Kansas football is set to lose another piece of its offensive line depth, as reserve lineman Kene Anene has announced his decision to enter the transfer portal. After spending two seasons in Lawrence, Anene will explore new opportunities with three years of eligibility remaining.
Anene’s departure marks the 10th scholarship player to hit the portal for the Jayhawks this offseason, and while he wasn’t a major contributor on Saturdays, his exit still impacts KU’s depth in the trenches. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Anene spent the 2025 season buried on the depth chart, working as a third-string lineman.
He didn’t crack the two-deep at any point during the year and saw limited action - just two games total. His only offensive snaps came in a lopsided win over Wagner, where he logged four plays.
He also saw time on special teams, lining up on the placekicking unit against Arizona.
As a true freshman in 2024, Anene didn’t appear in any games. But coming out of high school, there was promise.
A three-star prospect from Minnesota, Anene was ranked as the No. 57 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class and the sixth-best recruit in the state. Kansas was his lone Power 4 offer, and he chose the Jayhawks over Air Force, Army, and Colorado State.
While Anene didn’t break through during his time at Kansas, he still has the size, eligibility, and recruiting pedigree that could make him an intriguing addition for another program - especially one looking to develop young talent in the offensive trenches.
Anene becomes the second offensive lineman from KU to announce a transfer this offseason, joining Greydon Grimes. Their exits come at a time when the NCAA’s transfer landscape is shifting again.
In October, the Division I Administrative Council approved changes to the portal calendar for FBS and FCS athletes. The winter window will now run from January 2 to January 16, replacing the previous early-December opening.
Additionally, the spring transfer window has been eliminated altogether, and graduate transfers must now enter the portal during the same January window as underclassmen - a notable shift from previous years when they had more flexibility.
For Kansas, the focus now turns to roster management - both in terms of replacing outgoing talent and identifying potential additions in the portal. For Anene, it’s a new chapter and a fresh opportunity to find a program where he can carve out a bigger role.