Kansas is trying to keep its special teams rolling after one of the program’s best seasons in that phase under Lance Leipold, and the Jayhawks are doing it with a new setup and some open competition.
Last season, KU finished ninth in the FBS in special teams SP+, a strong mark fueled by steady return work and a solid punting year from Finn Lappin. That kind of consistency gave the Jayhawks one of their most productive special teams seasons in recent memory.
Now the challenge is carrying that over with a fresh look on the sideline. Defensive ends coach Taiwo Onatolu has moved into the full-time special teams job after previously juggling that responsibility alongside his work with the defensive line. He still has Kyle Deween and Aaron Miller with him as analysts, but the focus has shifted fully onto special teams.
One of the biggest questions is who takes over on kickoff returns after Emmanuel Henderson’s standout year as both a returner and a gunner. Onatolu said KU is approaching that spot as an open competition and starting with its fastest players.
"What we do is we always try to take a look at our fastest guys on the team," Onatolu said. "And so we'll throw those guys back there and see if they can read it.
It's also a feel thing. Kenny Logan a few years back wasn't the fastest guy, but he had good feel and timing and space, so he was a pretty good kick returner.
But we always look for speed first, and then throw those guys back there, and then see what they can do if they can read a block."
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Kansas Special Teams Suddenly Carry More Weight This Fall
Taiwo Onatolu has spent fall camp with a narrower focus and, for Kansas football, that could make a broader difference. With his attention now centered solely on special teams coordinator duties, he has been able to dig into where the unit needs cleaning up, where it has improved and how different pieces can be used in those hidden yards that often decide close games. The mix he is working with includes freshmen and established starters, a reminder that special teams is no longer just a finishing touch for the Jayhawks.
Onatolu also pointed to the work being done around him, including assistant coach Kyle Deweens help and the progress of players such as Dylan Edwards, Tate Nagy, Matthew Gill and Martin Connington in those roles. For Kansas, the appeal is obvious: if those responsibilities keep sorting themselves out in camp, the Jayhawks can bring more stability and more upside to a phase of the game that has a habit of swinging momentum. There is still plenty to sort through, but the early signs suggest special teams may matter more than usual this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Just Made Kansas Fans Face His Coaching Future
Bill Selfs offseason conversation with Jon Rothstein carried the kind of weight Kansas fans have learned to brace for whenever the coach addresses his health. After a tough NCAA Tournament loss, Self opened up about how much the strain had been on him and how seriously he had considered whether his coaching days might be nearing the end. For a program built around his presence, even a casual update on his condition comes with real stakes.
Self later said he has since been medically cleared to keep going, and he feels well enough to return for the 2026-27 season while continuing to manage his health. The important part for Kansas is less about one podcast appearance than the reassurance it offered: the Hall of Fame coach is planning to stay on the sideline for at least another year, even if the conversation around his future is no longer something anyone in Lawrence can avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Just Framed Kansas Biggest 2026-27 Swing Factor
Bill Self already sees the outline of Kansas 2026-27 ceiling, and it starts with freshman guard Tyran Stokes. The Jayhawks coach said Stokes has the kind of talent that can change the shape of a season, while also pointing to the need for help from players such as Keanu Dawes and Leroy Blyden Jr. for the roster to come together around him. Self framed it as more than just one gifted newcomer carrying the load, stressing that the group has to improve as a whole if it wants to reach the level Kansas expects.
Health will loom just as large, because even a talented group can get pinned down if it cannot stay on the floor together. Self also suggested the early outlook might place Kansas near the back end of the top 25, but he made clear that this is not a low-ceiling team if the pieces develop the right way. For a program that lives in the top tier by expectation, the real question is whether Stokes and the supporting cast can turn promising talent into something much more dangerous by the time that season arrives. [Read more 🡒]