Kansas’ offensive line is one of the biggest unknowns on the roster heading into next season, but there’s at least one reason for Jayhawks fans to feel better about it.
The group is losing Bryce Foster, Kobe Baynes and Enrique Cruz Jr., and only Calvin Clements and Amir Herring are set to return from last season. That kind of turnover can usually trigger alarm bells. Still, on Jayhawk Slant’s podcast “Inside Slant,” college football analyst Phil Steele sounded encouraged by what he’s hearing.
“Coach Leipold told me that he feels the difference between the number ones and the number twos on the offensive line is very narrow this year. So that gives them a very solid two-deep, good depth. So I like the offense this year.”
Kansas is bringing in 30 transfers, according to 247Sports, and five of them are offensive linemen. The Jayhawks’ transfer class is ranked 53rd nationally, and the newcomers give the unit a much different look.
Connor Stroh arrives after three seasons at Texas, where 2025 was his only year of real game action. He played in 10 games and started five during the Longhorns’ 10-3 season.
Trezelle Jenkins Jr. comes over after one season at Wayne State University. He appeared in 10 games and made four starts, and his eligibility gives him plenty of upside.
Nick Morrow brings the most experience of the group, with 24 games at Cal over the last two seasons. He joins Kansas as a redshirt junior.
Kasen Carpenter spent two seasons at Tulsa, where he logged 16 appearances, then played seven games at Oklahoma State before moving on to KU.
Brandon Solis did not appear in a game at Missouri.
Ourlads projects the Jayhawks’ line with Clements at left tackle, Herring at left guard, Carpenter at center, Stroh at right guard and Morrow at right tackle.
Darryl Agpalsa is back leading the unit, and his reputation is built on keeping sacks down and creating room in the run game. In his first season at Kansas in 2024, the Jayhawks allowed just .83 sacks per game, which ranked fourth fewest in the country. Agpalsa has also helped develop Bryce Cabeldue, Logan Brown and Enrique Cruz into NFL players.
Even with that strong track record, last season’s numbers were a step backward. Kansas finished with the No. 76 quarterback sack rate at 6.04%, and Jalon Daniels was sacked 1.8 times per game.
Compared with Agpalsa’s work at NIU and his other previous stops, that 2024 season looks more like a blip than a trend. But if Kansas wants to end its two-year bowl-less streak, protecting the starting quarterback against LIU on September 4th will be a must.
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