LAWRENCE (AP) — Highly touted freshman quarterback Brock Berglund will not practice with Kansas this season, even though coach Turner Gill said he remains a part of the program.
Gill announced the decision in a brief statement Tuesday. He also announced sophomore running back Deshaun Sands has been dismissed from the program after violating team rules.
“Due to legal issues, Brock will no longer be attending practices with the team this fall,” Gill said. “He will remain enrolled as a KU student, and plans to resume all team activities in the spring semester.”
The 6-foot-4 Berglund was being counted on to help turn around a program that has struggled significantly the past few seasons. But he’s been dealing with legal issues at home in Colorado, where he pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge after allegedly punching a man during a party.
Berglund was on campus for a portion of spring practice, then was back in Kansas for the start of camp this fall. Gill said he consulted with Berglund and his parents before deciding the quarterback would not be a part of the team for what will amount to a redshirt season.
“We both discussed it, and I say both, I mean myself and him and a little bit his parents, and we just decided it was in his best interests to take care of his legal issues,” Gill said.
Gill announced last week that sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb will be the starter when the Jayhawks open their season Sept. 3 against Eastern Kentucky. Quinn Mecham will back him up.
Sands, whose father Tony played for Kansas, played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman last season, gaining 211 yards on 55 carries with a touchdown. He was the top scout team player the previous year.
Sands had fallen on the depth chart early in fall camp. James Sims is firmly entrenched as the starter with freshman Darrian Miller backing him up, and Brandon Bourbon has joined the mix after missing all of last season with a broken ankle from spring camp.
“We have confidence in all of our running backs,” Sims said. “We know there’s a lot of competition there, so you just have to make the most of your chances, whenever the coaches give you the ball.”