Kansas football: Jayhawks lose one player and gain another via transfer portal

Kansas football lost one of its wide receivers to the transfer portal but also picked up some much-needed depth at the tight end position.

Lance Leipold has done a terrific job at retaining talent as the Kansas football head coach. He has steered away top programs from premier players like Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal since he arrived in Lawrence. Today, he picked up his first commitment via the transfer portal while also losing a receiver.

DeShawn Hanika transfers to Kansas football, Tanaka Scott transfers out

After losing Will Huggins to the portal last week, Kansas added former Iowa State Cyclone DeShawn Hanika. He is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound tight end who missed the 2023 season because he was involved in the ISU gambling scandal this summer. Adding a tight end was considered a priority with Mason Fairchild running out of eligibility after the bowl game.

Hanika caught 17 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns in 2022. He should immediately jump to the top of the Jayhawks’ tight end room and could split snaps with Trevor Kardell. Jared Casey will be the primary blocking tight end, with youngsters Jaden Hamm and Carson Bruhn gaining experience behind them.

Meanwhile, a multi-year wide receiver departed from the program today as well. The lengthy Tanaka Scott has hit the portal after catching just three passes for 31 yards this season. In 2022, he had a slightly larger role with eight catches for 109 yards.

The Jayhawks could have seen the loss of Scott coming from a mile away. He is a very talented and tall wideout, but he was buried at the bottom of the depth chart with players like Lawrence Arnold and Quentin Skinner ahead of him. His departure does not hurt KU much, if at all. Altogether, it was a successful day for Kansas football in the portal.