Leo Etienne is one of the most versatile players on the Jayhawks' defensive unit and now is adapting to a new role as co-team captain: leadership. "We've got 11 leaders on this team," said Etienne. "If one guy goes down, 10 guys are there picking him up." Etienne was a three-year letterman in both football and baseball at Auburndale (Fla.). In fact, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an outfielder in the major league baseball draft while a senior in high school. In addition, he placed fourth in a Florida state weightlifting competition. In his two years at Hutchinson Community College, Etienne earned first-team All-Jayhawk Junior College Conference, and Grid Wire All-America selections. He accomplished these feats by recording 118 tackles and nine sacks his second year, and contributing to a 1999 Valley of the Sun Bowl victory.

Last year:
As a 2001 Kansas Jayhawk, Etienne, despite injuring his left shoulder in the sixth game, was third on the team with eight tackles for a loss and first in solo tackles with 68. His best game was against Oklahoma, when he registered 14 total tackles. He also recorded one pass interception, five pass deflections and one fumble recovery.