Kansas Safety Laquan Robinson Enters Transfer Portal, Marking Another Shakeup in Jayhawks’ Secondary
The Kansas Jayhawks are seeing more turnover in their defensive backfield, as safety Laquan Robinson has officially entered the transfer portal. Robinson, who arrived in Lawrence after previous stops at Auburn and the JUCO level, is now seeking his fourth program in as many years. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Robinson's decision was confirmed late Tuesday night, with both his camp and national recruiting outlets sharing the news. He becomes the third KU safety to hit the portal this cycle, joining Lyrik Rawls and Damani Maxson in what’s turning into a significant reshuffling at the back end of the Jayhawks’ defense.
For Robinson, the journey has been winding. Once one of the top junior college safeties in the 2024 class, he never quite found his footing at the Power Five level.
At Auburn, he was listed as a linebacker but saw limited action-just 34 total snaps, the majority of which (29) came on special teams. He redshirted during that stint.
When he landed at Kansas, it was a bit of a late addition during the winter transfer window. While he didn’t crack the regular defensive rotation, Robinson carved out a role on special teams, where he made his presence felt.
He appeared in eight games for the Jayhawks, logging 56 total snaps-46 of them on special teams. He finished the year with four tackles and a forced fumble on kick coverage in a matchup against Oklahoma State, showcasing the kind of physicality and hustle that coaches value in the third phase of the game.
But now, Robinson is on the move again, looking for a fresh opportunity to close out his college career. The Alabama native still brings experience and special teams value, and he’ll likely look for a program that can offer more consistent reps on defense.
As for Kansas, the safety position is quickly becoming one of the team’s biggest needs heading into the offseason. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald leaned heavily on five-DB sets in his first year calling the shots, so depth in the secondary is more than just a luxury-it’s essential.
The Jayhawks do return Taylor Davis, a full-time starter who had an up-and-down season, and Mason Ellis, who saw part-time action. But beyond that, it’s a young group, with freshmen Darrion Jones and Brandon Schmelzle next in line. That’s a lot of inexperience for a defense that wants to build on the progress it made in 2025.
Expect Kansas to be active in the portal as they look to reload at safety. With Robinson now the latest departure, the Jayhawks’ secondary is officially in transition-and the next few weeks will be key in shaping what that unit looks like heading into spring ball.