Kansas has spent fall camp getting a clearer picture of its linebacker group, and the good news for the Jayhawks is that the room appears to be settling into shape.
The biggest constant is redshirt senior Trey Lathan, who is back after leading the team in tackles last season. Chris Simpson, Kansas’ assistant head coach and linebackers coach, said he fully expects Lathan to hold down the MIKE spot this fall. The real battle is figuring out who lines up next to him at WILL.
At the moment, redshirt senior Bam Crouch has been making his case with steady play, while redshirt junior Quincy Davis has also drawn notice behind Lathan and shown enough versatility to keep himself in the mix. Simpson said Lathan’s summer work helped set the tone for the group once camp opened, and he also praised the linebacker’s growth as a leader and teammate, not just as a player.
Head coach Lance Leipold said Simpson and defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald have been moving players around to find the best combination on the field.
That approach has brought out some encouraging names, including Davis, Crouch and redshirt senior Jibreel Al-Amin. Leipold said Al-Amin has added weight while continuing to develop physically, and that he feels much better about the depth at linebacker than in some previous seasons.
Redshirt freshman Malachi Curvey has also been turning heads. Leipold said Curvey is making the kind of second-year jump the staff wanted to see, noting both his physical progress and what he’s shown on the field.
Simpson echoed that optimism when talking through the group’s possible contributors. He said the question with Al-Amin during recruiting was never about talent, but about how much physical development he would need. Now that Al-Amin has added weight without losing athleticism, he’s in position to factor in this year, with his ability to move around adding even more value.
Curvey, Simpson added, is playing with more confidence after being limited by injury in the spring. Davis is another player Simpson is eager to have around beyond this season because of how well the New Mexico State transfer has performed. Freshman Josh Galbreath is still adjusting to the speed of the college game, but Simpson said his physical development is already moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found A Key O-Line Answer In Fall Camp
Kansas entered fall camp with a reshaped offensive line after moving on from Bryce Foster, Enrique Cruz and Kobe Baynes, and the early picture points to a new group trying to settle in quickly. The projected starters include Calvin Clements, Amir Herring, Kasen Carpenter, Connor Stroh and Nick Morrow, giving the Jayhawks a fresh look up front as they sort through one of the most important units on the roster.
One of the most encouraging developments has been the rise of DeAndre Harper, whose work in camp has drawn praise from Lance Leipold. The redshirt sophomore has shown enough growth to put himself into the conversation for a bigger role, and his versatility could make him difficult to keep off the field if that progress continues. For a line still finding its shape, that kind of flexibility gives Kansas another possible answer just when it needs one. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas May Have An Unexpected Path To The Center It Needs
Kansas has spent the offseason looking for a way to shore up its frontcourt, and one possible answer may have surfaced in an unexpected place. BYU center Keba Keita has entered the NCAA transfer portal, giving the Jayhawks another name to monitor as they continue sorting through center options, while also weighing Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler as part of the same search.
Keita has not closed the door on a return to BYU, so nothing is settled yet, and that uncertainty is part of what makes this situation worth watching from Lawrence. If BYU lands Kohler, the picture in Provo could change quickly, and Kansas could find itself with a more realistic path to a player it may have viewed as a fit for its roster needs. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Has A New 2027 Wing To Watch
Kansas is already looking ahead to its 2027 class, and a new international name has surfaced on the radar. The Jayhawks are reportedly hosting a promising German wing on a recruiting visit, a sign that Bill Self and his staff are continuing to cast a wide net as they map out the roster beyond the current cycle. With no official comment yet from Kansas, the intrigue is in the fit, especially for a program that has long valued wings who can adapt quickly to the college game.
The player in question has experience in the Real Madrid U21 Liga, which only adds to the appeal for a Kansas staff that has shown it is willing to evaluate talent with a broad developmental track. For the Jayhawks, the bigger picture is how this piece might fit into future roster planning, particularly if the staff decides it needs another long-term answer on the perimeter. Right now, the visit is the first step, but it is the kind of move that can quietly reshape a class if things keep moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]