Kansas safety Cobee Bryant ejected for targeting vs. Illinois

Just a few minutes after losing Austin Booker to a targeting penalty, Kansas safety Cobee Bryant was also ejected for targeting against Illinois. He will also miss the first half of next week’s game against Nevada as a result.

Bryant went to tackle Fighting Illini wide receiver Isaiah Williams in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game, but appeared to lead with the crown of the helmet. Williams was also deemed a defenseless player, and the official threw the flag.

Upon review, the call stood. Bryant was ejected and, per NCAA rules, will sit out the first two quarters of Week 3.

Bryant is one of the top players on Kansas’ defense this year, coming in as a preseason All-Big 12 selection. He had three tackles against Illinois through more than three quarters of action prior to his ejection. Last season, he put up impressive numbers with 38 tackles and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

Bryant’s ejection came with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter. It was just about 10 minutes of game time after Booker was tossed following a targeting penalty committed on a two-point conversion. That came at the 1:35 mark of the third quarter.

It means Kansas’ defense will be even more shorthanded against Nevada. Before that, though, the Jayhawks have to finish off Illinois. The Fighting Illini trailed 28-7 at halftime, but battled back after the break to make it a 34-23 game after Luke Altmyer ran in his second touchdown of the game with 8:14 to play.

Jalon Daniels impresses for Kansas early on in season debut

One of the biggest stories of the night for Kansas came at quarterback. Jalon Daniels is back after missing the first game of the year against Missouri State due to injury, and he picked up right where he left off.

Through three quarters, Daniels completed 21 of 29 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. It was quite the way to start the year, and it’s safe to say Lance Leipold is happy to have him back even though the offense is fairly similar to what it was last week in the opener.

“You can see, we didn’t change too much when Jason [Bean] was there,” Leipold told ESPN2’s Paul Caracterra at halftime. “But you can see how he keeps plays alive and what he’s doing and the accuracy he’s throwing the ball [with]. It’s great to have him out there again.”