Kansas football finally gets back on the field today, and even if Long Island is the opponent, the real intrigue in the home opener is how the new faces look in live action.
Lance Leipold’s team comes in with a fresh starting quarterback and a roster full of newcomers, the result of an offseason that brought several transfer additions designed to strengthen the depth chart. The score matters, sure, but the bigger story is how quickly the starters settle in together.
One of the names worth watching is Bangally Kamara, who is set to start at weakside linebacker for KU. The Boston College transfer was limited by an injury in his senior year, but before that he put together a strong 2024 season with 77 combined tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Trey Lathan is expected to remain one of the Big 12’s top linebackers, but Kamara could become a major part of this defense after arriving with less fanfare. If he gets back to that earlier form, he could be one of the Jayhawks’ best playmakers on that side of the ball.
Another defender to keep an eye on is Mississippi State transfer Mason Ellis, who won the HAWK job and is expected to handle most of the snaps at nickel corner. A redshirt sophomore, Ellis didn’t see much action in Starkville, but Lawrence gives him a fresh start and a real opportunity.
Kansas’ secondary remains one of the biggest question marks on the roster, and transfers such as Ellis and Roman Pearson are being counted on to help patch over last season’s issues. It will be interesting to see where Ellis lines up and how D.K.
McDonald chooses to deploy him.
New Mexico State transfer Quincy Davis is also on the watch list after drawing attention during fall camp. He may not be a centerpiece right away, but he could carve out a larger role as the season moves along.
On offense, the biggest draw might be Alabama transfer Isaiah Marshall, the headliner in the receiving room after Kansas lost Emmanuel Henderson Jr. in the offseason. Marshall came close to 1,000 yards last season and has the kind of speed, athleticism, and jump-ball ability that makes him dangerous anywhere on the field. He looks like the kind of receiver who can change the way defenses line up against Kansas, and Long Island’s top cornerback is going to have a tough assignment.
Then there’s Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams, who will share the backfield work with Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis, but the back everyone wants to see is Devin Neal. The former Colorado and Kansas State tailback brings burst and open-field explosiveness, and even if his workload is limited in what should be a comfortable win, he has the chance to pop a couple of big plays. Kansas’ rushing game was underwhelming last season, and the hope is that Neal can help get it rolling again under Andy Kotelnicki.
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For Jayhawks fans, the bigger picture is simple: this is the kind of game that changes the feel of a season, especially when it comes at home and carries the weight of history. The ticket market is already reflecting that demand, and with both teams' schedules now laid out, the only thing left is the long lead-up to a fall night that figures to have no shortage of interest on either side of the border. [Read more 🡒]