The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh away - but for Kansas, it just gave back in a big way.
Redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan, the Jayhawks’ leading tackler from last season, is officially staying in Lawrence. After entering the portal in December, Lathan announced via social media on Thursday that he’s withdrawing his name and returning for his redshirt senior year. For a Kansas defense that’s been reshaping itself through the portal this offseason - especially at linebacker - this is a significant win.
Let’s not understate Lathan’s impact. In 2025, he led the team with 86 total tackles, including 51 solo stops - good for 10th in the Big 12.
He also added seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and an interception. That kind of production doesn’t just walk in off the street.
It’s earned, and it’s rare. The Florida native and former West Virginia transfer was recognized as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention - his first conference honor - and he looked every bit the part of a future pro.
His return brings some much-needed continuity to a defense that’s been in flux. Defensive coordinator D.K.
McDonald now retains four key contributors from last season: Lathan, defensive ends Leroy Harris III and Dakyus Brinkley, defensive tackle Blake Herold, and cornerback Jalen Todd. That’s 1,643 combined career snaps coming back to the Jayhawks in 2026 - experience you can’t fake, and leadership that’s tough to replace.
When Lathan hit the portal, Kansas didn’t sit idle. Head coach Lance Leipold and linebackers coach Chris Simpson went to work, pulling in five new linebackers through the portal: Jibreeel Al-Amin (Marshall), Daveon Crouch (Boston College), Jaron Willis (South Carolina), Quincy Davis (New Mexico State), and Landyn Watson (Kentucky). Collectively, that group brings 363 career tackles to the table, and all five were rated as three-star transfers - solid additions with upside.
But even with that influx of talent, Lathan’s return shifts the tone of the linebacker room. He’s the most experienced player in the group, the one who knows the system, the expectations, and the pace of Big 12 football.
He’s also the tone-setter on the field - the guy who can diagnose a play before the snap and get everyone lined up accordingly. That’s not something you can teach in a spring camp.
It’s also worth noting that Lathan is the first Kansas player this cycle to reverse course and withdraw from the portal. That’s a rarity in today’s college football landscape, where more than 450 linebackers alone have entered the portal this cycle.
Most players test the waters, and many don’t come back. But Lathan didn’t commit anywhere else, and clearly kept the lines of communication open with Leipold and the staff.
That matters.
At the end of the day, this is a veteran player making a calculated decision. Lathan’s betting on Kansas - and on himself.
He sees an opportunity to lead, to anchor the defense, and to put together the kind of final season that gets NFL scouts to take notice. And with the Jayhawks reloading around him, the stage is set for him to do just that.
If he stays healthy, Trey Lathan could be in for a big-time finale in Lawrence. And for a Kansas program looking to keep climbing in the Big 12, his return couldn’t have come at a better time.