On the same day Lance Leipold had his introductory press conference at the University of Kansas, one of the scholarship players on the roster the new head football coach inherited decided to leave the Jayhawks.
Valerian Agbaw Jr., who would’ve been a sophomore in the KU football secondary this coming season, announced Monday his plans to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.
A reserve defensive back with the Jayhawks, Agbaw shared his decision on Twitter. Agbaw thanked the KU fan base, as well as former head coach Les Miles and defensive backs coach Chevis Jackson for “seeing something in me.”
Agbaw also expressed his gratitude for the team’s previous interim head coach, Emmett Jones, as well as strength coach Ben Iannacchione and safeties coach Jordan Peterson.
“These last two years I have experienced at KU I will never forget,” Agbaw posted on his Twitter account, “and will cherish the moments I had with my teammates and always remember them.”
Agbaw was a member of KU’s 2019 recruiting class, the first one assembled by Miles. Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals as a high schooler out of Powder Springs, Georgia, Agbaw played sparingly as a reserve in 2019 but didn’t record any statistics, and then redshirted in 2020.
6 Out LLC???????? pic.twitter.com/eK9k30CiHN
— TheValerianAgbawJr (@Val__jr) May 3, 2021
Former KU linebacker Dru Prox, who left the program earlier this offseason and entered the transfer portal at the end of March, has found a new college football home.
A starting inside linebacker for the Jayhawks in 2020, Prox will transfer to Texas-San Antonio to complete his career.
This past fall, Prox opted out of the season after just four games. Though he missed one game, in the three that he played and started, Prox contributed 23 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, as well as one sack, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
At UTSA, Prox will reunite with another former KU starting linebacker, Denzel Feaster, who chose the Roadrunners earlier this offseason.
Very grateful for the opportunity given to me by @CoachTraylor & @CoachRodWright to join an incredible culture! Ready to get to work! #BirdsUp ???????? pic.twitter.com/claSx3T7U4
— DRU PROX (@druprox) May 2, 2021
A few weeks after being released from his letter of intent with KU football, Class of 2021 recruit Andrew Simpson announced he will play at Boise State.
Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, Simpson is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound outside linebacker from St. John Bosco High School, in Norwalk, Calif.
He signed with KU during the early December period. Simpson was granted a release after his lead recruiter, former KU outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe, left to join the staff at SMU and KU agreed to part ways with former head coach Miles.