LAWRENCE — Kansas football has a wide range of experience at defensive tackle this year, and that’s intriguing for Jim Panagos.

Panagos, the position coach for the Jayhawks’ interior defensive linemen, added a transfer from North Dakota State in redshirt senior Javier Derritt. Panagos has some older guys back in a group of redshirt juniors — Kenean Caldwell, Tommy Dunn Jr., D.J. Withers and Caleb Taylor. And there are a couple redshirt freshmen with potential in Blake Herold and Marcus Calvin.

Which ones will step up after the departures of Devin Phillips and Gage Keys? Will Kansas’ defensive tackles develop to the extent they can be a strength for the Jayhawks on that side of the ball? Those questions and more are top of the mind as Kansas continues to make its way through spring ball practices.

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Here are somethings to think about the defensive tackle position as the spring draws closer to the end:

Replacing Devin Phillips, Gage Keys could be difficult

Phillips’ college career came to an end with Kansas’ 2023 season. Keys elected to transfer to Auburn during the offseason. Both had starting experience last year for the Jayhawks, and were among the team’s top producers at defensive tackle.

Phillips is an especially tough loss because of the way, as Panagos explained it, Phillips can control the interior and draw the attention of multiple offensive linemen. Panagos noted they’re going to miss Phillips’ experience and sheer size. What Phillips was asked to do last season was no easy task.

Javier Derritt’s addition should be a valuable one

Derritt may be making the jump up from a FCS program to a FBS one, but he also brings extensive experience as a starter and backup. Dunn has already highlighted how quick off the ball Derritt is, how explosive Derritt is and how quickly Derritt is learning Kansas’ system. As long as Derritt can continue to develop physically, considering he’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, he should be in line to be a key contributor.

Panagos values the experience Derritt is bringing to the group. Panagos mentioned the newcomer has some natural pass rush ability that you can’t coach. Panagos added Derritt is getting more comfortable in the Jayhawks’ system every day.

This could be a big year for Tommy Dunn Jr.

Dunn has progressively developed over the course of his Kansas career, and given the opportunity for playing time that exists 2024 could be the year there’s a significant jump from him. He said he’s more comfortable after the experience he gained in 2023, when he started a couple games and played in 12. He has a better understanding for the speed and physicality of the game.

This spring Dunn is trying to be more consistent. He’s placed an emphasis on pass rush and getting off of blocks. There’s a standard Panagos has that’s even higher than how Dunn views himself, and Dunn’s striving to reach it.

Don’t forget D.J. Withers returns with a lot of starting experience

Withers, alongside Phillips, was one of the more regular starters at defensive tackle last season. Although Kansas looks to rotate guys as a game unfolds, that kind of experience is valuable for this position group. Panagos said Withers is stronger now than he has been, and has more confidence as well.

Panagos noted Withers and Dunn are both doing things that he hasn’t seen them do before, because they have that experience. Maybe the pair will get more starting experience this year, and maybe they won’t. But regardless, the Jayhawks are going to need them.

Here’s what Jim Panagos has seen from Blake Herold, Marcus Calvin

Panagos made it clear that while he feels great about Kansas’ depth right now, everyone is going to have to earn the right to play. If that means the Jayhawks’ rotation is at five guys, or as much as seven, then so be it. If Herold and Calvin can develop to a point where they can get some in-game reps, that would be a great asset for their team.

Panagos said he’s been pleased with them both. He noted they have the ability and just need reps. The focus right now is on ensuring Herold and Calvin stop thinking so that their natural ability can show up more.

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: Here's what you need to know about Kansas football's defensive tackles