Kansas DE Caleb Redd to Enter Transfer Portal After One Season with Jayhawks
Kansas defensive end Caleb Redd is heading back to the transfer portal, marking the end of a short stint in Lawrence. After just one season with the Jayhawks, Redd is looking for a new opportunity, per reports.
Redd came to Kansas as part of a four-man group of defensive ends added during the 2025 transfer cycle. But while players like Alex Bray, Justice Finkley, and Leroy Harris III carved out roles early on, Redd struggled to find his footing in a crowded rotation.
In 2025, he saw action in just three games-mostly on special teams-and logged limited defensive snaps. It was a continuation of a quiet start to his college career, which began at Kentucky.
There, he played 12 defensive snaps as a true freshman, according to Pro Football Focus. His lone statistical highlight with Kansas came in the Oct. 11 matchup against Texas Tech, where he recorded his first career tackle.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Redd had been utilized more as a 3-4 outside linebacker during his time with the Wildcats. Originally a three-star prospect out of De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, he still has three years of eligibility remaining-plenty of time to find the right system and make an impact.
From Kansas’ perspective, the loss of Redd is more about depth than disruption. The Jayhawks are still in a solid spot at defensive end heading into next season.
Bray is expected to return on the strong side, while Harris and Finkley-both of whom flashed upside-are back to anchor the weak side. The big question mark remains Dylan Brooks, who’s now missed two consecutive seasons due to injury.
But the program has young talent waiting in the wings, including redshirts Adrian Holley and Garrett Martin, along with incoming signees Hunter Higgins and Draeden Punt.
Redd’s departure adds to a growing list of scholarship players exiting the program. Kansas has now seen its transfer-out total climb into the teens, with over a week still to go before the NCAA transfer portal officially reopens on Jan.
- On the incoming side, KU has secured one commitment so far for 2026-defensive tackle Jibriel Conde from the Division II level.
For Redd, the next stop will be about finding a fit that better suits his skill set and gives him a clearer path to playing time. For Kansas, it’s another adjustment in the ever-evolving roster shuffle that is modern college football.