Kansas Football: Jayhawks finding supplementation in recruiting class

While it doesn’t look like anything special on the surface, the Kansas Jayhawks are putting together exactly what they need for their football team from both the transfer portal and their 2025 recruiting class.  The Jayhawks are losing a lot of production on both sides of the ball, so it was vital to get some contributors on the recruiting trail.

The ranking doesn’t show anything crazy. In fact, it shows a rather bad recruiting class in terms of rating. The Jayhawks are second-to-last in the Big 12 when it comes to freshman classes. However, the 15 players currently signed could play a massive role in the team’s 2025 success.

Key Players of Kansas Jayhawks 2025 Recruiting Class

Adrian Holley, Edge

The gem of the class is four-star edge Adrian Holley. As an early enrollee, Holley will join the Jayhawks shortly and will even get to partake in spring practice. He is a long-armed, athletically gifted player who could make an instant impact for the Jayhawks.

Jaden Nickens, Wide Receiver

Jaden Nickens actually has the highest rating in the Jayhawks’ class. That is, if you use 247 Sports’ composite ranking. Nickens is a big target at 6-foot-3 and could have some time to develop, thanks to Kansas bringing in four receivers from the transfer portal. That could be very beneficial, as he is a bit too reliant on his straight line speed and jump ball ability. There is a chance he also joins the basketball team.

Chris McCorkle, Cornerback

Chris McCorkle flipped his commitment from Indiana to Kansas in early August, likely due to the possibility of him being a day one contributor. With both starting cornerbacks entering the NFL draft, McCorkle could compete for reps early.

David McComb, Quarterback

David McComb likely won’t see the field for at least a few years as he sits behind Jalon Daniels and then probably Isaiah Marshall. If and when his time is called, however, his familiarity and comfortability with playing outside of the pocket and using his legs could fit perfectly into the Jayhawk offense.

Malachi Curvey, Edge

If I had written this article a month ago, I would have told you Malachi Curvey could be a day one starter. With Gage Keys returning and Caleb Redd transferring in from Kentucky, that is less likely now. While I don’t think he is a starter right away, he could still get valuable reps for an edge group that will need to find some production.

John Kelly, Running Back

The same can be said for John Kelly. While he wasn’t likely to usurp Daniel Hishaw as the lead running back, he had a chance to steal some touches throughout the season. Now, with Leshon Williams coming in from Iowa, that role will likely go to him. However, Williams and Hishaw will both play their final season in 2025, so Kelly could be in line to compete for significant touches as a sophomore.

Garrett Martin, Defensive End

Garrett Martin would have to outperform his ranking in order to be a significant producer in year one, but like I mentioned with Curvey, the defensive end position is one desperately needing production replaced.

Brandon Schmelzle, Safety

Brandon Schmelzle is the ninth-ranked recruit in the state of Kansas and the third-highest to stay in state. Safety is another position needing replaced, so Schmelzle has a chance to prove himself early in 2025.

Darrion Jones, Safety

While Schmelzle is more of a high safety type, Darrion Jones will likely play more all over the field. He played safety, cornerback, and linebacker in high school, so he could be somewhat of a chess piece for the Jayhawk defense in the years to come.

Justin Thurman, Running Back

Justin Thurman chose Kansas over the likes of Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. He is a top-500 player in 247’s composite rankings and could push to make an impact early in his career, considering the team’s top running backs will be gone by 2026.

Bryson Hayes, Wide Receiver

Bryson Hayes is another Kansas product and has a chance to be an electric college player. He has track speed (10.60 100m dash) and can take the top off a defense in the blink of an eye. He chose the Jayhawks over other local teams (Kansas State, Iowa State, Arkansas, Nebraska).

Anderson Kopp, Offensive Lineman

Anderson Kopp is a versatile offensive lineman that could end up being used as an emergency substitute at all five positions if needed. He has the athleticism to play tackle, the physicality to play guard, and the smarts to play center.

Josiah Hammond, Defensive Lineman

If there is one position group that is perfectly well off, it’s the interior defensive line. That means Josiah Hammond likely won’t see the field for at least the first year of his tenure in Lawrence. However, that could easily flip in 2026 when the group in front of him departs.

Jackson Cook, Wide Receiver

Jackson Cook will likely spend at least his freshman season on the sideline. With the Jayhawks bringing in eight other receivers via the freshman class and transfer portal, there just simply isn’t enough snaps to go around. However, Cook has the size, speed, and hands to develop into a solid receiver over time.

Tate Nagy, Quarterback

To say Tate Nagy is a media signing would be somewhat unfair. Yes, he is the son of Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. However, he has some real talent. It will take a lot of effort, though, as his 5-foot-9 and 150-pound frame do him no favors. The worst case scenario is that he has plenty of experience playing quarterback and could step in if all other options are unavailable for whatever reason.

Like I said at the beginning, the 2025 Kansas Jayhawks recruiting class doesn’t blow the doors off for anyone. The class ranks second-to-last in the Big 12 and 65th in the country. However, the 15 players complement the transfer portal group well, and nearly all of them have a shot of contributing early in their careers.

It likely won’t have them competing for a National Championship, but it should be plenty to have them competing for bowl game eligibility. For a program that went 13 years without that level of play, it’s certainly nothing to scoff at and will (hopefully) continue to build what Lance Leipold has started at Kansas.