JD's Quick Hits: Kansas Jayhawk Keeston Terry Only a Safety Precaution

Not too long ago, Keeston Terry made the switch from wide receiver to safety.  Coincidentally, I’ve always thought he has a lot in common with former Kansas safety Justin Thornton.

Terry has decent size and was best known in his high school days for simply making plays.

Still, I think people have the wrong idea about the position switch.

I don’t believe that Terry has switched to safety to address problems at the position.  Sure, if he’s a really quick learner and his ball skills balance out his average athleticism, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field.

That’s a completely plausible situation; the kid is a very adept player.

However, I’d be surprised to hear that Terry’s switch had anything to do with the immediate future.  Let’s have a look…

Jonathan Wilson is the only graduating wideout of true notability, and Daymond Patterson will be the primary senior factor there in 2011. 

On the other hand, Bradley McDougald, D.J. Beshears, Chris Omigie, Erick McGriff, and Christian Matthews are all very talented young receivers who will have some experience to boot.  That’s without counting the other talented true freshmen receivers.

Kansas seems decently well-set at safety this season.  Lubbock Smith is proven, Olaitan Oguntodu has earned his due, Phillip Strozier will be a reliable backup, and Prinz Kande and Dexter Linton both have tools and time.  Ryan Murphy has experience at safety too.

2011 will be a different story.  No Oguntodu or Strozier will mean only three other true scholarship safeties on the roster.

Head Coach Turner Gill seems reluctant to let true freshmen on the field.  I think Gill was looking ahead and wanted a fourth safety with some college experience under his belt ready for 2011. 

Terry seems like the perfect candidate to me.  He’ll have a chance to play early and often next season too, so hopefully the swap works out.

It’s not rebuilding or reloading or any other potentially derogatory term.  It’s just smart coaching.

On a related tangent, I feel quite the opposite about Toben Opurum. 

This isn’t to say he won’t redshirt or stay on the defensive side of the ball.  It is to say that Gill wouldn’t turn his most talented runner into a linebacker, especially with this season’s injury situation, if he didn’t think Opurum could provide instant depth there.

Unlike Terry, Opurum’s move is a change for the present, not the future.

If he turns into a good backer, he’ll have the first opportunity to play between Steven Johnson and Huldon Tharp in 2011.

Don’t completely count out a return to offense though.  It all depends on how well the other young running backs and linebackers develop this season.