The 2011 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Jayhawks were led by second year head coach Turner Gill and played their home games at Memorial Stadium. They were a member of the Big 12 Conference.

The Jayhawks were picked to finish last by most voters in the preseason Big 12 polls. The Jayhawks conference schedule began with a loss at home to Texas Tech and ended with a loss to the Missouri in the Border Showdown game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Jayhawks finished with a 2–10 record, 0–9 in Big 12 play, and did not play in a bowl game for the third straight year. The Jayhawks had one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Jayhawks schedule is currently ranked 4th in the nation according to Collegefootballpoll.com. During the season, the Jayhawks played Texas A&M and Missouri as members of the Big 12 for the final time, as both schools left for the SEC in July 2012.

Schedule

Game summaries

McNeese State

Statistics McNKAN First downs 22 23 Total yards 420 447 Rushes–yards 33–95 55–301 Passing yards 339 158 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–41–0 7–10–0 Time of possession 21:27 15:29 Team Category Player StatisticsMcNeese State Passing Cody Stroud 22/27, 218 yards, 1 TD Rushing Riley Dodge 11 carries, 45 yards Receiving Champlain Babin 5 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TDKansas Passing Jordan Webb 7/10, 146 yards, 3 TD Rushing James Sims 19 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD Receiving JaCorey Shepherd 3 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD

Northern Illinois

Statistics NIUKAN First downs 27 32 Total yards 462 534 Rushes–yards 29–147 60–253 Passing yards 315 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–33–0 21–30–0 Time of possession 13:54 22:03 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Chandler Harnish 27/33, 315 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chandler Harnish 11 carries, 89 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nathan Palmer 9 receptions, 86 yardsKansas Passing Jordan Webb 21/30, 281 yards, 3 TD Rushing James Sims 26 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving D.J. Beshears 7 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD

At Georgia Tech

Statistics KAN GT First downs 19 24 Total yards 362 768 Rushes–yards 42–151 50–604 Passing yards 212 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–0 4–7–0 Time of possession 19:07 16:26 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Jordan Webb 11/19, 148 yards Rushing Darrian Miller 11 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD Receiving D.J. Beshears 5 receptions, 65 yardsGeorgia Tech Passing Tevin Washington 4/7, 164 yards, 2 TD Rushing Orwin Smith 5 carries, 157 yards, 1 TD Receiving Orwin Smith 2 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD

Texas Tech

Statistics TTU KAN First downs 28 26 Total yards 530 478 Rushes–yards 40–164 51–239 Passing yards 373 244 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–46–1 16–22–3 Time of possession 17:30 23:37 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing Seth Doege 29/46, 366 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Eric Stephens Jr. 26 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cornelius Douglas 4 receptions, 98 yardsKansas Passing Jordan Webb 16/22, 239 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Brandon Bourbon 10 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD Receiving D.J. Beshears 3 receptions, 76 yards

Roster 2011 Kansas Jayhawks football roster (starters in bold)Quarterbacks  2 Jordan Webb – So.  8 Quinn Meacham – Sr. 14 Michael Cummings – Fr. 16 Brock Berglund – Fr. 17 Blake Jablonski – Fr.

Running backs  3 Darrian Miller – Fr.  6 Rell Lewis – Sr. 23 Anthony Pierson – Fr. 25 Brandon Bourbon – Fr. 29 James Sims – So. 37 Ryan Burton – So. 39 Josh Smith – Fr. 43 Ed Fink – Fr. 45 Nick Sizemore – Jr.

Wide receivers  7 Kale Pick – Jr. 12 Christian Matthews – So. 15 Daymond Patterson – Sr. 18 Neal Barlow – So. (TR) 20 D.J. Beshears – Jr. 22 Connor Embree – Fr. (TR) 26 Chase Knighton – Jr. 80 Ricki Herod – Fr. 81 Marquis Jackson – Fr. 82 Andrew Turzilli – Fr. 83 Chris Omigie – So. 84 Brian Maura – Fr. 88 Erick McGriff – So. 89 JaCorey Shepherd – Fr.

Tight ends 11 A.J. Steward – Sr. 38 Justin Puthoff – So. 41 Jimmay Mundine – Fr. 44 Scott Baron – Fr. 46 Chris McEnaney – Fr. 49 Brandon Olson – Fr. 85 Trent Smiley – Fr. 86 Tim Biere – Sr. 87 Ted McNulty – Sr. Offensive line 53 Tom Mabry – So. 54 Justin Carnes – So. (long snapper) 59 Tanner Gibas – Fr. (long snapper) 62 Cooper Kerns – Fr. 63 Chad Kolumber – Fr. 66 Dylan Admire – Fr. 67 Duane Zlatnik – Jr. 68 Luke Luhrsen – Fr. 69 Trevor Marrongelli – Jr. 70 Gavin Howard – So. 72 Tanner Hawkinson – Jr. 73 Damon Martin – Fr. 74 Jeff Spikes – Sr. 75 Travis Bodenstein – Fr. 76 Bryan Peters – Fr. 77 Jeremiah Hatch – Sr. 78 Josh Burgoon – So. 79 Riley Spencer – So.

Defensive line 35 Toben Opurum – Jr. 38 Josh Richardson – Jr. 55 Michael Reynolds – Fr. 56 Javonte Daniel – Fr. 62 Dylan Avery – Fr. 64 Randall Dent – So. 65 Mike Martinovich -Sr. 71 John Williams – Jr. 78 Shane Smith – So. 90 Kevin Young – So. 91 Pat Lewandowski – Fr. 92 Patrick Dorsey – Sr. 93 Ben Goodman – Fr. 94 Tyrone Sellers – So. 96 Keba Agostinho – So. 97 Richard Johnson, Jr. – Sr. 98 JaQwaylin Arps – Fr. 99 Julius Green – Fr. Linebackers  2 Darius Willis – So.  4 Prinz Kande – So. 17 Tunde Bakare – Jr. 31 Ben Heeney – Fr. 34 Huldon Tharp – So. 37 Brian Blackwell – So. 41 Jake Love – Fr. 44 Malcolm Walker – Jr. 46 Steve Mestan – So. 47 Isaac Wright – Jr. 49 Tyler Hunt – Jr. 50 Jake Farley – Fr. 52 Steven Johnson – Sr. 53 Ryan Karlin – Fr. 57 Colin Garrett – Fr. 59 Blake Abbott – Fr. 60 Brandon Esposito – So.

Cornerbacks  5 Greg Brown – Jr. 10 Corrigan Powell – Jr. 18 Adonis Saunders – Fr. 19 Isiah Barfield – Sr. 22 Dexter McDonald – Fr. 26 Chris Robinson – Fr. 30 Anthony Davis – Sr. 33 Tyler Patmon – So. 39 Dominic Foreman – Jr.

Safeties  1 Lubbock Smith – Jr.  9 Keeston Terry – So. 14 Tyler Hill – Jr. 24 Bradley McDougald – Jr. 27 Victor Simmons – Fr. 32 Dexter Linton – So. 36 Brandon Hawks – Jr. 40 Ray Mitchell – Fr.43 Alex Matlock – Fr.Punters13 Ron Doherty – So. 19 Victor McBride – Fr.Kickers10 Alex Mueller''' – Fr.13 Ron Doherty – So.''

Postseason coaching change Following their 59–21 loss to rival Kansas State, Kansas Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger, expressed his displeasure to the Jayhawks performance during the season in a press conference. In the press conference, Zenger said "I don't expect any player, coach, administrator, fan or alum to accept the performance on the field today or in recent weeks. We will get this thing fixed. We will continue to evaluate the program on a week-by-week basis. At the University of Kansas, we will never make complete evaluations until the season is complete and the body of work is in." Many local sports analysts interpreted that statement as Zenger officially putting head coach Turner Gill on the "hotseat" meaning he could be fired if things do not change. The day after losing KU's final game of the season to Missouri, Zenger fired Turner Gill who had a 5–19 record, 1–16 within the conference. Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis was hired to replace him on December 8.

References