KU Jayhawks football reshaped by transfers and new faces. Here’s what to know
The Kansas Jayhawks football team is undergoing significant change this spring with a new-look roster, fresh coaching arrangements and open competitions at key positions.
From the quarterback battle to a deep running back room, here’s what’s happening in Lawrence:
- Freshman running back Kory Amachree, a 6-foot, 203-pound early enrollee from Haslett, Michigan, is drawing comparisons to NFL All-Pro Christian McCaffrey from Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis, who said the two share a similar running stride.
- K-State transfer Dylan Edwards, a Derby native and former Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, joined the Jayhawks after entering the transfer portal in November, bringing 1,072 career rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to Lawrence.
- The starting quarterback competition is coming down to returning players Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall, as Jalon Daniels has exhausted his eligibility and Rice transfer Chase Jenkins recovers from an injury.
- Head coach Lance Leipold’s roster features 31 new transfers and 12 early enrollees after losing 25 players via the transfer portal, with the team holding its first spring practice in pads after eight weeks of winter conditioning.
- Edwards joins a crowded backfield that includes Willis, Colorado State transfer Jalen Dupree and Amachree, with Edwards saying offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki hasn’t put him in a box regarding his role.
- Ballard, who started two games in 2023 after arriving as a walk-on, and Marshall, a dual-threat who led his Michigan high school to a state championship, are stylistically different but close friends competing for the top job.
- Kotelnicki rejoined the KU staff as associate head coach and offensive coordinator after a stint at Penn State, and Leipold said he has already simplified some of the Jayhawks’ offensive terminology.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 11:39 AM with the headline "KU Jayhawks football reshaped by transfers and new faces. Here’s what to know."
Shreyas Laddha
The Kansas City Star