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I attended almost every one of them.

Here are my top takeaways on every position as the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ continue to prepare for the 2025 season opener against Hawaii on Aug. 30:

Quarterbacks

I thought Noah Fifita turned a corner of sorts about midway through camp, mainly in the area of processing. The ball got out faster, whether it was a deep shot or a checkdown. He threw a handful of interceptions, but I don’t mind that; practice is the time to try stuff. I also think the defense knows what’s coming by the end of camp. Expect new offensive coordinator Seth Doege to utilize Fifita’s mobility via rollout passes and the occasional designed run. ... Backup Braedyn Locke threw some beautiful touch passes toward the sidelines. He has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long at times while hunting for the big play. But it’s hard to imagine many Big 12 teams having a better backup situation ... Freshman Sawyer Anderson is promising. He’s built like Fifita and plays without fear.

Running backs

This will be a three-headed monster featuring returnee Kedrick Reescano and transfers Ismail Mahdi and Quincy Craig. ... Reescano seems more comfortable than a year ago, when he was the new guy, and he brings plenty of power at 6-0, 214 pounds. ... Mahdi is the slightest and shiftiest of the three at 5-9, 184. He won’t run over anybody, but he can “make himself small� and sift through crevices on the interior. ... Craig has been a pleasant surprise. He just does everything well. He’s listed at 5-10, 196, but looks stouter than that. He’s a legit threat out of the backfield. ... Freshman Wesley Yarbrough looks like a future starter. But as we were reminded Thursday, when he lined up incorrectly on a play, he still has some learning to do.

Wide receivers

The depth here is much better than last year. I expect five players to get most of the reps and touches: returnee Chris Hunter and transfers Kris Hutson, Tre Spivey, Javin Whatley and Luke Wysong. ... Hutson, Whatley and Wysong all had previous starting experience and made smooth transitions to their new surroundings in spring. Spivey was a role player at Kansas State his first two seasons and took a little longer to settle in. He made a huge leap over the summer and had a fantastic training camp. At 6-4, 212, he has a different build than the other four. He’s learning how to use it to high-point the ball and win 50/50 battles. ... Freshman Gio Richardson is fast, smooth and smart. He’ll be starting by 2026. ... Fellow freshman Isaiah Mizell is a legit burner but needs to add strength to his 6-1, 164-pound frame.

Tight ends

The depth at this position concerns me. Keyan Burnett returned to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ with much fanfare after a brief tour of duty at Kansas but missed most of camp because of injury — the very problem that held him back last year. How much he’ll be able to contribute remains to be seen ... Redshirt junior Tyler Powell is one of the most improved players on the team. He has shown that he can catch the ball downfield in addition to being a willing, physical blocker. ... Veteran Sam Olson is the steadying presence in the room, Mr. Reliable. When ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ uses two-TE sets early in the season, Powell and Olson will form that tandem. ... We didn’t get to see much of freshman Kellan Ford because of injury. I’d expect him to redshirt.

Offensive linemen

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ used the same fivesome for most of camp: Ty Buchanan, Michael Wooten, Ka’ena Decrambra, Alexander Doost and Tristan Bounds. Yet there’s still plenty of uncertainty within this unit as projected starters Rhino Tapa’atoutai and Jordan Brown rehab from injuries. ... OL coach Josh Oglesby might have found something by moving Wooten to guard, where he seems more comfortable than tackle. ... Decambra’s growth at center is one of the stories of August. He never played the position before spring. I can recall only one errant snap during camp. If he can handle the mental part of the job, too, that’ll be a boon. ... Tapa’atoutai is expected back sooner than later; Brown maybe by midseason. One’s a tackle, the other a guard. How that all shakes out will be fascinating. ... Louis Apka is the most promising of the freshmen. At 6-6, 280, he has the frame and movement skills to be a future starter at tackle.

Defensive linemen

This is the position that worries me most. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ has some impressive first-teamers in Tre Smith, Tiaoalii Savea and Deshawn McKnight (who missed a chunk of camp because of injury). Depth is the issue. Is JC transfer Leroy Palu ready for Big 12 football? Is what Alcorn State transfer Malachi Bailey showed during camp — after largely being MIA during spring — for real? We’ll see. ... Smith is in line for a big season in his last year of college football. He had a team-leading 38 pressures last year with basically one move — the bull rush. Joe Salave’a has helped Smith expand his arsenal. ... I’m not sure Savea missed a rep in camp — a great sign for a player who’s been bitten by the injury bug in the past. ... Bailey was a menace during camp. He’s a little undersized at 6-2 but uses that to his advantage by getting under the pads of taller offensive linemen.

Linebackers

Taye Brown and Max Harris are ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s “spaceâ€� linebackers, and I don’t expect them to come off the field unless they’re hurt. ... Brown needs to become more impactful than he was last year, and there’s reason to think it could happen. He has more experience, and he has a sharp coach in Josh Bringuel. ... Harris moves like a running back and is the best bet to cover one; he played free safety earlier in his college career. ... Redshirt junior Chase Kennedy is another player who could be on the verge of a career year. He’s gotten bigger (232 pounds, up from 220) without losing any of his athleticism. He also has learned to play in space after almost exclusively rushing the passer in the past. ... Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales has similar hopes for versatile, athletic transfer Riley Wilson, but Wilson has to stay on the field after missing most of camp.

Cornerbacks

Like Spivey and Bailey, San Jose State transfer Michael Dansby made huge strides over the summer and had a stellar camp — to the point where he seemed like a lock to start before getting banged up recently. Assuming that isn’t a long-term issue, Dansby will form one-fourth of a what has the makings of a deep CB rotation. ... After playing mostly inside during the spring, Ayden Garnes, another transfer, showed he could handle himself on the outside. ... Jay’Vion Cole probably has the highest upside of the three transfers but needs to become a little more consistent. ... Marquis Groves-Killebrew entered camp as a starter but missed a ton of time. He has work to do to make up ground and get back in that mix. ... Freshman Gianni Edwards might be my favorite player (as of now) in the 2025 class. He’s raw, and he weighs only 158 pounds, but he’s scrappy and instinctive.

Safeties

This is the strongest, deepest position on the team, led by Genesis Smith, who’s about to prove his 78 rating in the College Football 26 video game is flat-out wrong. Gonzales is going to be aggressive on defense, and he’s going to rely on Smith to secure the back end. He’s a natural center fielder. ... Dalton Johnson is a sure tackler, and, five years later, is still running downfield to cover kicks on special teams. ... Treydan Stukes (knee) said he’d be back for the opener, but I wouldn’t expect him to play a lot, if at all. He just hasn’t gotten enough reps yet (at least in front of the media). ... Redshirt sophomore Gavin Hunter has matured a ton and likely would fill Stukes’ spot if needed. ... Jack Luttrell, also a redshirt sophomore, is a starting-caliber backup with enticing athleticism. ... Freshmen Coleman Patmon and Swayde Griffin are future starters. Patmon (6-2, 207) is big and physical. Griffin is raw, but coaches say he might be the best athlete on the team.

Specialists

The battles at kicker and punter were tight throughout camp. Michael Salgado-Medina appears to have pulled ahead for the kicker job. He made multiple kicks from 50-plus yards but also missed some inside 45, so the consistency isn’t there yet. ... Freshman Tyler Prasuhn is the real deal. He’s a little smoother and quicker than Salgado-Medina and will be a college starter eventually. ... Salgado-Medina also vied for the starting punting job and didn’t do anything to lose it. Australian Isaac Lovison just so happens to have more upside and variety to his game. He can execute rugby-style rollout kicks and drop back-spinners inside the 5. Lovison did have the occasional shank during camp. ... Transfer Ian Wagner has a big leg and will handle kickoffs. He has worked diligently on holding and perfecting the placement-kick operation with new long snapper Avery Salerno.