Kansas opened the 2026 season with a defense full of questions, but the first sign of where the strength might lie came off the edge. The Jayhawks’ defensive ends already look like a group that can change games, and junior Leroy Harris III is the name setting the tone.
Harris arrived at Kansas with momentum from a strong 2025, when he put up 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and eight pass breakups. That line earned him honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and put him squarely among the most important returners on the defensive front.
At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Harris is listed by 247Sports as an edge defender. He also came into the season with outside recognition, as Phil Steele tabbed him as a fourth-team All-Big 12 selection, according to 247Sports.
Then came Kansas’ opener against LIU, and Harris wasted no time backing up the buzz. He finished with four tackles, and all four came behind the line of scrimmage.
He added a quarterback hurry as Kansas’ defense smothered LIU for just 146 total yards and 35 rushing yards in a 51-6 win. The Jayhawks piled up 11 tackles for loss and three sacks in the game.
There’s also a physical change working in Harris’ favor. He has reportedly added significant weight since last season, giving Kansas a stronger presence at the point of attack without taking away the athletic traits that made him effective a year ago. That blend of power and movement could matter a lot once Big 12 offensive lines get involved.
And Harris doesn’t have to do it alone.
Kansas has more than one defensive end who can bring pressure, which gives the staff the chance to rotate players and keep that group fresh. Trey Lathan showed that depth against LIU, finishing with three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
The real test is whether that kind of disruption holds up when the opposition gets tougher. If Kansas can create pressure with its front four and avoid leaning on extra blitzes, it could make the rest of the defense’s job much easier.
Harris has already shown he can live in the backfield. The next step is seeing the rest of Kansas’ defensive ends keep that same level of pressure going. If they do, the Jayhawks may have one of the Big 12’s most disruptive fronts.
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