Coming off a disappointing 2025 season, the Kansas Jayhawks football team had a lot of questions heading into the offseason. One of the biggest was answered by a familiar face, as Andy Kotelnicki was announced as the new associate head coach of the program. During his last two seasons as the Kansas offensive coordinator, the offense was one of the best and most explosive in the country. They were ranked No. 21 and No. 17 in points per game during those seasons, helping the Jayhawks earn their first two bowl game appearances since 2008. During both seasons since his departure, the offense ranked outside the top 50 in points scored. Perhaps the biggest question to be answered, however, was how they would replace the talent that departed after the 2025 season.
Kansas Football: 2026 Offseason Roundup
On offense, Kansas will once again be trying to replace a plethora of producers on the football team for 2026. Jalon Daniels, who ended his career second on KU’s all-time list for both passing yards and touchdowns, won’t be donning the crimson and blue anymore. Nor will either of the team’s leading rushers and three of the four leading receivers from 2025. On top of all the skill players, they will also be replacing three of their starting offensive linemen from a year ago. In other words, there’s going to be a lot of new faces on the 2026 offense.
New Faces on Offense
The quarterback job was expected to be fought for by Isaiah Marshall and Cole Ballard. However, transfer Chase Jenkins could push to have a role as well.
Jenkins wasn’t asked to do a lot of passing at Rice, having thrown just 172 passes in 2025. He did, however, provide some juice with his legs. He finished the season with 531 rushing yards and five touchdowns, collecting five games of 50-plus rushing yards. If Coach Leipold and Kotelnicki decide to deploy both Marshall and Jenkins, it could prove to be a difficult duo for opposing defenses to stop.
The rushing attack could be a multi-headed monster once again. A trio of dangerous runners joined the Jayhawks this offseason, all looking to land the lead role. Yasin Willis comes over from Syracuse, where he rushed for 558 yards on 4.3 yards per carry. Jalen Dupree put together a similar 2025 season, collecting 508 yards on 5.0 yards per carry for Colorado State. Meanwhile, the third transfer didn’t have to travel very far to get to campus.
Dylan Edwards, who spent the past two seasons with in-state rival Kansas State, will look to rebound from an injury-hampered 2025. The year prior, he had 546 yards on an explosive 7.4 yards per carry. He also offers the most pass catching experience, with 58 career receptions. Expect the same type of rushing attack as the past few years, with multiple players contributing nearly every week.
The pass catchers could, like the running backs, also be a handful of players that make an impact. Players like Cam Pickett and Keaton Kubecka could be early favorites to lead the group, given their experience in the offense. However, a couple incoming transfers will certainly push them for playing time.
Nahzae Cox is a big-bodied target who put up 473 yards and five touchdowns last season at Middle Tennessee State. Nik McMillan had an effective season with Buffalo in 2025, putting up 981 yards on 15.8 yards per reception. Who ends up being the most productive player in the group could very well come down to which one clicks with the eventual starting quarterback quickest.
A handful of new offensive linemen will also push to fill the three open spots in 2026. Connor Stroh started a handful of games for Texas in 2025 and could very well be the biggest addition to the group. In order to start for a program like Texas, you have to have a relatively high baseline level of talent. Nick Morrow also brings a lot of valuable experience, with over 1,000 snaps at tackle under his belt. Kasen Carpenter will likely be the favorite to land the center job, after starting 11 games for Tulsa in 2024 and a pair of games for Oklahoma State last season.
Brandon Solis, like Dylan Edwards, comes from a bitter rival. He spent his first three seasons with Missouri before choosing the Jayhawks. The last incoming offensive linemen is Trezelle Jenkins, who has three more years of eligibility and is likely more of a long-term option than a 2026 contributor.
What’s Needed for 2026?
The 2025 season saw some continuity issues and growing pains, with trying to bring a whole new group of players together quickly. The goal for 2026 will be to work out those issues and become a cohesive unit as soon as possible. If they do, Coach Kotelnicki could have the offense clicking like it was when he was here during his first tenure. If they don’t, it could be another year of random stretches of struggle and nearly inexplicable losses.
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Kyle Jones
Kyle joined The League Winners in May of 2024 and is currently covering the Kansas Jayhawks, while also dabbling in the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a born and raised Chiefs and Jayhawks fan, as well as the Royals. When he's not watching and writing about sports, Kyle enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and dog.