Lance Leipold isn’t building a flash in the pan. He’s building a program.
Honestly, if you looked at the KU football recruiting 2025 cycle back in the summer, you might have been a little underwhelmed. There weren't any five-stars from Florida or Texas picking the Jayhawks over Alabama on national TV. But that’s the thing—if you're just looking at the star counts on a recruiting site, you're basically missing the entire point of what is happening in Lawrence right now.
Kansas is no longer the "safe bet" for teams looking to poach talent. They’re the ones doing the poaching.
The Local Lockdown Strategy
For years, the best kids in Kansas treated KU like a backup plan. They’d look at Manhattan or head east to Mizzou. This cycle? That changed. Leipold and his staff decided to build a wall around the 913 and 316 area codes, and it worked better than it has in a decade.
We’re talking about kids like Bryson Hayes from Maize. He’s a blazer. He had offers from all over, but he chose to stay home. Then you’ve got Brandon Schmelzle out of Axtell. He’s one of those "football players" who just finds the ball. It’s not just about filling roster spots; it’s about taking the best talent away from the rivals.
📖 Related: Ken Griffey Jr White Sox Jersey: Why This Short-Lived Look Still Matters
When you land Tate Nagy (son of Chiefs OC Matt Nagy), you aren't just getting a versatile athlete. You're getting a kid who has been around elite football his entire life. He knows the game. He’s polished. That’s the kind of high-floor recruiting that keeps a program from falling back into the Big 12 cellar.
Why the Defense Looks Different
If you watched the Jayhawks over the last couple of years, you know the secondary was often the heart of the defense. But looking at the 2025 class, there’s a massive shift toward the trenches.
Basically, KU is tired of getting pushed around in November. They went out and secured guys like Malachi Curvey and Josiah Hammond. These aren't just big bodies; they are twitchy edge rushers who can actually collapse a pocket.
- Malachi Curvey: A 6-foot-3 beast from Iowa who chose KU early and never wavered.
- Adrian Holley: A defensive end from Indiana with the frame to add 20 pounds of "good weight" without losing his step.
- Garrett Martin: An Arizona product who brings that West Coast speed to the edge.
It’s a clear pivot. The coaching staff realized that to win the new-look Big 12, you have to be able to stop the run and harass the quarterback without blitzing six guys every snap.
The David McComb Situation and the QB Room
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. David McComb, the Edmond, Oklahoma quarterback who was the cornerstone of this class for over a year, eventually entered the transfer portal/decommitted late in the game (Dec 2025).
📖 Related: AJ Green Stats NFL: Why the Bengals Legend Still Matters
It happens. Recruiting is messy.
But look at how the staff handled it. They didn't panic. They already had Isaiah Marshall waiting in the wings from the previous class, and they’ve been aggressive in the portal to ensure there’s a bridge. Recruiting isn't just about who you sign on Wednesday; it’s about how you manage the roster when the "guaranteed" guys walk away.
The Skill Position Reload
While the QB spot saw some drama, the weapons surrounding it are legit. Jaden Nickens is a name you’re going to hear a lot. Coming out of Sierra Canyon in California, he brings a level of "alpha" to the wide receiver room that KU hasn't seen in a while.
Then you have the backfield. Justin Thurman and John Kelly provide a one-two punch of speed and power. Thurman is a track star type who can take it 80 yards if he finds a crease. Kelly is the guy you want on 3rd and 2 when you just need to move the sticks.
KU Football Recruiting 2025: The Portal Factor
You can't talk about modern recruiting without the portal. It’s impossible.
Leipold has become a master at "re-recruiting" guys who didn't go to KU the first time. Look at the additions that officially joined the fold as the 2025 season transitioned into 2026 preparations.
- Nik McMillan (Buffalo): A massive get. He’s a veteran wide receiver who put up huge numbers in the MAC and provides an immediate deep threat.
- Connor Stroh (Texas): At 6-foot-7 and over 340 pounds, he’s a literal mountain. You don't find high school kids with that frame very often.
- Tre'Von McAlpine (Tulane): A defensive tackle who knows the Big 12 from his time at Texas Tech. He’s the anchor they needed.
This is the "new" way of recruiting. You use high school kids for the foundation and portal veterans for the ceiling.
What Most People Miss
People love to talk about the "Blue Chip Ratio." They’ll say KU doesn't have enough 4-star recruits. Honestly? Who cares?
Lance Leipold won at Wisconsin-Whitewater and Buffalo by finding guys who were overlooked and developing them into pros. Look at Dominick Puni. Look at Austin Booker. Neither were 5-star recruits. They were guys with the right frames and the right mentalities who got into the KU strength program and became NFL draft picks.
The 2025 class is full of those guys. Players like Anderson Kopp on the offensive line might not have the flashy highlight reels, but he’s technically sound and nasty in the run game.
👉 See also: Gary Spani Current Team: What the Chiefs Legend Is Doing Now
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following this class, don't just look at the February signing day. The real work is happening now.
- Watch the Spring Enrollees: Guys like Malachi Curvey and Chris McCorkle who get on campus early have a massive advantage. If they're playing in the spring game, they're likely going to contribute in the fall.
- Monitor the Trench Depth: Don't get distracted by the wide receiver highlights. Keep an eye on the offensive line rotations. If the 2025 class (and the portal additions like Stroh) can't protect the QB, the flashy receivers won't matter.
- Follow the "In-State" Narrative: The 2026 class is already looking strong in Kansas. How the 2025 local signees perform will directly impact whether the next crop of Kansas stars stays in Lawrence or heads elsewhere.
The 2025 cycle proves that Kansas is no longer a "basketball school that plays football." They are a developmental powerhouse that is finally starting to win the recruiting battles that actually matter.
Next Steps for Jayhawk Fans:
Check the official roster updates heading into spring practice to see which 2025 signees have officially enrolled and what their updated weights are. Development starts the moment they hit the Booth.