The Kansas football program has a lot on its shoulders heading into year six under head coach Lance Leipold.
Not only are they set to take on an overseas trip to the historic Wembley Stadium towards the beginning of the season. But they will also be doing it with a transfer-laden team comprising 30 new transfers and 19 incoming freshmen.
And probably the heaviest of weights is that they will be doing it with a new quarterback. Different outlets list different starting names, but it's a battle between Isaiah Marshall and Cole Ballard. As of right now, Ballard is tipped to start under center.
Renowned college football analyst Phil Steele spoke on Jayhawk Slant’s “Inside Slant” podcast on the quarterback battle.
“But they've got two quarterbacks that coach Leipold feels good that they could play winning football with. Cole Ballard has plenty of experience, got his feet wet, has been a good backup the last couple years,”
Ballard is currently a redshirt junior who has notched 445 yards across 35 passes over the span of 15 appearances with 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, starting in 2023. Ballard also adds 209 yards across 40 rushes and zero touchdowns on the ground.
“And then Isaiah Marshall. A guy that's extremely athletic, sort of reminds you of Devon Dampier a little bit. And they add in Chase Jenkins, who might be the fastest quarterback. So I like the quarterback position”
The redshirt sophomore Marshall was a 3-star prospect out of Michigan who was ranked as the nation’s 31st-best quarterback in the class of 2024.
Marshall has gone for 28 yards through the air and 160 on the ground, with the 2025 campaign being his first where he logged minutes.
Last season, Dampier threw for 2,490 yards on a 63.5% completion rate to go along with 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. On the ground, Dampier added 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In his time at both New Mexico and Utah, Dampier has wildly impressed, going for 5,783 yards, 42 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Dampier has rushed for 2,329 yards and 33 touchdowns.
How close is this battle?
Coaches can often make a battle seem closer than it is, but the feeling around this one is that no one would be surprised if Marshall or Ballard start week one against LIU. As previously mentioned, more often than not, Ballard has been pointed to as the projected starter, but with Fall camp still to play, there can still be time for Marshall to make his case.
Jenkins has often been tabbed as the team’s probable third-choice. The former Rice transfer is joining KU with 1,029 yards under his belt to go along with 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. On the ground, Jenkins brings 615 yards and six touchdowns.
Whoever is given the starting gig ahead of next season is going to have to improve on an offense that finished last season ranked as the nation’s 77th-best, which went for 368.8 yards per game. Through the air, the Jayhawks finished No. 88 in the FBS with 211 passing yards per game.
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