The Kansas offense is the part of the roster that has to change the story, and the Jayhawks acted quickly to patch another hole in the backfield.
After a rough start to the 2026 campaign, Kansas added former Kennesaw State and Northern Arizona running back Chase Belcher as a last-minute move, and offensive coordinator and associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki laid out the thinking behind it. The Jayhawks have been searching for more stability on the ground, and the need only grew after Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis is expected to miss the final nine games of the season following surgery during KU’s bye week.
Kotelnicki said Belcher brings the kind of traits Kansas was looking for.
“He's got really good size and power, change of direction, has good vision. You know, the things that you see with him on film.
And we had an opportunity to add to the roster. We were getting backed up a little bit and so we had to do what was best to make Kansas football better.”
The urgency makes sense when you look at where the run game stands. Kansas is averaging 129.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 83rd nationally, a steep fall from the kind of ground production Kotelnicki has been known for. Back in 2023, his final season at Kansas before joining James Franklin at Penn State, the Jayhawks were eighth in the country at 202.8 rushing yards per game.
The numbers are even more concerning when you zoom in on efficiency. Kansas is sitting at 3.4 yards per carry, and that puts more pressure on redshirt sophomore quarterback Isaiah Marshall, whose play has been uneven through three games. A steadier rushing attack would help take some of that burden off him.
Belcher may not jump directly into the two-deep right away after his acclimation period, but he is expected to slot in behind Dylan Edwards and Jalen Dupree as the No. 3 running back. That depth chart comes with its own warning signs, too, since both Edwards and Dupree have dealt with injury issues. Edwards played only four games last season for Kansas State, while Dupree has already missed time this year after not being involved in the loss to Arizona State.
Kansas has already started reshuffling the room, including moving former safety Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman to running back as well.
Now the Jayhawks turn to a home game against Middle Tennessee, a matchup they need to handle before Big 12 play gets rolling in earnest.
In Other News...
Kansas Suddenly Need An Unlikely Answer In The Backfield
Kansas football has had to reshuffle its running back room after a likely season-ending injury to Yasin Willis, a setback that leaves the Jayhawks searching for answers sooner than expected. To help stabilize the position, the staff added Chase Belcher, giving the offense another body as it tries to absorb the loss and keep the backfield from thinning out further.
One of the more interesting moves has come with Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman, who was brought in from Iowa State and is now working in the backfield after spending his time on the other side of the ball. The switch gives Kansas a wild card with size and athletic traits that coaches clearly believe can translate, but how quickly he can turn that potential into actual game-time help remains the real question. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces Early Pressure In Game That Could Shape Its Season
Kansas is already feeling some early-season pressure as it gets ready to host Middle Tennessee in its fourth game, a matchup that carries more weight than the calendar would suggest. The Jayhawks have shown some defensive strength, but offensive issues have kept the start uneven, and now the focus shifts to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, where the expectation is that KU will look to steady itself and avoid letting the season slip further off course.
The timing matters because this is the kind of nonconference game Kansas is supposed to handle, especially with bowl hopes still in play. It will be on ESPN News and comes with the Jayhawks favored by oddsmakers, but the bigger storyline is whether they can turn that edge into a clean win and reset the tone before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Special Teams Problem Is Starting To Cost The Jayhawks
Kansas special teams issues have gone from a nuisance to a real part of the weekly conversation, and the problems are showing up in more than one phase. Kicking has been uneven, punting has lacked consistency, and even when the Jayhawks have created a spark in the return game, they have not been able to balance it out with steady execution on the other side.
The biggest concern is the hidden yardage, because the Jayhawks are giving away too much field position and too many chances for opponents to take control of a game. Martin Connington has already had his share of long-range misses, Matt Gill has had some rough moments flipping the field, and the kickoff coverage unit has been especially vulnerable, leaving Kansas with a special teams issue that is starting to affect the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]