Despite Curtis Ansel's missing seven games with a groin injury last season, sophomore backup Chris Tyrell's average of 40.5 yards on 53 attempts, and KU opponents' average starting field position was the 35 yard line, Ansel is back atop the depth chart this fall. Jayhawk coaches credit Ansel's good hands on receiving the snap and quick ability to get punts out of the backfield. Head Coach Mark Mangino said of his punting corps, "They have the potential to be fine punters. They have to be more sound fundamentally. I'm not overly concerned about it."

Last year:
Ansel won the job as the Jayhawks' punter during the preseason and operated in that role through the first three games of the season until being idelined with a groin strain and a hip flexor. He averaged 38.0 yards per punt with a long of 66 yards (vs. UCLA) through those three games. Returning for the final game of the year (vs. Wyoming), his season totals ended at 37.9 yards on 25 punting attempts with four punts inside the 20-yard-line.