Kansas football spring ball: Jayhawks return veteran trio of wide receivers with goals

LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s wide receivers room is set to enter the 2024 season as one of the Jayhawks’ strongest positional groups.

There’s a trio of seniors, and the top producers return: Luke Grimm, Quentin Skinner and Lawrence Arnold. The depth extends to those like redshirt junior Doug Emilien and redshirt senior Trevor Wilson. Even redshirt freshman Keaton Kubecka is garnering attention.

But that doesn’t mean the conversation about the Jayhawks’ wide receivers ends there. There’s the level to which Grimm, Skinner and Arnold can take a step forward next season. There’s the level to which Emilien, Wilson, Kubecka and more can continue to foster competition.

Here are five things to know about the wide receivers position after spring ball ended in April, with thoughts from players and more during the spring:

Luke Grimm, Quentin Skinner, Lawrence Arnold are a valuable trio

Grimm, Skinner and Arnold returning provides Kansas with its top three leaders in receptions from last season, as well as its top three leaders in receiving yards. According to Skinner, there was never a doubt that they’d all come back for one more year. Skinner outlined they’ve had multiple conversations among themselves about how they wanted to finish what they started together.

Jayhawks wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said the most significant thing he’s working on with those three is helping them understand what the quarterback is thinking — because, once they do, they can get open more easily and have better timing on their routes. That, Samuel explained, is the next step in their games. The more that happens, the more they keep enjoying the process, the better they’ll be under new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jeff Grimes — who Grimm volunteered has new play ideas and opinions on how to run routes.

Terrence Samuel has a new emphasis for Kansas’ wide receivers this year

In the past, Samuel has highlighted the importance of yards after catch. This year, the value of that hasn’t left his mind. However, he is making a heightened emphasis on scramble rules — which he noted will allow them to improve their yards after catch statistics as well.

Samuel mentioned taking advantage of this aspect of the game will lead to more explosive plays and touchdowns. Understanding where to go once a quarterback starts to roll out of the pocket matters a great deal. Skinner echoed that sentiment, and time will tell how much this shows up when the games get underway.

This could be a breakout year for Doug Emilien

Emilien transferred in from Minnesota ahead of the 2022 season, and has limited statistics in the passing game since. However, this could be the year Emilien enjoys a breakout campaign. According to Samuel, Emilien is an unselfish individual who does what he can to make plays and is excited when those plays are made.

Samuel expressed a trust in Emilien. Considering the talent Kansas has at quarterback, Samuel is looking for Emilien to be someone who can make plays. And even if those plays don’t mean Emilien collects a lot of receiving yards, Emilien is still someone who can be effective as a blocker.

Keaton Kubecka is a name to know

Kubecka might not have recorded a reception during his true freshman season, but he did see the field and set himself up for more of a role as a redshirt freshman. Samuel highlighted how much confidence Kubecka has. Samuel noted that not only does Kubecka work hard, but is also quick to ask questions.

Those questions Kubecka asks, according to Samuel, range across every topic possible. That’s because Kubecka, who Skinner praised for being willing to learn, knows more than just one position. And according to Samuel, the advancement Kubecka has shown intellectually by making plays on the field.

Lawrence Arnold’s injury provided an opportunity

Arnold wasn’t able to make his way through the full schedule of spring ball due to injury, but it wasn’t all a loss. According to Samuel, the issue opened up opportunities for younger guys to receiver more reps in practice. As Samuel explained it, for those players it was an opportunity for those individuals to make a good or bad impression.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.