And there was much joy in Mudville
A day after Jalon Daniels announced his intention to return to Kansas, news broke that offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is on his way to Wisconsin.
Despite leading a statistically successful offense, Kansas fans were not exactly enamored with what they saw under Grimes in 2024. KU’s rushing attack ranked 16th in the country this year, with the offense as a whole ranking 47th. Kansas ended up leading the Big 12 at 6.6 yards per play.
For what it’s worth, the reaction from Wisconsin fans seems mixed.
I for one don’t mind seeing Grimes head out. He came to KU on a huge losing streak (against FBS teams). It took half a season for him to adjust to the roster he had here at KU. The way Devin Neal was used early in the season – or perhaps more fittingly, not used – was absolutely criminal. The playcalling alone in the second half of the Illinois game should have been a fireable offense.
And then, in the season finale with KU playing for a bowl berth, even the announcers commented (multiple times) that it seemed like Baylor knew exactly what plays KU was running. (It probably didn’t matter since the defense gave up 45 points, but still.) Grimes, of course, ran the offense at Baylor under Dave Aranda from 2021-23.
Zebrowski Promoted
Leipold moved quickly, naming co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski as OC within a few hours. Coach Z has been with Lance Leipold for the past 7 seasons, including every season in Lawrence. He was the QB coach in 2021 and 2022, and co-offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. When Andy Kotelnicki left for Penn State last December, Zebrowski called plays in the bowl game, which saw KU put up 591 yards of total offense despite turning the ball over three times.
This will actually be Coach Z’s second stint as Leipold’s offensive coordinator, as he held that position at Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2007-09 as that school went 42-3, winning two D3 national championships.
Leipold and Zebrowski will have to retool an offense that is losing three starters on the offensive line, its four best receivers, and at least two of its best running backs, including a generational talent in Devin Neal, who now sits atop most of the categories in the school record book.