Kansas Nation
Depth Showcased at 2025 Kansas Football Media Day
Nearly 50 Kansas Football players were made available at Kansas Football’s 2025 Media Day last week, marking the end of Fall Camp and essentially, the offseason. Coming off a 2024 campaign that saw the Jayhawks fall one win shy of bowl eligibility, which would have marked the third straight year accomplishing that feat, KU will bid adieu to a plethora of impactful seniors and feature a roster with 50 newcomers. While Kansas will indeed lose star players like running back Devin Neal, wide receiver Luke Grimm, cornerbacks Cobee Bryant, Mello Dotson and many more, the depth for the 2025 Jayhawks was on full display at KU’s Indoor Practice Facility last week.
On the offensive side, the exceptional depth starts at the quarterback position, headlined by 6th-year signal-caller Jalon Daniels. While Daniels will assuredly need to be the best version of himself for KU to get back to a bowl game and compete for a Big 12 Championship, backups Cole Ballard (R-So.) and Isaiah Marshall (R-Fr.) continue to impress and provide stability at the vital position.
At running back, losing Neal, unquestionably a top-3 tailback in KU history, will be a big loss. But, Kansas returns senior Daniel Hishaw and brings in another talented ball-carrier in Iowa transfer Leshon Williams, who projects to push Hishaw from an internal competition standpoint.
KU loses Grimm at wide receiver, in addition to other talented wideouts Lawrence Arnold, Quentin Skinner and Trevor Wilson, but the Hawks bring in a new core group of guys at that position. Expect to hear a lot from Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson, Ball State transfer Cam Pickett and Albany transfer Levi Wentz, in particular.
Lawrence legend Jared Casey has graduated from the tight end room, as has program guy Trevor Kardell. However, KU appears to be in a great shape depth-wise there as well. This wasperhaps most seen when KU released its initial depth chart on Monday, with three “OR”s in between the four tight ends – DeShawn Hanika, Boden Groen, Carson Bruhn and Leyton Cure. While Hanika projects to play the most snaps, and I believe there’s a viable case to be made he could be KU’s top pass-catcher this season, the uncertainty on a starter at tight end, at least optimistically, showcases the depth. Expect the redshirt freshman Bruhn to have a fantastic career at Kansas.
KU’s offensive line returns two starters in center Bryce Foster and right guard Kobe Baynes. Lawrence-Free State product Calvin Clements will have the unenviable task of replacing NFL Draft pick Bryce Cabeldue at left tackle. While the depth chart lists Michigan transfer Amir Herring at left guard and Nolan Gorcyca at right tackle, head coach Lance Leipold has stressed that there will be rotation – and has mentioned that KU’s 10-deep on the offensive line is the strongest it’s been since he arrived in Lawrence in 2021.
Defensively, KU’s depth is most seen up front. On the interior D-line, KU boasts returners Tommy Dunn and D.J. Withers, who are slated to start, but three more returners in Kenean Caldwell, Blake Herold and Marcus Calvin will all have an impact at some point for the Jayhawks. Off the edge, KU returns Dean Miller, who compiled a career high 6 sacks last season, and up-and-comer Dak Brinkley. Opposite Miller as a starter will be Texas transfer Justice Finkley, who on Monday was named a team captain alongside Daniels and Foster. Additionally, the program was abuzz regarding newcomers Leroy Harris III, a transfer from UT-Chattanooga, and Alex Bray, who came over from Illinois. You’ll be hearing a lot of their names this fall as well.
The back seven defensively is likely where the most question marks lie for 2025 Kansas Football, mainly because of the losses of Bryant and Dotson, in addition to safety O.J. Burroughsand linebackers Cornell Wheeler and JB Brown. But again, Kansas loaded up with newcomers. Hard-hitters Bangally Kamara, a transfer from South Carolina, and Trey Lathan, a transfer from West Virginia, are slated to start at linebacker Week 0, with returner Jayson Gilliom winning the battle at the HAWK linebacker position. Depth is seen quickly there when you see the names Joe Sipp Jr. and Jon Jon Kamara lower on the depth chart – two guys who have received rave reviews at points during the offseason.
Finally, the secondary looks to make up for the losses of two All-Conference corners both in-house and through the portal, as sophomore Jalen Todd returns to KU with high expectations, and he’ll be opposite redshirt-freshman Austin Alexander, another second-year Jayhawk who earned the starting nod in Fall Camp. Coveted transfers DJ Graham from Utah State and Jahlil Hurley from Alabama will see plenty of snaps as well. At safety, KU loses Burroughs but brings in a high-energy talent in Oklahoma State transfer Lyrik Rawls, plus another exciting young playmaker in Taylor Davis. Mason Ellis looks to play a part as well.
Don’t forget about Special Teams. KU is in good hands with South Alabama transfer Laith Marjan – who was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list a few weeks ago – at placekicker, and Aussie Finn Lappin at punter. Look for true freshman Tate Nagy, the son of Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy, to have a big impact in the return game.
Sean Kellerman