JayhawkSlant.com - Notebook: Turzilli steps up

October 9, 2012

Jon Kirby

Turzilli stepping up

Andrew Turzilli is second on the team in reception and receiving yards. The sophomore wide receiver is starting to make himself known in the passing game. Dayne Crist made him one of his top options against Kansas State.

"Andrew has a chance to be a frontline receiver," said Kansas head coach Charlie Weis. "He has a chance, because he runs good routes, he is smooth, he has good hands and I think that as he learns that the wide receivers are also a position where you have to establish more toughness. He is a young guy who is still learning how to do things like this, but he is one of those guys."

Turzilli was an under-recruited recruit out of New Jersey. Turzilli said Weis will mention once in a while how he both are from the state. Each week he seems to find more time on the field.

During fall camp it was verified Turzilli was the fastest wide receiver on the team. He said the proof is his name is on the board in the weight room. He has the tools and he is learning to how to use them.

"(When) we talked about him this morning (coaches meeting), I said, when you look at guys on our team that have a chance of being top-line guys, he is one of the guys who has a chance of being one," Weis said. "I would not call him one yet, but I think that he is one of the ones where you can see a lot of upside to him."

Weis said Turzilli has no idea what kind of potential he has.

Kicking game could see change

When depth chart was released today there was an "OR" between Ron Doherty and Austin Barone. It didn't take long to figure out there could be some competition this week in practice.

"I would like to make a field goal, that would be a good start," Weis said. "Like you said, sometimes you can blame everything on the kicker and Ron (Doherty) certainly would accept his share of the blame. But even on that one, you saw the snap was not perfect. You go back and watch that one again, the snap is a little floating and it is a little bit high, so I mean, there are a lot of things that factor in.

"But when it is the fourth drive of the game and you have scored twice already and now you are down there again with a chance to get more points on the board, those have to be automatic. I think that you have to be willing to give other people additional looks."

Weis said this week they will spend a lot of time on field goals. Some of that time will be deciding who will win the job for the Oklahoma State game.

The Jayhawks are looking for a recruiter through recruiting and they may sign more than one.

"Maybe two," Weis said. "I am not going to come on the short end of that stick, I promise you."

One player that will figure into the kicking game next season is Eric Kahn. He transferred from Mid American Nazarene and has to sit out one year. During the Jayhawks open practice in August he booming into the end zone.

"He is a transfer student that is going to have to sit for a year," Weis said. "Right now we would not be talking about touchbacks on kickoffs, because he would probably be one of those 27-for-32 guys on touchbacks. But he transferred here and he has got a big leg and you will see him out. You saw him out there a little bit in training camp and you figured 'oh, we have a guy.' I saw the same thing you did, but you have to put him on the shelf for a year and wait."

Kansas NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

Font Size:

FEATURED PRODUCT