Kansas is getting a little more help from the eligibility front, and this time the boost is on both sides of the ball.
On Monday, head coach Lance Peipold said the Jayhawks had added defensive lineman Clifton Thompson and running back Chase Belcher, according to Henry Greenstein for KUSports.com. Both players are practicing this week, though it sounds doubtful either one is ready to suit up against Middle Tennessee State.
Even if their roles are limited at first, the timing matters. Kansas has already taken hits to its depth on the defensive line and in the running back room, and bringing in two experienced bodies gives the roster some much-needed insulation as the season moves forward.
Thompson’s arrival is especially useful up front. Kansas lost Tre'von McAlpine before the season even began, and he was supposed to help stabilize the middle. Eamon Smalls has been one of the early bright spots for the Jayhawks on the defensive line, but the group could still use another veteran presence in the trenches.
If Thompson can catch up quickly with the defense, he looks like the kind of rotational piece who can help keep everyone fresher. Even a handful of snaps here and there would matter.
The backfield situation has become even more fragile. Kansas has struggled to get the run game going over the last two weeks, and turnovers and uneven play have put more on Isaiah Marshall and the passing attack.
Then came another blow against Arizona State, when Yasin Willis was lost for the season. That left Dylan Edwards as the main option.
The Jayhawks had hoped Edwards and Willis would form a productive one-two punch, but that plan is off the table now. Jalen Dupree was supposed to be next in line, yet redshirt sophomore Micah Johnson has actually logged the third-most carries on the team with 13 rushes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Most of that work came against Long Island, while Dupree has only nine carries for 35 yards.
Injuries to Willis, freshmen Kory Amachree and Justin Thurman have thinned the position further, which is where Belcher enters the picture. He doesn’t bring FBS experience, but he does bring production and versatility. At Kennesaw State last season, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and over his career at three stops he has shown he can contribute as both a runner and a receiver.
Andy Kotelnicki likes what Belcher can offer, and for now he’ll be in the mix with Dupree and Johnson while backing up Edwards. That matters because Edwards has dealt with injuries of his own, and Kansas can’t afford to run him into the ground.
There may not be enough time for either newcomer to fully absorb everything before this week’s game, and it remains unclear how physically ready they are. But if Kansas can get even a few snaps from Thompson or Belcher against Middle Tennessee State, that would be a welcome bonus.
In Other News...
Bill Self Just Opened The Door To More Kansas Roster Changes
Bill Self sounded optimistic when he talked about Kansas roster for the 2026-27 season, and for good reason. The Jayhawks appear to have a blend of returning pieces, transfer help and elite freshman talent, with Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney headlining the incoming class. Self also singled out the prospects of Paul Mbiya and Kohl Rosario as part of the mix, while transfers Keanu Dawes and Christian Reeves give Kansas some added size and depth up front.
Tre White is also expected back with the program, which adds another layer to a roster already taking shape in the background. For a Kansas team that is always balancing the present with what comes next, the intrigue now is how many more adjustments Self wants to make before the picture is truly set, and whether the final version ends up looking as settled as it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Is Counting On New Help As Injury Problems Keep Growing
Kansas football has turned to two late additions to help steady a roster that has been stretched thin by injuries. Defensive tackle Clifton Thompson and running back Chase Belcher were cleared for eligibility after an injunction in Indiana, giving the Jayhawks some much-needed reinforcement on both sides of the ball as they try to patch together depth heading into the next stretch of the season.
Thompson arrives with experience as a former second-team all-conference defensive tackle at the FCS level, while Belcher comes in as a transfer from Kennesaw State. Coaches and players around the program are optimistic the pair can settle in quickly, and Kansas will be counting on that transition to move smoothly as the injuries keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Tre White Just Changed How Kansas Fans See This Team
Tre Whites arrival has given Kansas a much-needed boost at a time when the roster has looked different than it did only a few months ago. After a wave of offseason departures, the Jayhawks have been reshaped by a new group of players, and the overall reaction around the program has already shown up in the preseason rankings. White fits the kind of addition that can steady a team undergoing that sort of turnover, bringing scoring, defense and a seasoned presence to a group that will need all three.
For Kansas fans, the bigger question now is not whether the talent is there, but how quickly it all comes together. White is expected to be one of the players helping bridge the gap between the programs recent exits and its next version, especially with a young roster leaning on newcomers for immediate production. The early signs suggest the Jayhawks are being viewed differently now, but the real test will come once this new mix starts playing for keeps. [Read more 🡒]