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KU’s Big Recruiting Question After K-State

Let’s start here: You can criticize Lance Leipold without calling for his job. Those are two completely different things.

It’s a nuance that gets lost when talking about a coach who raised KU’s floor so high that we’re now debating its ceiling. That progress is worth acknowledging before asking a fair, if uncomfortable, question about the program’s foundation moving forward:

Where are the high school players Lance Leipold’s staff was supposed to develop?

It’s a missing piece for KU football right now. And it’s not what I expected when Leipold first arrived in Lawrence back in 2021:

“We are going to build this program through developing players, discipline, and determination.”

Four years later, KU’s competing weekly. Leipold’s delivered that part. The development part… remains an open question.

Offense: Almost nothing homegrown

Of the 18 offensive players with 100+ snaps this season, only three were recruited to KU by Leipold out of high school:

• OL Calvin Clements (445 snaps) — 42.1 PFF, (57th of 57 offensive players)

• TE Carson Bruhn (231) — 61.6, average (32nd of 57)

• WR Keaton Kubecka (207) — 56.8, below average (48th of 57)

That's it. Three players. After four recruiting classes, KU doesn’t have a homegrown starter with an above average grade.

*KU’s backup QBs in Zeke Marshall, Cole Ballard, and David McComb are a promising group who haven’t gotten a shot yet.

To be fair, this is the first season where Leipold’s early classes should start to emerge. The last few rosters have been dominated by experienced players, which benefited KU.

The portal has become the priority, sure.

Still, KU has spent a lot of time, money, and energy recruiting with little meaningful contributors helping this year.

Defense: Some bright(er) spots , but not enough

Of the 21 defenders with 100+ snaps, nine came from Leipold’s high school classes (four of the top 15). These are the top four by grade:

• Jalen Todd (455 snaps): 71.2 PFF — 8th of 36 defensive players

• Dak Brinkley (100 snaps: 70.8 — 9th of 26

• Dean Miller (243 snaps): 70.1 — 11th of 36

• Blake Herold (310 snaps): 67.5 — 20th of 36

There’s also promising young in Austin Alexander, Jon Jon Kamara, and Jalen Dye.

Even with those bright spots, most of KU’s younger contributors play in the secondary, which has been torched repeatedly this year.

KU has some talent. What it doesn’t have is enough of it.

And that lack of depth is showing up right now.

Bottom Line

Leipold elevated Kansas football’s floor. And KU’s roster is consistently stronger than it’s been in more 15 years.

So now we get to talk about the ceiling.

KU’s recruiting philosophy got them to this point. The next step, the one that decides if KU can truly content for a conference title, may need to look different.

Unless KU’s financial resources beyond the stadium grow considerably, long-term success will depend on building and maintaining the roster through multiple talent pools.

And right now, the high school pool looks shallow.

Overreaction or fair concern? Let me know below.

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KU plays Fort Hays State tonight at 7pm CT in Allen Fieldhouse on ESPN+

🏀 Watch Bill Self’s press conference reflecting on the Louisville win and what KU needs to do going forward.

🏈 KU’s top commit for 2026 JJ Dunnigan decomitted on Monday. See his statement here.

🏀 Here’s the full box score from KU-Louisville

🏀 Check out Darryn Peterson’s highlights vs. Louisville for a pick-me-up.

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