Kansas is set to lose another piece from its backfield rotation, as running back Harry Stewart III announced his plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal when the window opens on January 2. Stewart, who spent two seasons with the Jayhawks, becomes the 12th scholarship player from the program to signal a transfer this offseason.
Stewart’s time in Lawrence was marked by flashes of potential and a tough recovery from injury. After redshirting in 2024, he saw action in 10 games during the 2025 season, carving out a role as a depth piece in a crowded running back room.
A knee injury that required surgery limited his availability during training camp, and it took time for him to regain his stride. Early in the season, he was KU’s fourth option at the position, but by the time Kansas faced Cincinnati, Stewart had moved up the depth chart to RB3.
He finished the year with 21 carries for 98 yards and found the end zone once. Modest numbers, sure, but they came in limited opportunities and under less-than-ideal circumstances. Stewart showed enough to suggest he could be a contributor elsewhere - especially with three years of eligibility still on the table.
Coming out of high school, Stewart was a solid get for Kansas. A 5-foot-10 back from Texas, he was rated a three-star prospect in the 2024 class.
He ranked No. 47 nationally at his position and cracked the top 100 in a talent-rich state. Stewart chose KU over 10 other Power Four offers, so there’s no question that programs saw upside in his game - and likely still do.
His departure comes amid a shifting landscape in college football’s transfer process. In October, the NCAA Division I Administrative Council approved new rules that reshaped the portal calendar for FBS and FCS athletes.
The most significant change? The window now opens on January 2 and runs through January 16 - a move away from the early-December opening fans had grown used to.
Also gone is the spring transfer window. Under the new rules, all underclassmen and graduate transfers must enter the portal during that same two-week stretch in January.
No more exceptions for grad transfers to hop in later in the spring. It’s a tighter, more streamlined process now - and one that makes decisions like Stewart’s all the more time-sensitive.
For Kansas, Stewart’s exit adds to a growing list of offseason departures. For Stewart, it’s a fresh start and a chance to find a program where he can climb the depth chart and make a bigger impact. With three years left to play and a résumé that includes Power Four interest out of high school, he’ll be one to watch in this year’s portal cycle.