Kansas lands two key players as transfer portal window nears close

The preparation for the 2023 Kansas football season has already begun and the Kansas coaching staff is making a strong finish in recruiting the next crop of Jayhawks.

Head coach Lance Leipold received two commitments this weekend from players who should have a chance to make an immediate impact this upcoming season.

Cornerback Damarius McGhee was the first to pledge his commitment to the Jayhawks.

The former LSU Tiger was a four-star, top-100 prospect coming out of high school in the 2021 class, according to 247sports.com. He had offers from Alabama, Georgia, USC, and others.

He appeared in 13 games during his time at LSU (with one start) and racked up 5 total tackles. He took a redshirt in 2022 and played in just one game this past year for the Tigers.

McGhee has three years of eligibility remaining, and if he can play up to the ability he showed coming out of high school, then that could be a big boost for this Kansas defense.

The second commitment of the weekend came from defensive end Patrick Joyner Jr.

Joyner was a three-star prospect in the 2018 class who initially committed to Miami (FL) over offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, and others. He would later transfer to Utah State ahead of the 2021 season.

During his two seasons at Utah State, Joyner racked up 60 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 27 game appearances for the Aggies.

He has just one year of eligibility remaining, but his presence will be much needed following the announcement that defensive end Lonnie Phelps Jr. is entering the NFL Draft.

247Sports rates the 2023 Kansas transfer recruiting class as the No. 42-ranked class in the country. The Jayhawks now have 10 transfer commitments heading into next season.

Although the transfer portal window closes Jan. 18, it’s possible that KU could add (and lose) more players following spring football when the portal opens May 1 to May 15.

Expect the KU coaching staff to stay vigilant throughout the spring when it comes to both high school and transfer recruiting as they look to bolster the 2023 roster.