There were a few battles that drew attention and a couple remain ongoing, but, for the most part, the 2-deep to start the season is pretty well set for the Kansas football program.
Four days before their season opener against Long Island — 7 p.m. Friday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium — the Jayhawks released their first depth chart of the season.
And it had only a couple of the infamous "OR" designations that these things tend to be known for.
So, what can we make of the relatively solid 2-deep that the Jayhawks enter the season with?
For starters, you can be sure that this coaching staff feels pretty good about where this team is at entering Week 1. As Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said on Monday, they've put this bunch through the ringer and they've watched them improve, develop, grind and battle.
The belief certainly seems to be that they're ready to roll.
The QB question was answered last Friday, when Zeke Marshall was named the starter for Week 1, with Cole Ballard set to back him.
No surprises on the O-Line, about which Kotelnicki said he was "really pleased" with the development this offseason of KU's top 10 offensive linemen. He also said he was thrilled to have both Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis at running back, even joking with one reporter that he could let him pick who starts between the two because they're both really good and they're both gonna play a ton.
At wideout, the big question is whether Cam Pickett will be available for Friday's opener. He did not practice Monday and missed time toward the end of camp. The bodies who fill that position beyond him, though talented, are largely unproven and inexperienced.
On the defensive side of the ball, DC D.K. McDonald said he really liked the Jayhawks' depth at the back end of the defense, with several bodies being able to fill and rotate in at all four corner and safety spots.
At the HAWK position, newcomer Elijah Cannon, who received all kinds of praise from head coach Lance Leipold on Monday for simply being the type of player and person this program wants around, is listed as the starter there, with Iowa State transfer Khi Cummings-Coleman listed behind him. But KU veteran Mason Ellis and even hybrid linebacker Jibreel Al-Amin could also work there on a rotating basis, as well, as the season progresses.
In the trenches, the two D-Ends listed with the first team are Leroy Harris III and Alex Bray, but five appeared on the depth chart and it's pretty much a certainty that David Santiago, Dak Brinkley and Garrett Martin will get there time on the field, as well, at what could be KU's strongest position.
You've heard all offseason that the depth, speed and size of this team improved and this depth chart shows it on paper.
The question now is, can the names that are on it go out and make the kinds of plays that leads to winning football games.
Time will tell on that one, but the wait for Week 1 is now almost over.
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