McDonald excited for return

One of the players who is making his return to Lawrence in several weeks is cornerback Dexter McDonald. He left the team after the 2011 season because of grades and spent the last year at Butler County C.C.. Several schools came after McDonald but he decided to rejoin Kansas in part because of the familiarity with the school.

"It helped a lot," McDonald said. "I don't have to start all the way over again. I still though can make a fresh start."

McDonald took his official visit during the season and noticed how different the team was under Charlie Weis than under the previous staff.

"It's a complete change," McDonald said. "I would say that it's a real program. There were a lot of problems going on at KU when I played that you couldn't see unless you were part of the team. The level of respect that Coach Weis has and his coaches is different than before. Everybody does what they are told in the classroom and out of the classroom."

McDonald took his year away from KU to shore up his grades, and thinks that being in a more disciplined program will help him stay on track.

"A lot of coaches preach that they care about kids and they want to be a father figure but a lot of coaches don't really show you everything they preach," McDonald said. "The coaches that are up there now do so with that type of support behind you. You can't do nothing but succeed."

Kansas loses both its starting cornerbacks from last year so competition will be high in spring ball. The previous staff used McDonald as both a nickel and a corner, but this staff plans to use him strictly as a corner.

"I think Coach Campo being my position coach is really going to help a lot because with his NFL experience he knows when to call the right plays," McDonald said. "Also, now that I am older it is easier to understand what's going on."