Elijah Cannon didn’t enter the transfer portal looking for a stopover. After two seasons at Mississippi State, he wanted a place where he could actually grow, play more, and be part of something being built the right way.
That search led him to Lawrence, and it started with a familiar voice.
Brandon Shelby reached out, and Cannon already knew the name well. Shelby had coached Cannon’s brothers, Tiawan Mullen - a former All-Big 10 defensive back - and Trevell Mullen during his more than a decade as Indiana’s cornerbacks coach. That connection helped open the door, but the visit to Kansas did the rest.
Once Cannon got to Lawrence, the fit clicked quickly. The facilities stood out.
So did the conversations with the staff. What really caught his attention, though, was the honesty from the coaches about where the program is and where it wants to go.
He appreciated that KU didn’t try to sugarcoat its recent results, and he understood the message behind it: the Jayhawks want to move past two straight 5-7 seasons and get back to being a bowl-eligible team with six or more wins.
"They came from a 5-7 team, and all the coaches didn't want that to happen again," Cannon said. "Everything was just so [intentional] that they made me really, really understand.
They were really trying to rebuild and do something great with this team. [ Lance Leipold ], when I met with him, he really enjoys like how I play, and that really came with that decision."
In Other News...
Jalen Dupree Could Decide How Dangerous Kansas Backfield Really Is
Jalen Duprees path back has been one of the quieter but more meaningful developments of Kansas fall camp, especially for a backfield that already has some intriguing pieces. The Colorado State transfer missed spring practice while recovering from an injury, but a recent scrimmage offered a better look at the version of Dupree the Jayhawks were hoping to get when he arrived: a powerful runner who can also handle the kind of versatile workload this offense likes to create.
What makes Dupree worth watching is not just whether he is healthy, but how quickly he can settle into a role that helps the whole group function. Associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki has pointed to his progress, and Dupree has talked about his own climb back, with the expectation that he can be especially useful on later downs and in pass protection. If he continues trending the right way, Kansas could have a back who makes the rotation deeper and the entire rushing attack harder to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Jalon Daniels Is Giving Kansas Fans A Real NFL Reason To Watch
Jalon Daniels has given Kansas fans something more than a box score to track this preseason, because the former Jayhawks quarterback is suddenly in the middle of a real NFL quarterback conversation. In Tampa Bays second preseason game, he helped lead the Buccaneers from behind against the Chiefs, handling the second half and showing enough poise to keep building momentum after a strong start to his pro summer.
Daniels finished 9 of 14 for 71 yards and a touchdown through the air, added 19 rushing yards on seven carries, and has now stacked two solid preseason outings together. That has put him in the mix to be Baker Mayfields primary backup, with one more chance against the Jacksonville Jaguars to make his case even harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Missouris Opener Just Got More Complicated For A Kansas Rival Watch
Missouris season opener suddenly comes with a different look in the backfield, and for Kansas followers keeping tabs on a familiar rival, it is a notable early wrinkle. Ahmad Hardy will not be available as the Tigers open the year while he continues to recover from a gunshot wound he suffered in May, leaving Missouri to adjust its plan before the first snap.
Eli Drinkwitz said Hardy has not yet finished the required two weeks of full-speed practice before he can return to game action, which pushes the timeline back at least a little longer. In the meantime, senior Jamal Roberts is set to handle the primary running back duties, giving Missouri a veteran option while one of its key pieces works his way back into shape. [Read more 🡒]