[2024] [Week 1] [Kansas 27, Clemson 7] All Summers in a Day

[Bundy]

Tyler Summers reads the Clemson defense. Summers has seemingly thrived in the read option all spring.

 

For just the 2nd time in his 16 start career, Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Tyler Summers was the leading passer in a game. Let that sink in.

Just how did we get here? Summers and KU coach @Bundy have had well documented rifts throughout the pairs KU reign, with Summers wanting to play as a true freshman but taking a redshirt season and Bundy's urging, which saw Kansas start Jeff Maeda and Ian Morgan throughout 2021. In 2022, Summers came in as a redshirt freshman, started the first 3 games, passing for 412 yards, 0 TDs, and 6 INTs, as the offense quickly shifted to the 3-headed monster that was SR RB Bene' Humber, (SO) RB Cody Casspi, and JR FB Marcell Maysonet, and ultimately the team made and won their first ever bowl game, the Hawai'i Bowl, behind the arm of Maeda, not Summers. And then last year, Bundy seemingly ripped Summers in the media every other week, before eventually benching him for QB/PR/Athlete Aaron Diaz in the infamous Oklahoma game that fans wish would quit being brought up. Diaz was again relegated to his RB2 role, Summers regained the starting QB role, and it seems like the tumultuous relationship might actually be somewhat mended.

This isn't to say there hasn't been competition in the QB room. Summers, now a redshirt JR, was tailor made for the style of offense coach Bundy has pined for. This team wasn't envisioned to pass the ball a lot, it was made to control clock and make swift, safe passes to keep the chains moving. But a bevy of early WR talent (2021 Preseason All American Junior Ogbah eventually went in the 2022 Draft's 1st round, while Trenton Adam joined him as a 3rd round pick in 2023) and some veteran pro style passers in Jeff Maeda and Ian Morgan meant there was little room for Summers to earn reps if the team wanted to be competitive. During the 2021 recruiting cycle, the team signed ⭐⭐⭐ Dustin Benintendi (Pensacola Catholic, Pensacola, FL), a fellow scrambler who's signing could indicate Summers was on the horizon. And then in the 2022 cycle, Kansas signed another pair of scramblers, ⭐⭐⭐ Robert Lemberger (St Mary's Springs, Fond du Lac, WI) and ⭐⭐⭐ William Abshire (Kimberly, Kimberly, WI). 

But in recent cycles, they've also opened their offense up to some scheme versatility, adding blue chippers '22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Joseph Perkins (Berrien, Nashville, GA) and '23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jeffrey Eagle (Enterprise, Enterprise, AL), Balanced and Pocket passers respectively. Summers short reign could have quickly come to an end, and Kansas gave Perkins every shot to win the job in the 2024 spring cycle, even allowing him 1st team reps in a spring game with Western Michigan that came down to the wire. But Summers played well in spring games against Wisconsin and Washington State, and solidified his role with his ability to effectively run the read option, which seems to be a staple in Kansas' 2024 plans. 

 

Summers' and Kansas' first official test of the season came in Lawrence this past Saturday, hosting @Spoof and the Clemson Tigers. While much of the fanfare pregame revolved around record-setting Cody Casspi's chase for greatness (already the Kansas All-Time rushing leader in yards and TDs at the end of last season), Summers remained quiet off the field all summer, and no one was really talking about him pregame. 

Clemson received the ball to start the game, and Kansas forced a quick 3-and-out. Then, as predicted, it was time for the crowd to erupt, with a few set-up plays turning into a Cody Casspi 29 yard run on the teams' opening drive. Kansas would have to punt though, with Casspi barely missing a few targets. The teams traded punts, and then the Jayhawks defense came up big with a Whitney Kelly interception, snagged by LEGEND Chaz Tuivailala. But kicker Jake Ramirez would miss a gimmee FG, and the score remained at 0-0 almost 12 minutes into regulation.

Nearly 5 minutes into the 2nd quarter, it was Clemson that struck first, with a 46 yard pass and 26 yard run eventually setting up a 5-yard Alex Stanek touchdown run. And on the sidelines, for the first time in nearly 10 months, Summers showed some emotion, calling the offense together during the TV timeout and shouting with fire and anger. It would take another trade of punts, but Summers successfully orchestrated a drive by sticking to the Bundy principles: clock control, short plays to move the sticks. Cody Casspi put together a running sequence of 5 straight carries, totaling 37 yards. 2 plays later, on 1st and 10 from Clemson's 27, Summers connected for his first touchdown pass of the season, finding WR Tanner Bradley wide open on a deep corner route with just 1:07 remaining in the 1st half! The crowed erupted at this, because Summers had went through his reads - Steel Blue getting no separation at the line, a Clemson defender in his face, ducking around to his right and spinning nearly 360* before stepping up in the pocket and rifling it deep to Bradley. Clemson responded by throwing another interception on 2nd down, and the Jayhawks went into the half, tied up, but rocking.

In the 2nd half, both teams defenses were putting on a clinic to start, but some drives in, Summers again showed off his new found skill. Following a 6 yard Casspi run, and an 8 yard Summers designed run, it was 1st and 10 from the Kansas 46. Summers took the snap and quickly swung around to his left, and in one fluid motion fired a dart on a Tanner Bradley quick slant that saw Bradley spurt forward, through the linebackers in coverage, past the secondary!, and was finally dragged down by CB Demar LeMahieu. On 4th and 1 from the Clemson 2, Kansas again turned to Jake Ramirez, who this time knocked through the confidence builder 19 yard FG. More importantly, it gave Kansas its first lead of the 2024 season. With 7:34 remaining in the 3rd, it was now Kansas 10, Clemson 7. 

A few short drives later, Whitney Kelly, clearly frustrated, was barking at his offensive line to get set. It was 1st and 10 from their own 20, and the lackadaisical hog mollies were acting like they were down 55-0 rather than just 10-7, with their defense keeping them in the game. Kelly was already frazzled from his multiple interception game, and had been fending off Kansas pass rushers all day. He stared down his TE prior to the play, took an angry snap, and tried chucking it quick to the TE... INTERCEPTED by Kansas DB Pedro Murphy! 

Kansas' offense made no waste of time hurrying onto the field, running to the line. As soon as the ball was set, Summers imaginarily shoved the ball to FB Alfred Schneider, but with a DT closing in and barreling through Schneider, Summers tucked the ball back in and hurried downfield for 11 yards. The crowd cheered! Kansas ran two more quick plays, runs to Cody Casspi, with the 2nd getting snuffed out behind the line. They huddled to catch their breath.

Kansas gave Casspi the ball again, and he got 2 yards back. They quickly swapped in subs, with TE Travis Siegrist returning to the field. Clemson went to a 4-1-6 defense, but once the snap came, the DBs all darted forward - they'd been baiting Kansas and quickly sold out to stop the run! But it was 3rd and Goal, and Summers wasn't accepting another FG, he didn't even attempt to pitch the ball to Casspi, who had already made a read into a wheel route and had no one within 5 yards of him. EZ TD! Tyler Summers 2 TD Passing Game!

Clemson responded with a lonnng drive but only got to the Kansas 38, and now being down 10, wanted to pin Kansas deep and get the ball back. They punted.

Kansas went on a 16 play drive, with Summers and Casspi sprinkling in short to medium runs, another pass connection between the two, and eventually, on 4th and 10 from Clemson's 23, given the greenlight to choose, a mature decision for "points over highlights", with Summers motioning to Ramirez for the kick team to come onto the field. Ramirez, inspired by his QBs confidence, drilled the fuck out of the ball, putting it through from 40 yards but having what looked like the distance to have hit from even more. Right down Broadway, above the top of the goalposts.  Kansas 20, Clemson 7.

With 5:25 left, it was time for a Whitney Kelly redemption tour. He was frustrated with a run call on 1st down that only managed a yard, and took the gameplan into his own hands, calling his own number on 2nd and 9. He pushed forward for 5 yards, shoving over his RG. 3rd Down. Kelly motioned a receiver to the left slot, and then took the snap. He was immediately facing DE Eli Reyes in his face, and ducked as Reyes jumped, expecting an errant throw. Kelly launched the ball anyway, right into Reyes, who did his best Messi move by sending the football 30 yards into the backfield. 4TH DOWN. Kelly took the snap, and the defenders closed quick... too quick! It was a screen! But LB Michael Koehn stayed home, and the ball landed incomplete, as Koehn laid a smack on Clemson's RB. TURNOVER ON DOWNS, at Clemson's own 37!

Summers and Co. came rushing onto the field, with Summers and OG David Hager waving their arms, motioning the crowed to turn up! While usually a home QB might motion for the home crowd to quiet down during the offensive drives, Summers stood at the line pre-cadence, continuing to wave his arms upwards. There wasn't a butt on a bench, there was raucous energy! Summers took the snap, with Hager barreling left, and Summers quickly shoving himself behind the big OL. The OL wedged together on the left, and the momentum of them and the DL colliding carried the ensuing "pile" all the way to the sideline, 4 yards. Summers had fallen to the ground as he crossed the sideline, landing awkwardly... but popped right back up, again pumping up the crowd! 2nd and 6! He again carried left, this time getting 5 yards through a gap before being dragged down from behind by a DT. LG Jesus Hernandes was noticeably heard on the TV broadcast, "HIP DROP!", pleading his case to the ref. But Summers went over to the young OL, getting his first career start, and in an unknown exchange of Summers face to Hernandes' ear, the two shuffled back to the huddle, Hernandes nodding quickly.

3rd and 1, from the Clemson 28. The PA announcer's voice boomed through the stadium... "announcing a final score from around the country... Oklahoma State 35, Missouri 7!" Energy = LIT. Many obscenities about Tigers were shouted, no matter if they were directed towards Missouri or Clemson. Summers lined up, smiling ear to ear, took the snap practically laughing. He took half a step to his right, pivoted back left, and launched the ball to the side to Casspi... who had nothing but space! He raced for the 1st Down, he raced alllll the way dowwwwwn through the 10, stiff armed - no - yeeted a poor Clemson safety into the sideline! A CB tried tackling him from behind, but he shifted away from him as well! FINALLY, a DT chased him down at the 1! 

The team hurried to the line, with WR Tanner Bradley tapping his helmet wildly. Clemson, already with a CB and a S on his side of the field, shifted a linebacker 2 steps out towards him. Summers took the snap, and the entirety of the line cutblock the Clemson DL! Summers surged forward, leaping over the bodies, clearing the pile!, for the 1 yard touchdown! Jake Ramirez knocked through the XP, and it was 27-7, Kansas!

Clemson came out, the crowd non-stop roaring, and attempted a final drive. They picked up a first down, but the noise didn't stop. 1:34 left, Kelly tried to throw, incomplete. He had his hands firmly against his helmet, trying to hear the playcall. He took the snap, chucked it towards his TE... incomplete! 1:27 left! He again grasped his helmet, desperate to hear. He chucked a quick pass to a WR that picked up 7, and repeated, but the clock was now down to 0:58. For the third play in a row, he tried to hear the playcall, but then signaled to poor coach Spoof that he couldn't hear the play! He took the snap, and just shoved the ball into his RB's hands as the defense fired on all cylinders, Eli Reyes the first to the ball carrier after pinning his ears back. TURNOVER ON DOWNS.

Summers came out, threw a quick pass to Frank Greco in the slot, and with time expiring, ripped his helmet off and hoisted it to the air in a salute to the KU faithful! KANSAS 1-0!

 

Post game, coach @Bundy kept his press conference short. "This wasn't a game about disrespecting Clemson - there aren't moral victories in big time college football, but they played their asses off. This was a game about Tyler Summers making it known that HE IS HERE TO PLAY, and HE IS HERE TO WIN."

 

Summers finished the game with 133 passing yards, which might not sound like a lot. But he played safe football - completing over 50% of his passes as a scrambler, with NO INTs and 2 touchdown throws. He added 117 yards on the ground, with a classic Sports Illustrated cover-worthy shot over the goal line. He engineered Cody Casspi's game too, helping Casspi to 192 rushing yards. And he made a viable connection with Tanner Bradley, finding him for 4 receptions on 5 targets, 87 yards, and a TD. 

 

Summers, Casspi, and Kansas face off against FCS Montana this Friday night. With students now fully back on campus, they're expecting a full crowd and a raging energy to carry over again.