Kansas’ offense can spend all summer talking about the quarterback question, but the real hinge point sits a little lower in the formation.
Yes, the Jalon Daniels conversation is unavoidable. KU is moving from a steady quarterback with a high floor but a reasonably low ceiling to a complete unknown commodity, at least in Big 12 Football terms.
That alone would be enough to keep people guessing. But the bigger issue might be the group tasked with protecting whoever wins the job and opening lanes for the backs behind him.
The running back room at least gives Kansas something to feel good about. Dylan Edwards, Yasin Willis and Jalen Dupree headline that group. Out wide, the presumed top options are Cam Pickett, Nahzae Cox and Nik McMillan, with a sizable tight end group featuring Jailen Butler, Carson Bruhn and Leyton Cure.
Still, none of that matters much if the front five can’t hold up.
Kansas is heading into a season where the offensive line will be chopped and changed. Last year, the Jayhawks leaned heavily on Bryce Foster, Kobe Baynes, Amir Herring, Enrique Cruz Jr. and Calvin Clements.
Cruz has since been selected in the NFL draft, while Foster and Baynes are looking for their own route to the league. That leaves Herring, Clements and a wave of transfers to help shape the 2026 front.
Among the newcomers are Connor Stroh, Brandon Solis, Nick Morrow, Kasen Carpenter and Trezelle Jenkins Jr. Here’s how that group stacks up based on last season’s class, starts and appearances, and where they played:
Amir Herring, redshirt junior, 12 (12), LG, Kansas University
Calvin Clements, redshirt junior, 12 (12), LT, Kansas University
Connor Stroh, redshirt junior, 12 (5), LG, Texas
Trezelle Jenkins Jr, sophomore, 10 (4), RG, LG, LT, Wayne State
Kasen Carpenter, redshirt junior, 7 (2), C, Oklahoma State
Brandon Solis, redshirt junior, 0, Missouri
Nick Morrow, redshirt junior, 13 (5), LT, Cal
There are also several other players on the roster who could factor into the mix:
Redshirt sophomore DeAndre Harper
Redshirt freshman Anderson Kopp
Redshirt senior James Livingston
Redshirt sophomore Eli Richmond
Redshirt sophomore Jack Tanner
Redshirt junior Tavake Tuikolovatu
Redshirt junior Antonio Wilson
Freshman Kaden Snyder
Freshman Kaden Moody
Freshman Malachi Mills
Freshman Marco Mohajir
Freshman Max Manske
The numbers from last season show why this matters. Kansas finished No. 76 in quarterback-sacked percentage at 6.04%.
The rushing offense ranked No. 60 with 157.8 rushing yards per game. The passing game averaged 211 yards per game, which placed it No.
- Overall, the offense came in at No. 77 with 368.8 yards per game.
That’s why the line is the story here. Darryl Agpalsa, who has produced several NFL names since joining the staff in February of 2024, is at the center of it. His list includes Bryce Cabeldue, Logan Brown and Cruz.
It can be tough to pin down offensive line production with a single stat, but the bigger truth is simple: no rushing attack thrives without a strong front, and no passing game reaches its ceiling without one either. For Kansas, getting that unit settled may be the most important development of all, even before the quarterback decision gets made.
In Other News...
BYU Draft Momentum Just Showed Up In Another Big 12 Projection
An early look at the 2027 NBA Draft is already offering a reminder of how much Big 12 talent could be flowing through the league pipeline, and Kansas is right in the middle of it. Sam Vecenies latest projection has the conference well represented in the first round, with a mix of established powers and rising programs showing up on the board as the draft picture begins to take shape.
For Jayhawks fans, the most notable part is not just that Kansas is in the conversation, but where its freshman sits among the leagues projected prospects. The broader mock underscores how crowded the Big 12 race for draft attention could be, with Arizona, Baylor, BYU and West Virginia also factoring in, even if the order and final landing spots are still a long way from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Let A Local Star Slip Away And Fans Feel It Now
Keaton Waglers path has become the kind of recruiting story Kansas fans cant help but revisit. A local Kansas high school standout, he never received a scholarship offer from the University of Kansas, even with his production and proximity making him an obvious name to watch in-state. Instead, he headed elsewhere and kept climbing, turning himself into one of the more striking examples of how quickly a prospect can go from overlooked to impossible to ignore.
The broader question for Kansas is why a player like Wagler never fit the Jayhawks early recruiting lens. The program has long leaned toward nationally ranked prospects, while Wagler was not the sort of name that typically came attached to major shoe-sponsored AAU buzz or immediate five-star attention. Illinois ultimately got the benefit of that evaluation gap, and the ripple effect has only made the missed opportunity feel larger around Lawrence. [Read more 🡒]
Border Showdown Uncertainty Is Leaving Kansas Fans Asking The Same Thing
The Border Showdown has always carried a little extra weight, and for Kansas fans, the uncertainty around its future only adds to the frustration. The Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers have a rivalry that stretches deep into basketball history, Kansas has owned the series overall, and the recent meetings have leaned heavily the same way. Still, the next scheduled game is the last one currently on the agreed slate, which has left plenty of people around the program wondering whether this is really the end of a series that still feels bigger than a single date on the calendar.
Kansas also has recent proof of why the matchup matters. The Jayhawks handled Missouri 80-60 last season behind Tre Whites 20 points and a strong shooting night from the team, a reminder that the rivalry can still deliver a decisive result even in a lopsided stretch. With the schedule now hanging in the balance, the question is no longer just about one more game, but about whether the Border Showdown gets the staying power its history suggests it deserves. [Read more 🡒]