LAWRENCE — As Kansas football makes its way through spring ball this year, there will be position groups to watch and so much more.
Here are a few insights head coach Lance Leipold provided recently:
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Are any younger players stepping into leadership roles?
Leipold noted it’s still a little early to answer that question, and spoke more generally on the state of the team when it comes to leadership.
Along the offensive line, there are redshirt seniors Kobe Baynes and Bryce Foster. Leipold highlighted Baynes carries himself a little differently now, with the confidence he gained from the 2024 season. Leipold’s hopeful that can continue to emerge.
Elsewhere, Leipold mentioned redshirt sophomore safety Taylor Davis and redshirt sophomore linebacker Logan Brantley. There’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Cole Ballard and redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, too. And don’t forget about redshirt senior tight end DeShawn Hanika, who’s coming off of an injury.
Leipold acknowledged while guys are trying to establish themselves as consistent players, that reality doesn’t always put them in a place to be the complete leader they might be able to be.
What was Kansas’ goal with its linebacker room?
Kansas’ linebacker room saw a lot of experience leave with the end of the 2024 season, and that saw the Jayhawks recruit some proven players out of the transfer portal. It’s not that Leipold doesn’t think there are younger guys back who will get their chance, but there was a balance to strike so the roster didn’t skew so young. Leipold mentioned they looked for players with size, speed and physicality who can fit into their scheme.
Some newcomers to know who transferred in are Bangally Kamara (South Carolina), Joseph Sipp Jr. (Bowling Green) and Trey Lathan (West Virginia). Kamara is a redshirt senior, Sipp a senior and Lathan a redshirt junior. They join a room that includes returners like Brantley and redshirt senior Jayson Gilliom.
What was Kansas’ strategy recruiting wide receivers in the transfer portal?
Kansas has to replace its top three targets at wide receiver from that position, and that led to the Jayhawks recruiting that spot heavily in the transfer portal. Leipold said they try to look for multi-year guys if they can, but in some cases allowed the answer might be someone with just one year left. They looked for all body types, as they searched for length and an increase in speed.
Senior Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (Alabama) has shown some ability and will help this team, Leipold said. Redshirt junior Cam Pickett (Ball State) is someone the quarterbacks have enjoyed working with, and is explosive. Leipold made clear they don’t want to give up on guys who are back like redshirt sophomore Keaton Kubecka or redshirt senior Doug Emilien, but creating competition is important and the team’s practice format will give everyone chances.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 3 insights into Kansas football’s 2025 roster with coach Lance Leipold
