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Kansas junior Aqib Talib will spend time at both wide receiver and cornerback for the Jayhawks in 2007. Talib will follow the footsteps of Charles Gordon who played both sides of the ball for KU from 2003-2005. For his part, Talib appears up to the challenge.

"I did it all through junior high, all through high school," Talib said. "If they're throwing away from me during the game, (playing offense) keeps me in the game. It keeps me focused on the game and keeps me having fun."

Talib has All-American ability on the defensive side of the ball. A year ago he led the nation in passes defended with 28. He also notched six interceptions in 2006. He will need some help from his teammates, however, if the Jayhawk's pass defense is going to improve. Last season Kansas finished dead last among Division I-A teams in passing defense, giving up an astounding 269 yards per game. His role on the offensive side of the ball will likely be more specialized as new offensive coordinator Ed Warriner attempts to jump-start the Jayhawks passing game.

"They're going to throw me in there a couple of plays here and there," Talib said. "I'm not really sure, but the new offense? I kind of like it. It's more up-tempoed and more revolved around big plays. I think it'll be real good for us."

The nation's second most-played rivalry game between Missouri and Kansas will have a new home in 2007 and 2008. This year's game originally set for November 24 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, will now be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The 2008 game will then be played at Arrowhead instead of Columbia, Missouri. For their efforts, the schools are guaranteed to receive at least $1 million from the game in each of the next two years.

While this isn't the first Big 12 game to be moved to Arrowhead – previously Nebraska played Oklahoma State in 1998 and in 2005 Kansas met Oklahoma at the NFL stadium – switching rivalry games to off-campus sites is a disturbing trend. At some point it becomes a question of how willing a school should be to trade a home-field advantage for a bigger payday. As one Kansas fan notes:

"KU has been great against Missouri at home in the last four years," he said. "We've had their number every time. We've killed them. I'd hate to see that momentum go away just because we want to play at Arrowhead."

But fans aren't the only ones disturbed by the move. Business owners in Lawrence are also upset and a recent economic study concluded the move will cost Kansas, Douglas County and the city of Lawrence a combined $713,000.

(via The Wizard of Odds)

The Kansas Jayhawks opened spring practice looking for a way to replace the impact of running back Jon Cornish, who is currently preparing for the NFL Draft. Cornish carried the offense a year ago, rushing for 1,457 yards and 8 touchdowns as KU finished the season with a 6-6 record. With a new offensive coordinator in Ed Warinner, the Jayhawks are hoping for better production from their receiving corps. One player that has already been singled out is 6-4, 200 pound senior Marcus Henry (pictured at right) who will line up at the X-receiver spot.

"The only guy that's a constant," Mangino said of Henry. "His abilities fit that position to a T. X is a guy that can stretch the field. He's a guy that, if you a roll a corner up to him, he should be able to get off the press coverage. Not neccesarily your fastest guy, but a big, rangy guy."

Henry was fourth on the team with 25 receptions for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2006. He joins fellow receivers Dexton Fields, Derek Fine, and Marcus Herford who all return in 2007. With the graduation of leading receiver Brian Murph, Henry expects the wideouts to take on a bigger role.

"Our role is pretty important," Henry said. "Once we get our offense situated and everything, we've got to go out there and make plays and be in the right spot at the right time."

Henry seems to have the size and body that you look for in a go-to receiver. Should he come into his own in 2007, the development of sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier is sure to benefit.