LAWRENCE — Kansas football has a chance to see a pair of players selected early on when the 2024 NFL draft is held later this month.
Austin Booker is a defensive lineman who emerged during the 2023 college season and has only seen his stock rise since. Dominick Puni is an offensive lineman who was a key contributor during his time with the Jayhawks and brings positional versatility to the next level. Both were critical to Kansas enjoying its best season in more than a decade, and are in line to be selected before the third round of the NFL draft wraps up.
Kansas, which is coming off of back-to-back bowl trips, last had someone selected in the 2022 NFL draft. That was Kyron Johnson, who went in the sixth round to the Philadelphia Eagles. Whether Booker and Puni fall to a little later in the draft or not, the Jayhawks shouldn’t see this draft go by without someone picked.
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Here are some places Booker and Puni could end up, as well as a look at which other Jayhawks could either hear their names called later on or be picked up as undrafted free agents:
The Athletic: 3rd round, 89th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sporting News: 3rd round, 98th overall to the Pittsburgh Stealers (from Philadelphia Eagles)
Booker transferred in to Kansas from Minnesota ahead of the 2023 season, and became exactly what the Jayhawks needed from a pass rusher. Even though he hadn’t played much at his past stop, he showed he was ready to be a force in the Big 12 Conference. He led Kansas in sacks and tackles for loss.
The Athletic: 3rd round, 71st overall to the Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee Titans)
Sporting News: 3rd round, 78th overall to the Washington Commanders (from Seattle Seahawks)
Puni made the jump up from Division II-level Central Missouri to Division I-level Kansas ahead of the 2022 season, and became a regular starter for the Jayhawks. He was at guard in 2022 and tackle in 2023. KU’s offensive line has been a strength the past couple years, and he’s been a significant reason why.
Booker and Puni might be the only two Kansas players drafted. There could be guys who are picked up late. But regardless, there should be more than two Jayhawks who end up on NFL rosters from this past season’s team.
Jason Bean played quarterback at Kansas, and the Jayhawks don’t win the Guaranteed Rate Bowl the way they did in 2023 without him. It’ll also be interesting to see if he stays at quarterback or, due to his speed and athleticism, whichever NFL team picks him up tries to move him around. And Mason Fairchild, a tight end, and Mike Novitsky, an offensive lineman, are two more on that side of the ball to think about.
Craig Young, whose career started at Ohio State, played at linebacker during his time at Kansas. Kenny Logan Jr., who played at safety, was one of faces of the Jayhawks’ rebuild. Both have helped the defense take steps forward since head coach Lance Leipold’s staff took over.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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