Kansas football spring ball: How will KU's tight ends perform without Mason Fairchild?

LAWRENCE — In the early days of spring ball in March, Jeff Grimes spoke with reporters about what he was emphasizing with his players.

Grimes, Kansas football’s assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, first pointed to playing fast. Without pads on, the physical part of the game can’t be as much of the focus. That play-speed, though, is something they always want to show up when they watch film.

Grimes, who’s in his first spring with the Jayhawks, then pointed to playing fearless. He doesn’t want anyone to be afraid of putting themselves out there to make a play. It’s about playing to win, not playing not to lose.

It’s a mentality Grimes will look for the entire Kansas offense to have, and very well one that could best be found at the tight end position. Grimes is also coaching the Jayhawks’ tight ends. And while the position group has to replace a guy like Mason Fairchild, whose college career ended with the 2023 season, there are pieces in that room that give it the potential to be a valuable one.

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Here are a few things to think about the tight end position as spring continues:

Kansas added DeShawn Hanika as a transfer from Iowa State

Whether DeShawn Hanika can be someone who steps up in Fairchild’s place won’t be determined in spring alone, but these practices could go a long way toward showing it for the newcomer and transfer from Iowa State. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, the redshirt senior and Topeka native certainly brings size to the room. Senior tight end Jared Casey also told reporters in March that Hanika is athletic and fast.

Grimes described Hanika as a willing individual who’s passionate, driven and coachable. Hanika does have to learn a new system, but Grimes didn’t seem concerned about that being an issue. Grimes more so indicated it’s important Hanika isn’t too hard on himself.

This could be a breakout year for Trevor Kardell

Trevor Kardell is a senior tight end for Kansas this year, and another name to watch as a potential breakout candidate. Kardell has played in double-digit games across the past three seasons, but not to the extent Fairchild did — especially as a receiving option. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Kardell’s size, athleticism and potential as a pass-catcher shouldn’t be overlooked.

When Kardell spoke with reporters in March, he highlighted an appreciation for being able to learn from Fairchild. Kardell mentioned that, toward the end of last season, he started to think about how Fairchild wouldn’t be back and made a point to retain as much of what he has learned. One thing Kardell highlighted was learning from Fairchild about how to be physical in the box.

Jeff Grimes appears excited about Jared Casey’s skillset

Grimes had a little fun when senior tight end Jared Casey was brought up, and mentioned with a laugh that it is generous for Casey to be listed at 6 feet tall. But then Grimes started to talk about all the things he likes about Casey, who’s also listed at 255 pounds, as an individual. Grimes started to talk about how he’s had guys like Casey in the past, and how none of them might be as good as Casey is.

Grimes appreciates the versatility of Kansas’ offense, and alluded to it being all right that each player might not be able to necessarily do everything another can. Guys like Hanika and Kardell might be better at putting their hand in the dirt at the line of scrimmage next to an offensive tackle, or being comfortable splitting out as a single receiver into the boundary in order to get a one-on-one matchup. But Casey, whose athleticism Grimes praised, can do things other players can’t like playing fullback or playing in wing alignments.

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

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football spring ball: A look at the team's tight end position