Updated 4:19 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025:
The Kansas football team made things official on Wednesday by signing 17 committed players for the 2026 class, including six Kansans, on the first day of the early signing period.
In-state prospects linebacker Josh Galbreath (Lawrence), defensive end Hunter Higgins (Maize South), quarterback Jaylen Mason, wide receivers Tyren Parker (Shawnee Heights) and Nate Sims (Ottawa) and offensive lineman Kaden Snyder (Salina Central) all put pen to paper promptly, sealing the deal on a much-discussed local class for the Jayhawks as they continue to attempt to grow their footprint within the state.
KU coach Lance Leipold said on Wednesday that his staff “stayed the course” with local recruiting over the years, even though it can be difficult to do so early in the process of rebuilding a program.
“We wanted to make sure the area coaches knew that we were serious,” Leipold said. “And I think with the two bowl games (2022 and 2023), the commitment to facilities, other things, the job that our staff has done, our recruiting staff, personnel staff … when the people can come back here multiple times, we get a lot of compliments about the thoroughness, the genuineness, the transparency in which we operate.
“And though we have a lot to continue to improve on, I think those that are really looking for those things along with development and opportunity, they’ve found that this is a good place to be and they can reach their goals right here at the University of Kansas.”
The Kansans were joined by a pair of Indiana prospects who kicked off the day in offensive lineman Malachi Mills and cornerback Robert Reddick, who were followed in short order by running back Kory Amachree (Haslett, Michigan), wide receiver Corbin Glasco (Denton, Texas), offensive lineman Kaden Moody (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), defensive end Draeden Punt (Orange City, Iowa) and linebacker Joseph Credit (Pearland, Texas).
Shortly before 8 a.m. came the announcements of KU’s two Kansas City-area tight ends — in the first recruiting class as tight ends coach for Matt Lubick — Jack Utz (Platte County) and Kevin Sullivan (Rockhurst).
“Any time there’s a change of position coach in the recruiting process, there’s that pause of ‘Who’s going to coach me? What’s it going to be like? What’s going to change?'” Leipold said. “But Matt hit the ground running with that again and built relationships, had a chance to visit with those guys. Again, the benefit, of course, with many of the local guys is that you can get them here more frequently, they can observe more practices, they can sit in meetings, they can get a better understanding of fit. Matt was able to do that.”
Defensive tackle Nakwaine Carter, of Oklahoma City, followed soon after the tight ends, as did KU’s only West Coast pledge, cornerback Lennie “Trey” Brown (from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California), the 17th and final signee.
The Jayhawks did find themselves on the receiving end of a signing-day flip.
Running back KD Jones was an unusual case. The well-regarded three-star prospect from Jenks, Oklahoma, initially picked Oklahoma State over a group of finalists that included KU in March before decommitting after OSU fired head coach Mike Gundy. He then committed to the Jayhawks on Oct. 9 and had remained locked in through signing day.
However, rumors and reports proliferated in recent days about a potential flip back to OSU and its new coach Chad Morris, and late Wednesday afternoon that became official when Jones signed with the Cowboys instead of the Jayhawks. He becomes the latest of several flips to go against the Jayhawks after defensive tackle Lucas Smalls-Allen (Wake Forest) and in-state defensive back JJ Dunnigan (Miami).
KU’s 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 54 on On3 and No. 56 on 247Sports.
The Jayhawks also have one transfer committed to this point, defensive tackle Jibriel Conde, who played the 2025 season at Grand Valley State and flipped from Wisconsin to the Jayhawks. The main Division I portal window opens in early January for what will certainly be a frenzied two-week period: “It’s going to take a village, that’s for sure,” Leipold said.
The 2026 signees
Kory Amachree, running back, 6-foot, 205 pounds, Haslett, Haslett, Michigan
Trey Brown, cornerback, 6-foot, 180 pounds, Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, California
Nakwaine Carter, defensive tackle, 6-foot-1, 270 pounds, Southmoore, Oklahoma City
Joseph Credit, linebacker, 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Pearland, Pearland, Texas
Josh Galbreath, linebacker, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Lawrence, Lawrence
Corbin Glasco, wide receiver, 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, John H. Guyer, Denton, Texas
Hunter Higgins, defensive end, 6-foot-5, 254 pounds, Maize South, Wichita
Jaylen Mason, quarterback, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Northwest, Wichita
Malachi Mills, offensive lineman, 6-foot-5, 301 pounds, Westfield, Carmel, Indiana
Kaden Moody, offensive lineman, 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Broken Arrow, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Tyren Parker, wide receiver, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Shawnee Heights, Topeka
Draeden Punt, defensive end, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, MOC-Floyd Valley, Orange City, Iowa
Robert Reddick, cornerback, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Ben Davis, Indianapolis
Nate Sims, wide receiver, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Ottawa, Ottawa
Kaden Snyder, offensive lineman, 6-foot-6, 290 pounds, Salina Central, Salina
Kevin Sullivan, tight end, 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Rockhurst, Kansas City, Missouri
Jack Utz, tight end, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Platte County, Kansas City, Missouri
