What Kansas football DC D.K. McDonald saw in Jayhawks' opener vs LIU

LAWRENCE — As Kansas football embarked this past Friday on the second year of D.K. McDonald serving as the team’s lead defensive coordinator, in a season opener at home against LIU, the Jayhawks saw the group thrive in Lawrence.

Kansas, which went on to win 51-6, didn’t allow any points until the fourth quarter — a pair of field goals. LIU only amassed 146 yards of total offense and went 2-for-13 on third downs. KU finished with 11 tackles for loss and three sacks, only allowing LIU to average 2.8 yards per play.

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On Monday, here’s what McDonald had to say about the defense’s performance, as the Jayhawks continued to prepare for a game this upcoming Friday at home against Missouri:

McDonald liked what his side of the ball was able to do, getting those tackles for loss. He liked the effort the guys put in, how they’d rally around each other for tackles and play to the standard they’re trying to set. It’s something that he wants to see continue when Kansas faces Missouri.

But McDonald did note that he thinks there were some plays that the team gave up, especially in the passing game, that it shouldn’t have. There’d been things KU worked on during the week, in preparation for LIU, that didn’t translate to the game. Against a better opponent this week, those are things they’ll have to continue to work on.

Redshirt sophomore cornerback Elijah Cannon is listed on KU’s depth chart as the starter at the team’s HAWK position and started against LIU. McDonald has been impressed with Cannon’s play, and as someone who’s done well at the team’s nickel position. McDonald sees Cannon as someone they brought in with the expectation of playing this fall, and is looking forward to what he can do against Missouri.

While redshirt junior defensive tackle Eamon Smalls is listed as the starter at defensive tackle, alongside redshirt junior Blake Herold, redshirt junior Marcus Calvin started at the position against LIU. McDonald allowed that Smalls was a little banged up during the week, and that Calvin deserved the chance to start. However, given how much the Jayhawks rotate at the position, McDonald doesn’t take much away from who starts and who doesn’t, because a lot of guys are going to play.

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

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: What Kansas football DC D.K. McDonald saw in Jayhawks’ opener vs LIU