LAWRENCE — There are two things, Matt Gildersleeve said, that an eight-week offseason program allowed him to do as a strength and conditioning coach.

In a conversation with reporters in mid-March, Gildersleeve, Kansas football’s director of sports performance, first pointed to being able to “unload the season a little bit better.” The college calendar can be a grind, and this process helped them take their time ahead of spring ball. It also sets them up with a more advantageous foundation for the summer.

Gildersleeve then pointed to also being able to have more time with the new guys. As he alluded to earlier, there isn’t a rush to get them ready for spring ball. That pressure isn’t there.

It was the most complete offseason Gildersleeve said he felt he’s had with the Jayhawks and coach Lance Leipold, who Gildersleeve came with from Buffalo ahead of the 2021 season. From a development perspective, Gildersleeve highlighted the progress they made physically and culturally. And time will tell how much that all helps the Jayhawks, who started spring practices in March as well, build on back-to-back seasons with bowl appearances.

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Here are a few more things to think about that Gilderlseeve discussed:

When Kansas brings in new players, it looks to meet them where they are

Gildersleeve has goals for this program when he works with its players, but his approach doesn’t have a singular outline that covers everyone. Asked about the process of working with athletes who enroll early out of high school, he said Kansas looks to meet them where they’re at.

One example would be freshman running back Harry Stewart III, who Gildersleeve said is physically at a place where “his calves are bigger than my thighs and his thighs are bigger than my waste.” Gildersleeve said he’s not going to have Stewart do a type of workout that Stewart wouldn’t get anything out of.

Another example would be freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall. This comes from a program culture perspective more so than a physical perspective, but Gildersleeve said Marshall brought up at one point that he’s heard things in their discussions about leadership that he hadn’t heard before arriving with the Jayhawks.

Matt Gildersleeve says Kansas’ players have done well not being complacent

Kansas is facing heightened expectations this year that it hasn’t faced in Gildersleeve’s time with the program, and for a number of years beyond that. Gildersleeve knows that, and noted it’s a new challenge that breathes life into the coaching staff. Not being complacent with how far the rebuild’s come already has been a significant topic of conversation.

Gildersleeve described the players as doing well with not being complacent. Many contributors from last year’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl champion roster are back, and can certainly be players the newcomers can lean on. They’re all chasing something the Jayhawks haven’t done yet in the Leipold era, and that’s a Big 12 Conference title.

Here’s who’s been the fastest on Kansas’ roster

Jason Bean, a quarterback for Kansas the past few seasons, would be the fastest player the Jayhawks have if he was still on the team. But Bean, critical in the success of Kansas’ 2023 season, is now pursuing a professional career. So, that leaves an opportunity for someone to take his place in that regard.

Gildersleeve said redshirt sophomore safety Mason Ellis is the Jayhawks’ fastest guy. Ellis wouldn’t have been in the top four at this time last year, but he has developed a lot. Gildersleeve also highlighted that senior wide receiver Quentin Skinner will always be in that discussion, and that three freshmen — Stewart, cornerback Jalen Todd and safety Damani Maxson — have put in good times 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's director of sports performance highlights progress