Kansas Jayhawks 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Jalon Daniels, OC Bryce Foster, OG Kobe Baynes, DE Dean Miller, DT Tommy Dunn Jr., DT Blake Herold, DT DJ Withers, and FS Taylor Davis.

Key Players Departing:

RB Devin Neal, WR Lawrence Arnold, WR Luke Grimm, WR Quintin Skinner, OG Michael Ford Jr., OT Logan Brown, OT Bryce Cabeldue, DE Jereme Robinson, DT Caleb Taylor, LB Taiwan Berryhill, LB JB Brown, LB Cornell Wheeler, CB Cobee Bryant, CB Mello Dotson, FS OJ Burroughs, SS Marvin Grant, KR/PR Trevor Wilson, PK Tabor Allen, and PT Damon Greaves.

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Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
LB Bangally Kamara (South Carolina transfer), and EDGE Adrian Holley (Michigan City, Indiana).

3 Star Recruits: 
TE Keyan Burnett (Arizona transfer), CB Chris McCorkie (Sarasota, Florida), WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (Alabama transfer), WR Jaden Nickens (Chatsworth, California), QB David McComb (Edmond, Oklahoma), WR Bryson Canty (Columbia transfer), CB Jahlil Hurley (Alabama transfer), and DS Lyrik Rawls (Oklahoma State transfer).

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2024 Results:

G01  LINDENWOOD  W  48-3
G02  @ Illinois  L  17-23
G03  UNLV  L  20-23
G04  @ West Virginia  L  28-32
G05  TCU  L  27-38
G06  @ Arizona State  L  31-35
G07  HOUSTON  W  42-14
G08  @ #16 Kansas State  L  27-29
G09  #17 IOWA STATE  W  45-36
G10  @ #6 BYU  W  17-13
G11  #16 COLORADO  W  37-21
G12  @ Baylor  L  17-45

Team Info:

2024 Record:  5-7 (10th in Big XII)

Home:  4-2
Away:  1-5
Neutral:  0-0
B12:  4-5
Non-B10:  1-2

Head Coach:  Lance Leipold

Kansas:  22-28
Career:  168-67
Bowls:  3-2

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  Jalon Daniels (171-300, 2454 yards, 57.0%, 8.2 avg., 14 TD, 12 INT)
Rushing:  Jalon Daniels (93 car., 439 yards, 4.7 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving:
  Douglas Emilen (3 rec., 20 yards, 6.7 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored:  Jalon Daniels (6)
Sacks:
  Dean Miller (6)
Tackles:
  Taylor Davis (33)
Tackles For Loss:
 Dean Miller (10)
Interceptions:  None
Pass Deflections:
  Dean Miller (3)
Forced Fumbles:
  Tommy Dunn Jr. (1)
Kick Returns:  Jameel Croft Jr. (4 ret., 55 yards, 13.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  None
Kicking:  None
Punting:  Damon Greaves (33 punts, 1395 yards, 42.3 avg., 6 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  6  Jalon Daniels  (RS SR)
RB:  4  Leshon Williams  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  00  Bryson Canty  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  2  Emmanuel Henderson Jr.  (SR/TR)
WR:  7  Cam Pickett  (RS JR/TR)
TE:  18  DeShawn Hanika  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  75  Calvin Clements  (RS SO)
LG:  54  Tavake Tuikolovatu  (RS SO/TR)
OC:  61  Bryce Foster  (RS SR/TR)
RG:  70  Kobe Baynes  (RS SR/TR)
RT:  59  Nolan Gorczyca  (RS SR/TR)
KR: 2 Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (SR/TR)
PK:  98  Laith Marjan  (RS SR/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:
 
DE:  15  Justice Finkley  (SR/TR)
DT:  92  Tommy Dunn Jr.  (RS SR)
DT:  52  DJ Withers  (RS SR)
DE:  5  Dean Miller  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  1  Bengally Kamara  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  3  Joseph Sipp Jr.  (SR/TR)
NB:  12  Laquan Robinson  (RS JR/TR)
CB:  26  Jalen Todd  (SO)
CB:  7  DJ Graham II  (RS SR/TR)
FS:  27  Taylor Davis  (RS SO)
SS:  2  Lyrik Rawls  (RS SR/TR)
PR:  2  Emmanuel Henderson Jr.  (SR/TR)
PT:  35  Finn Lappin  (RS SR/TR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  B

Schedule:

08/23 
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS  |  First meeting.

08/29 
WAGNER SEAHAWKS  |  First meeting.

09/06  @ Missouri Tigers  |  Kansas trails the series 54-57-9.  The Jayhawks lost (10-24) the last meeting in 2011, and they lost (7-35) the prior meeting in 2010.

09/20 
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS  |  Kansas trails the series 2-11.  The Jayhawks are 1-8 since 2015, and their last series win (55-42) was in 2022.

09/27  CINCINNATI BEARCATS  |  Kansas leads the series 2-1.  The Jayhawks won (49-16) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (7-34) the prior meeting in 1997.

10/04  @ UCF Knights  |  Kansas won (51-22) the only prior meeting in 2023.

10/11  @ Texas Tech Red Raiders  |  Kansas trails the series 2-23.  The Jayhawks are 1-8 since 2015, and they lost (13-16) the last meeting in 2023.

10/25  KANSAS STATE WILDCATS  |  Kansas leads the series 65-52-5.  The Jayhawks are 0-10 since 2015, and their last series win (52-21) was in 2008.

11/01  OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS  |  Kansas trails the series 30-42-3.  The Jayhawks are 1-8 since 2015, and they lost (32-39) the last meeting in 2023.

11/08 
@ Arizona Wildcats  |  Kansas leads the series 3-2-1.  The Jayhawks won (35-13) the last meeting in 1966, and they lost (15-23) the prior meeting in 1965.

11/22  @ Iowa State Cyclones  |  Kansas leads the series 53-45-6.  The Jayhawks are 3-7 since 2015, and their last series loss (7-59) was in 2021.

11/28  UTAH UTES  |  The series is tied 2-2.  The Jayhawks lost (42-45) the last meeting in 1996, and they lost (16-41) the prior meeting in 1993.

Predictions:

Home:  5-2
Road:  2-3
Neutral:  0-0
B12:  4-5
Non-B12:  3-0

Overall:  7-5 (9th in Big XII – Bowl Eligible)