Kansas has made another roster move that says plenty about where things stand along its defensive front.
After the 24-17 loss to Arizona State in the Union Jack Classic, head coach Lance Leipold added two players to the roster: running back Chase Belcher and defensive tackle Clifton Thompson. Belcher’s addition has its own reporting, but Thompson arrives with the kind of size and experience Kansas has been forced to keep hunting for as injuries keep stacking up.
“Both young men got in this weekend, going through the activation periods that are gonna be needed,” opened Leipold to the media during his weekly presser.
“…When the opportunity by rule and roster slots presented itself, we decided to make this move…As I talked to them, there's no guarantees in this. We expect you to do what everyone else does, but, obviously, we hope that they can contribute in some way, as they as they progress here in upcoming weeks.”
That kind of addition has become necessary for Kansas, which has been dealing with injury trouble since the offseason. One of the biggest early blows came before Week 1, when Tulane defensive tackle transfer Tre’Von McAlpine was ruled out for the entire season after an offseason injury.
Even with McAlpine sidelined, the Jayhawks have found ways to piece together the line. Blake Herold, Kevin Oatis, Eamon Smalls and Marcus Calvin have all rotated through different spots, helping Kansas manage the position as best it can.
That’s not an easy job on the defensive line, where the bodies take a beating every week. Constant contact in practice and on game day leaves little margin for error, and even a small mishap can turn into a lineup shuffle.
Thompson gives Kansas another veteran option in that mix. He spent three seasons at Central Connecticut State University and posted seasons of 19, 30 and 27 tackles, along with 6 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 sack. The redshirt senior is listed by KU at 6-foot-2 and 350 pounds.
The front has been one of the steadier parts of Kansas’ defense through three games, even if the unit as a whole has had its ups and downs. The rotating tackle group has helped keep pressure coming as games wear on.
On the edges, David Santiago and Leroy Harris III have been key pieces. Santiago, a transfer from Michigan State, has settled in quickly, while Harris has continued to look like one of the nation’s best edge rushers.
So while Thompson may not step in and grab a starting job right away, Kansas is clearly hoping he can help stabilize a group that needs it. For a 1-2 team trying to build any kind of momentum, every healthy body up front matters.
In Other News...
Kansas Defensive Front Has Become An Early Surprise For One Reason
Kansas went into the season bracing for a dent on its defensive front when Tulane transfer TreVon McAlpine was ruled out, but the early returns have been encouraging anyway. Through the first three games, the Jayhawks have gotten noticeably better play up front, with the defense looking more disruptive and more steady than it did a year ago.
A big part of that change has come from the staff additions of Joe Dineen and Jim Panagos, whose impact is already showing in the way Kansas is attacking the line of scrimmage. The front has produced meaningful pressure and created more problems for opposing offenses, and even with McAlpine sidelined, the group has found enough answers to turn a preseason concern into one of the teams early bright spots. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Are Starting To See A New Go-To Target Emerge
Kansas has spent the early part of the 2025 season sorting out a receiver room that looks very different from a year ago, and the transfer additions are already shaping the offense. With injuries thinning out other options, Nik McMillan and Nahzae Cox have stepped into heavier roles, giving Isaiah Marshall a pair of dependable targets as the Jayhawks work through the first month under returning offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
The passing game still has room to grow, especially with Kansas sitting near the middle of the pack nationally through three games, but the volume has ticked up from previous seasons and the new-look receiving corps is starting to settle in. McMillan has been the steady presence, while Cox has provided the more explosive threat, and that combination is beginning to give Kansas fans a clearer sense of where the ball is headed when the Jayhawks drop back. [Read more 🡒]
Jalon Daniels Suddenly Has A Huge NFL Chance With The Bucs
Jalon Daniels is suddenly getting the kind of opening most undrafted quarterbacks can only hope for when they sign their first NFL contract. After impressing in the preseason, the former Kansas star is now in line to run Tampa Bays offense against Green Bay as the Buccaneers navigate a shakeup at quarterback and look for someone ready to keep the ship steady.
The opportunity comes with real stakes, because the job is open at a time when the margin for error is thin and the spotlight will be bright. Tampa Bay will be watching Daniels closely when the game kicks off Oct. 4 on FOX, and what happens next could say plenty about whether his strong summer can carry over into a much bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]