Miles Kendrick Tabbed as Jayhawks’ Starter Versus WVU

The Kansas Jayhawks’ passing attack has been nothing to write home about so far in the 2020 season.

Kansas (0-3, 0-2 Big 12) quarterback rank last in the conference in passing yards per game (146.7) and completion percentage (58.7). Kansas is also the only team in the league with more interceptions (three) than passing touchdowns (two).

Part of the issue for KU has been inconsistent play, but a large part has also been an inability for Jayhawk quarterbacks to stay healthy. Kansas has used three quarterbacks so far, Thomas MacVittie, Miles Kendrick and Jalon Daniels, and all three have already been injured at different times this season.

“It’s tough to handle a QB room that has been nicked up, banged up,” offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon said. “You’re trying to build some continuity, you’re trying to establish a new offense…so it’s been tough.”

Speaking with members of the media on Monday, Dearmon announced that Kendrick would be the Jayhawks starter against West Virginia this coming Saturday.

“We gave Miles Kendrick the nod, we told him that he’s our guy this week,” Dearmon said. “We named him a captain because of the way that he practiced last week, he’s doing a great job. It’s not that the other two aren’t doing a good job, it’s just Miles Kendrick has earned a spot this week.”

Kendrick has played in two games this season, the season-opener against Coastal Carolina and in KU’s last game against Oklahoma State. He has completed 26-43 passes for 246 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Dearmon also said that MacVittie, who started the season-opener and was injured in the third quarter, is back at practice this week and all three quarterbacks will be ready for Saturday if need be.

Overall, Dearmon said none of the three have been exceptionally bad, but none have been overly impressive either.

“I don’t think anybody’s lost the job, but what I tell them every day is ‘nobody’s really went out there and won the job’,” Dearmon explained. “I think that’s the fairest evaluation of that situation. We’ve had some pretty good plays, we’ve had some things that we can build on.”

The Mountaineers saw Stanley Carter at quarterback when these two teams met last season. In the 29-24 WVU victory, Carter threw for 275 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

WVU will play host to Kansas for a noon kickoff on Saturday in Morgantown. WVU opens the game as a 23-point favorite and the game will be broadcast on FS1.