LAWRENCE — Lance Leipold’s plan for fall camp this week includes some experimentation for Kansas football’s offensive line combinations.

Leipold, the Jayhawks’ head coach, values the chance to cross-train linemen. As he’s mentioned before, when it comes to developing a top eight at the position, he reiterated Monday that versatility allows the team to have the best possible group of five linemen on the field at all times if someone gets hurt. It’s about determining who’s capable of playing where to ensure any transition is as seamless as possible.

So, when it comes to Texas A&M transfer and redshirt junior offensive lineman Bryce Foster, the talk of Foster working multiple positions shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. While Foster arrived as the potential answer at center, it’s not as if he couldn’t help the team elsewhere if needed. And regardless of where Foster ends up in the rotation, the confidence Leipold has in Foster so early in fall camp indicates Foster will have a role somewhere.

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“He’s played some center, he’s played some guard,” Leipold said about Foster. “He’s a big body that can be physical. So, he’s going to help this football team.”

Leipold explained Foster, listed at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, has been getting more comfortable with Kansas’ system and play calls. Leipold noted Foster is someone they want to be able to contribute this fall. It can be a challenge for a newcomer like Foster to take reps with the first and second teams so soon in fall camp, but Leipold also highlighted how pleased they’ve been.

Even if there are growing pains for Foster, he still joined this Big 12 Conference program with extensive experience in the Southeastern Conference. Foster earned recognition from multiple outlets as a freshman All-American for his play in 2021, and started all 12 games he played in 2023 at center for Texas A&M. There’s talent there, as someone who’s a former 247Sports Composite four-star prospect out of high school, that should help him as he progresses through his acclimation process.

Jayhawks assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes also pointed out recently that the system Foster is leaving proved to be fairly versatile its own right, so Foster owns an expansive knowledge of the game. It’s just a matter of that translating to KU. It’s just a matter of Foster putting in the effort to prove to teammates he can be a starting center or guard.

“He’s got to prove that he’s one of our best five,” Grimes said about Foster. “If he’s going to be our starting center, he’s got to prove that he's got the work ethic, the communication skills and the leadership necessary to be the guy that’s making a lot of the calls and directing a lot of the things for us up front.”

Earning the starting job at center would mean Foster would win a competition against both redshirt senior offensive lineman Shane Bumgardner and senior offensive lineman Michael Ford Jr. At guard, in addition to Ford, there’s a group of potential starters that includes redshirt senior offensive lineman Darrell Simmons Jr. and redshirt junior offensive lineman Kobe Baynes. It’s another example of what Leipold wants in his program — competition.

Leipold volunteered Ford has been limited in recent days after getting banged up, so that’s provided another chance to mix things up. Redshirt junior offensive linemen Logan Brown and Nolan Gorczyca are two they’ve been working at the tackle spots, and senior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue could get some work on the left instead of remaining on the right. It’s about finding the best combination to protect redshirt junior quarterback Jalon Daniels, who is on the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp award — given each year to college football's top talent.

Leipold wasn’t quite ready to say this is the most depth he’s had at offensive line since his rebuild began in 2021, but allowed it could be trending that way. Visually, at least, he was ready to say it’s likely the best it’s been. But the need for more development remains, and no matter what happens with Foster’s role Leipold is bullish about the group’s future.

“I like where we’re trending with our younger linemen and the length we’ve been able to put in this program,” Leipold said. “And I think our younger guys, though they may be swimming through the paces of everything — I’m excited about the newcomers that just arrived from high school as well and where they’ll grow in our program as well.”

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.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football coach Lance Leipold has high hopes for Bryce Foster