10 Jayhawks To Buy or Walk on By This Black Friday

Black Friday is not just the most popular shopping day in the history of the United States of America.

It's also the day before the 2009 Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri, and potentially the Kansas seniors' (and Mark Mangino's) last practice as collegiate athletes.

Despite a nasty six-game slump and miserable off-the-field issues with head coach Mark Mangino, I still think that Kansas will be more than competitive enough against Gary Pinkel and Missouri.

I'm not predicting a Kansas victory just yet, but there are several players who could make or break the outcome for Mark Mangino, Clint Bowen, or whoever will be handling all head coaching duties for the weekend.

Let's take a look at which Jayhawks will be worth getting to the store early for and which guys should be left on the shelf for Saturday's Border Showdown in Arrowhead Stadium...

Toben Opurum (RB): Worth a Good Look

Toben Opurum is more than enough to catch your eye.

Kansas hasn't rushed for 100 yards in a game since the Iowa State contest (coincidentally the last time the Jayhawks won a game), and Opurum provides the best chance to change such fortunes against a solid Missouri run defense.

In fact, the only thing that keeps you from immediately tossing the talented freshman right into your cart is durability issues. He got banged up a bit in the Sunflower Showdown and re-aggravated the injury last weekend against Texas.

If Opurum can to go full speed this Saturday (and if he's given the chance, of course), his production will be a huge factor for KU in the outcome of this contest.

Jake Sharp (RB): Last Year's Hot Item

Sharp is a tempting offer; he is crazy-fast, he's great at picking out seams between the tackles, and he would probably be valuable in potentially his last game against his biggest rival.

I'm still passing him up.

Offensive coordinator Ed Warriner has given Sharp the benefit of the doubt since the Colorado game, despite Opurum's previous production, and the results have been nothing short of horrendous. Worse yet, he's not blocking or catching passes like the Jake Sharp we know that has always made him such a bargain.

If Opurum is healthy by Saturday, Jake Sharp should be his change-of-pace back as opposed to the other way around. Because of injury or whatever else, the Salina senior has not lived up to his billing this season.

Dezmon Briscoe (WR/KR): Line Up Early

I'm already waiting in line to take a chance on this product. This game offers an opportunity for Dezmon Briscoe that I just can't ignore.

The Tiger defensive backs have looked decent in the past two weeks against Kansas State and Iowa State, but they've played nothing to the tune of a resurgent Briscoe.

The wide-out had only five catches against the Texas Longhorns but still scraped up 101 yards and returned a kick for a touchdown, as well.

I think Briscoe is finally kicking his game back into high gear, and, if I'm right, there's not a defender on Mizzou's roster who can stop him. Todd Reesing should take advantage of this deal as often as possible.

Kerry Meier (WR): The Old Reliable

Kerry Meier is like a gift card; he's always there (no Black Friday nonsense necessary) and is literally worth every penny.

Meier's had a few very uncharacteristic drops during KU's current rough stretch, and it seems like he's just not producing the same yardage we're used to either. However, this game will mean more to him than almost anyone else you care to name, and I can almost promise he will come up big.

Win or lose, he's worth picking up. During only three games this season has he caught less than eight passes, and, with continued forward strides from Todd Reesing and any impact from Briscoe, I expect even more from Meier on a Saturday that could define his entire career.

Bradley McDougald (WR/PR/KR/S): Maybe Next Year

Bradley McDougald is the Nintendo Entertainment System without the gun, multi-tap, game-pad, joystick controllers, and "The Legend of Zelda." The potential is plenty and better things will come his way, but the initial excitement of the Ohio product has worn off.

McDougald looked only OK as a kick returner, squandered opportunities returning punts, of little upgrade to the secondary, and his production as a receiver is beginning to wane as well.

He looks flashy and costs a bit, but I'm not sure if he's ready to make a big impact in a big game. Don't expect much out of him this Saturday, but he will grow into his potential and become more comfortable with the supplements around him soon enough.

Daymond Patterson (CB/PR): Try Version 2.0

Remember how version 1.0 and 1.5 were OK but didn't quite meet expectations? 2.0 may not be a lot different, but if a bad 2.0 is just as good as any other version available, it's worth a shot for the right price.

Patterson had only one opportunity to return a punt against Texas, but he did take it for 32 yards, and looked a little more comfortable than he has in previous weeks. I'm also really surprised we didn't see more of him in the secondary.

I presume that Anthony Davis and Chris Harris will start in the Border Showdown, but due to an awful performance out of the two (as well as Calvin Rubles), I think it would be worth Clint Bowen's time to give the fairly experienced, talented Patterson another try or two in a big game.

If nothing else, I have a good feeling about Patterson's impact to the return game, and he could do some really positive things for Kansas, even with very limited opportunities.

Darrell Stuckey (S/KR): Last One on the Shelf

You know when you see the last item on the shelf, and you think you could probably live without it. But it looks like a decent bargain, and you can't force yourself to pass it up either?

That's Darrell Stuckey.

He's got loads of big game experience and brings an attitude to a defense that needs it (there's a reason he's still on the shelf), but you wonder if his negatives don't get overlooked.

The main negative being how horrendous he can be in pass coverage at times.

Of course, you still take him, and you still give him the opportunity to lead the entire defense (while praying it pays off), because there really aren't many others like him, and his pros always outweigh his cons.

I don't foresee him having a particularly great game against Missouri, though. He will be playing over the top on the 6' 6" fiery Danario Alexander, and the Jayhawks will probably have to make do with getting beat around a bit by one of the Big 12's best quarterback-receiver combos.

Stuckey is certainly the guy Kansas will rely on to help slow Alexander down when the moment means the most.

Huldon Tharp (LB): Needs Worn In

I still remember my first new baseball glove.

In all fairness, I was practically 13, so I don't have to think too far back.

Still, Huldon Tharp is really looking good for a kid his age, especially after spending his senior year out of production with an injury. He looks a little more comfortable and mature with every single outing, and I think he's as ready as anyone to face Missouri.

He may need a little relacing after getting torched by the Texas offense last week, and he's not a perfect product yet, but at this point he has certainly earned the trust of his teammates and coach.

I think Tharp keeping tabs on Derrick Washington in both the air and ground games will be as important a job as any, even if it doesn't show up much on the stat sheet. The young linebacker may get beat a time or two, but I think we'll see him grow as a player throughout this contest alone.

Jake Laptad (DE): Grab and Go

Jake Laptad is exactly what you look for on Black Friday. He is consistent, valuable, comes up big when needed, and does it without a lot of flash or extra attention.

You can bet that Laptad is a guy any coach would love to have in his cart, especially as a three-year starting junior who improves each season and has played well against Missouri in the past.

I look for Laptad and senior Jeff Wheeler to have the same success getting to Blaine Gabbert this week as they had with McCoy in the last. Hopefully some cooperation from the secondary will produce even bigger results, and Laptad will deserve to be at the forefront of any praise given.

Like I said, this is the time of year Jake Laptad was made for.

Todd Reesing (QB): Handle With Care

In every game since the Texas Tech contest, I think we've seen Todd Reesing gradually regain his confidence and swagger. If he's having issues handling the off-the-field distractions, he's not showing it, and last week's interception was still no fault of his.

He's scrambling better, his wobbling passes are fewer, and he's producing drives.

The only concern I have is that Reesing's confidence still looks delicate and delayed. He will get going sooner or later come Saturday; I have no doubt. It could be his final game, his biggest game, and he is among the most competitive men ever to hold a football.

To win, though, Kansas needs Reesing to come around faster than in the previous three contests.

The running game simply has to be more effective and take some pressure off of Reesing early. If the Jayhawks can, for once, allow their famous signal-caller to ease his way into the contest, you can bet his confidence would peak much earlier, and the KU faithful would be far more likely to see the Todd Reesing of old in his final bout with the Tigers.

Reesing is a great product, but I'm not sure his confidence (or his injured groin) has yet reached the level that the Kansas offense can lean on him entirely. Regardless, when the game gets to crunch time, there's no Jayhawk I'd rather see with the ball in his hands.

Bonus Buy! Brad Thorson (RG/LG/C/RT): Duct Tape

Use it anywhere and on anything. That's Brad Thorson, a guy who has been successful at four different positions so far this season with the Jayhawks.

Every winning team needs and absolutely has to have guys like this, especially one who can do so many different things at such a high level. (How's that for a recommendation?)

That's right, Thorson is duct tape because he can patch up everything.

I couldn't find a Getty Image of Thorson, so I'll put Jeff Spikes here. After such a disappointing career thus far at either tackle spot, Spikes looks like a natural at guard lining up in front of defensive tackles, and I can't believe no one suggested this transition before.

Spikes may be thriving, but he really has Thorson to thank for any such accomplishment, and I really like the direction the Kansas offensive line appears to be headed behind the junior Wisconsin transfer.