Kansas football has set its five season-long captains for 2026, and for the first time in the Lance Leipold era, the Jayhawks are going with a group that large.
Cole Ballard, Calvin Clements, Blake Herold, Trey Lathan and Rino Monteforte were selected by the current KU team. That pushes Kansas past the four-captain groups it has used in multiple previous seasons and gives the program a larger leadership core for the year ahead. KU also has a 16-man leadership council in place to represent the team.
Ballard’s selection fits the reputation he has built all season. The quarterback has been singled out for his leadership, and at Big 12 Media Day, players said that when he talks, everybody pays attention. Coaches have also praised the way he handles the huddle.
There is some history here, too. In 2021, Miles Kendrick was named a season-long captain even though he did not start the first game of Leipold’s tenure.
Jason Bean got that start instead. Kendrick remains the only captain selected under Leipold who was not a day-one starter.
Clements and Herold were both discussed Monday night on Hawk Talk, where Leipold talked about how each has grown into a bigger voice on the team. Both are naturally quieter personalities, but they have made a point of becoming more vocal as the season has gone on.
Clements is a key presence in the offensive line room and appears set to start at offensive tackle. Herold has taken on a similar role on the defensive line and is lined up to start at defensive tackle.
Lathan’s leadership was also a priority for the KU staff. D.K.
McDonald and the coaches pushed him to step into that role as the middle linebacker. With new faces around him and a second season in the scheme under his belt, his voice matters more than ever.
Then there is Monteforte, the long snapper transfer from Cal who began his college career at Notre Dame. He may be the least obvious name on the list to some fans, but he has clearly made an impression in his first season at Kansas. Leipold made that point last week when he said, "He's the most vocal, best leader from the long snapping position that I've ever come across in all the years I've been involved in college football," Leipold said last week.
In Other News...
Mizzou Fans Just Got A New Reason To Relive Border War Glory
A new documentary is putting one of the most memorable chapters of the Border War back in the spotlight. Armageddon at Arrowhead premiered with a focus on the November 2007 football showdown between Kansas and Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium, revisiting a game that still sits near the center of the rivalrys modern history. The film draws on perspectives from former players and looks at why that matchup carried so much weight for both sides.
Beyond the emotions of the day itself, the documentary also examines what came after. Missouri came away missing a chance to play for the national title, while Kansas punched its ticket to a BCS bowl appearance, leaving both programs with plenty to remember and plenty to debate whenever the rivalry comes up again. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Offensive Line Has One Camp Battle That Could Shape Everything
Kansas is spending camp trying to turn a reshuffled offensive line into something dependable, and the early emphasis has been less on highlight moments than on chemistry. With new transfers joining the mix, the Jayhawks have been working through the kind of communication issues that can make or break a unit up front. Redshirt junior Connor Stroh and left tackle Calvin Clements have both pointed to the same theme: the group has to understand each other well away from the field if it wants the five spots to function as one.
That challenge matters because the line is being asked to provide both athleticism and physicality, two traits associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki made clear are nonnegotiable. Camp battles along the front often get reduced to simple depth-chart questions, but for Kansas this one feels bigger than that. The Jayhawks are not just looking for five linemen who can win reps, they are trying to find the combination that can settle the offense before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has Its Week 1 QB Answer But One Big Twist Remains
Kansas has its Week 1 quarterback answer in Isaiah Marshall, who was confirmed as the starter ahead of the season opener against Long Island. The decision gives Lance Leipold a clear first choice at the most important position, with Marshall winning out over junior Cole Ballard as the Jayhawks settle into game-week mode.
Cole Ballards role still makes this more interesting than a simple depth-chart announcement. Even after losing the starting job, he was named one of the teams captains, and Leipold has already indicated both quarterbacks are expected to play in the opener. So while Marshall will get the nod, Kansas appears set to lean on both players right away as it begins the season. [Read more 🡒]