 12 currently averaging a double-double. He leads the league with a 10.4 rebound average and his 17.6 points per game are sixth in the Big 12. He also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (ninth at 3.8).

No. 2 Kansas (5-0) returns home to host Stanford (3-2) in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Sam Ehlinger and No. 15 Texas made enough plays to put away Kansas.

Next up is a much bigger challenge.

Ehlinger threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score, and the Longhorns beat the Jayhawks 24-17 on Friday to clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game.

Texas (9-3, 7-2, No. 15 CFP) opened a 24-7 lead on Cameron Dicker’s 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but Kansas responded with Peyton Bender’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Daylon Charlot and recovered the ensuing onside kick.

After Gabriel Rui made it a one-score game with a 45-yard field goal with 1:37 remaining, the Jayhawks (3-9, 1-8) were unable to recover another onside kick and the Longhorns closed it out from there.

“We treated this game like a semifinal, if you will, win and advance,” coach Tom Herman said. “And our guys found a way to win and advance.”

Tre Watson finished with 79 yards on 14 carries as Texas earned its third consecutive victory. The Longhorns will face No. 6 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship next Saturday.

“We put a little cushion out for us there towards the end, but we knew they weren’t going away,” Herman said.

“They made some really good plays down the stretch, but we made just enough to seal the deal.”

Kansas dropped its last four games in David Beaty’s final season as Jayhawks coach. Les Miles takes over the downtrodden program after he was hired on Sunday.

Beaty leaves Kansas with a 6-42 record. But the final of his four seasons in charge included three wins, a conference victory over TCU and the end of the Jayhawks’ 46-game road losing streak.

“I want to thank our team and I want to thank all the Jayhawks out there for having a chance to represent you,” Beaty said. “It’s been fun.”

Ehlinger threw two interceptions, one in the second quarter to Najee Stevens-McKenzie and one late to Shak Taylor. He had gone 10 straight games without an interception after throwing two in the season opener against Maryland.

Ehlinger played through a shoulder injury he aggravated last week after originally coming down with the issue back in October. But he downplayed the significance.

“It wasn’t something that was limiting at all,” he said.

The Longhorns had a 98-yard drive on their first possession that ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Ehlinger to Collin Johnson.

Texas’ offense struggled for much of the first half, and then got back on track in the third quarter. Watson’s 31-yard run helped set up Andrew Beck’s 5-yard touchdown reception, and Ehlinger’s 3-yard TD run made it 21-0 with 1:02 left.

Pooka Williams Jr. had 18 carries for 103 yards for Kansas, including a 57-yard touchdown run in the fourth. Bender was 18 for 35 for 159 yards.

INJURY REPORT

Texas safety and punt returner Brandon Jones left with a head injury after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Emmanuel Moore while fielding a punt in the second quarter.

“We’ll take 24 hours to diagnose it as a concussion, and get him in that protocol if it is truly that,” Herman said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Eons,” Herman joked when asked how long ago the season-opening loss to Maryland on Sept. 1 felt. “I don’t know, what’s the longest period of time? This team has grown up quite a bit.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Texas: It was a sweet day for the Longhorns after its 2016 loss at Memorial Stadium ended a string of 13 consecutive wins over the Jayhawks, likely sealed the fate of embattled coach Charlie Strong and ultimately led to Herman’s hiring away from Houston.

Kansas: Fails to send Beaty off with a win, capping another losing season.

UP NEXT

Texas: Beat Oklahoma 48-45 on Oct. 6.

Kansas: The Miles era begins in earnest.

— Associated Press —