Kansas Football closed out their nonconference season with a loss and heads into their first bye week at 2-1. With the open Saturday upon us, let’s grade out each position group for 2025 Kansas Football.
Offensively, Kansas has gotten what they signed up for the in play of QB Jalon Daniels. Through KU’s three games, JD has a 72% completion percentage, nine passing touchdowns and two interceptions, both of which were due to incredible defensive plays by the opposition. Daniels has performed as an A; he’s been poised, confident, has made quick decisions and has showcased his arm talent. With some help from his teammates, this should be a top-tier Big 12 offense led by JD6
As for the running backs for Kansas, it still seems too early to tell. Both Daniel Hishaw and Leshon Williams are averaging over five yards per carry, but they were ineffective in KU’s one game against a power conference opponent last week. The two totaled nine carries for just 11 yards. That being said, those numbers are slightly skewed due to Kansas running only 48 total plays offensively in. Still, the running backs as a whole grade out as a B- in my book thus far. It will be absolutely vital for Kansas to establish a potent running game to allow Daniels to be the best version of himself.
KU’s Wide Receivers have been somewhat of a mixed bag as well, but I’ll give them a B at this point. Cam Pickett’s Jayhawk debut featured a pair of touchdown catches, interestingly enough both coming on plays in which he was lined up in the backfield. Emmanuel Henderson caught his two touchdowns in the blowout win over Wagner, but had a key drop in Columbia. We’ve seen one big play out of Levi Wentz, a 50 yard catch at Mizzou. Bryson Canty seemingly continues to get healthier. Once the puzzle pieces fit and each of the wideouts meshes into their respective roles, it’s only a matter of time before the group gets going and the offense truly starts humming.
The Offensive Line gets a B+ at this point in the season. Unsurprisingly, Kansas dominated up front against lesser opponents in Fresno State and Wagner. Against one of the best defensive fronts they’ll face all season in Columbia, Kansas only allowed two sacks, but also failed to get a good enough push up front to springboard their running backs. To this point, KU has kept true on rotating pieces at left guard with Amir Herring and Tavake Tuikolovatu and right tackle with Enrique Cruz and Nolan Gorczyca. I’d expect that to continue, at least in the interim.
Flipping to the defense, Kansas expected a strength of their team to be up front with both their interior and edge defensive lineman. To this point of the season, that hasn’t disappointed. The interior D-line gets a B+ grade, as we’ve seen brilliant flashes from each of D.J. Withers, Tommy Dunn and Kenean Caldwell. Withers and Dunn both have a next level they can get to, and Kansas very well could get contributions later in the season from Blake Herold and Gage Keys as well, if Keys gets healthy.
As for the EDGE players, Kansas has a dynamite talent in Leroy Harris III. Harris already has 3.5 sacks through this season’s first three games, plus has displayed an ability to be a QB spy if needed. He also seems to close in on offensive players at an incredibly impressive rate for someone who is 6’5. Kansas also received a highly-graded performance from Justice Finkley in Week 2, and Dean Miller is healthy and eyeing another season of Big 12 recognition. There’s a great chance Kansas gets contributions from Alex Bray as the season goes on. I have no hesitancy giving the edge players an A through three games.
KU’s linebackers have also been solid. Bangally Kamara, despite suffering an injury prior to the Mizzou game, worked his way back and was very disruptive, totaling 9 tackles. Trey Lathan had a whopping 13 tackles against the Tigers. Kamara and Lathan are real guys – legitimate Big 12 linebackers who will be a force to be reckoned with during conference play. KU has also gotten contributions from Mason Ellis, who forced a fumble which KU eventually scored on. I’ll give the linebackers a B+, with lone bugaboos being inconsistent tackling and the 3rd and 4th down struggles in Columbia.
As for the secondary, KU had three interceptions in the opener against Fresno State, but hasn’t hauled any in since. Freshman Austin Alexander did recover a fumble and take it to the house for KU’s lone takeaway against Mizzou. I’d like to see the secondary, and Kansas’ defense as whole, wreak more havoc defensively and get a leg up in the turnover battle. KU allowed just seven points in each of its first two games this season, but Mizzou hung 42 on nearly 600 yards in the most recent contest. As I said earlier, however, it’s tough to fully judge when Kansas’ D was on the field for what seemed like the entire game after the first quarter. I’ll grade the secondary as a B to this point.
Finally, the special teams has been solid. Laith Marjan, the transfer from South Alabama, has been Money Marjan indeed as he has yet to miss a kick and has displayed utmost confidence. Kansas has been solid in the punting game as well, with Finn Lappin handling the majority of those opportunities. Tate Nagy hasn’t had any issues handling punt returns. Give KU’s special teams an A to this point, knowing their most crucial opportunities are in games to come.
Sean Kellerman