The Kansas Jayhawks didn’t exactly light it up in 2025. A 5-7 finish, after a promising 4-2 start, tells the story of a team that struggled to find its identity - especially with two new coordinators trying to settle in.
D.K. McDonald took over the defense, Jim Zebrowski the offense, and neither side of the ball could quite find its rhythm.
The result? A season that slipped away in the second half, and a roster that began to thin out once the transfer portal opened.
Among the departures, one name stood out more than the rest: Trey Lathan. The linebacker, who transferred in from West Virginia, had been a bright spot in an otherwise shaky defense.
When he announced he was entering the portal, it felt like a major blow for a unit that already ranked 95th in total defense, giving up over 400 yards per game. But in a surprising twist, Lathan took to social media and reversed course - he’s coming back to Lawrence.
And that’s a big deal.
Lathan led the team with 86 tackles in his first season as a Jayhawk, including 51 solo stops and 1.5 sacks. He was the kind of player who always seemed to be around the ball, even when the defense as a whole was getting gashed.
While Kansas gave up 28.5 points per game - a number that simply has to come down in 2026 - Lathan was one of the few defenders who consistently held his ground. ESPN’s Max Olson even labeled him a “transfer hit” midway through the season, and that assessment held true through the end of the year.
His decision to return doesn’t erase the challenges ahead for Kansas, but it does give McDonald a proven leader to build around. With the linebacker room already undergoing a shakeup - JaCorey Stewart heading to FIU, Logan Brantley to Boise State, and Joseph Sipp Jr. to FAU - Lathan’s presence becomes even more important. He’s not just a returning starter; he’s now the veteran voice in a room that’s suddenly been turned over.
For a program trying to stabilize after a turbulent season, this is the kind of win that doesn’t show up in the standings - but it matters. Lathan’s back, and Kansas just got a little tougher on defense.