Kansas is getting closer to the start of the 2026 season, and the picture inside camp is starting to sharpen. The Jayhawks are about two weeks from opening year six of the Lance Leipold era, and with more than 50 new faces on the roster, there has been plenty to sort through. Even with most practices closed, the open viewing periods and a steady stream of interviews have given a decent read on who is climbing.
A few players have clearly improved their standing over the last three weeks. Here are seven who have boosted their stock with kickoff approaching, listed in alphabetical order.
One name drawing attention is Brown. It is not easy for a true freshman to push his way into real playing time, and under Leipold, only Jalen Todd and DJ Warner have managed that in their first year.
Brown has made a strong impression on the staff with his approach away from the field, earning the label of a "football junkie". On the field, he has backed that up by taking advantage of his opportunities.
He has worked at the nickel spot and has already turned in a few encouraging plays.
At tight end, Butler has become the clearest answer to a major camp question: who would emerge as the No. 2 option behind Carson Bruhn? The answer has been Butler.
No tight end has come up more often in camp conversation behind Bruhn, and Butler has separated himself from the pack. He brings real physicality as a blocker in the run game, and his growth as a pass catcher has shown up with a few receptions in camp.
That development matters because KU plans to lean on plenty of multi-tight end looks this fall. Butler fits that plan in multiple ways. He can line up next to Bruhn or serve as the lone tight end in 11 personnel, which puts him on track for a heavy workload and a chance to contribute in a variety of roles.
In Other News...
Lance Leipold's Latest Camp Update Raises A Real KU Lineup Question
Fall camp has brought the usual mix of progress and interruption for Kansas, and Lance Leipolds latest update made clear that the Jayhawks are still sorting through the effects of injuries and illnesses as they try to build continuity. The coach pointed to offensive linemen Kasen Carpenter and Tavake Tuikolovatu as examples of players who have missed time, leaving certain groups short on the kind of repeated reps that matter most this time of year. At the same time, Leipold said several defensive players have taken steps forward, and a few unexpected names have started to push their way into the conversation.
For Kansas, the bigger issue is less about who has looked good in flashes and more about who can hold up once the season opener arrives. Leipold stressed the importance of consistency and physicality, two things that are harder to find when practice rotations keep changing. The camp has already produced some surprise risers, but it has also left at least one real lineup question hanging as the Jayhawks work toward a clearer picture of what they can trust early on. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas May Have Found A New Difference Maker In The Secondary
Kansas is taking another look at its secondary with Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman in the mix, a transfer safety whose 2023 season at Iowa State was cut short early by injury. The move gives D.K. McDonald another versatile piece to evaluate as the Jayhawks continue sorting out their defensive backfield, and it is not hard to see why the staff is interested. McDonald has already pointed to Cummings-Colemans athleticism as a trait that could translate quickly.
The real question now is where he fits. Cummings-Coleman is expected to compete for the nickelback job, a spot that can ask a defender to cover receivers, handle run support and react fast in space. For Kansas, that makes him more than just another body in camp. If he settles in the way the staff hopes, he could become one of the more intriguing new options in a secondary looking for impact. [Read more 🡒]
Two Kansas Rivalry Games Could Define Lance Leipold's Next Step
Lance Leipold is heading into his sixth season at Kansas with the program still measuring itself by progress as much as wins and losses. The Jayhawks have made two bowl trips under his watch, and while the overall record sits at 27-35, the work has clearly shifted the conversation from rebuilding to proving the next step is real.
That is why two games on the 2026 schedule already stand out. CBS Sports tagged Kansas matchups with Missouri and Kansas State as Tier 3 games in its weekly watchability rankings, a reminder that the rivalries carry more than bragging rights for the fan base. For Leipold and the Jayhawks, those dates could end up saying a lot about where the program goes next. [Read more 🡒]