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Grading Kansas' special teams puts a lot of pressure on one player

The Kansas Jayhawks have a revitalized special teams core that should pan out positively.
ByConnor Mardian|
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Jul 8, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Kansas head coach Lance Leipold speaks to reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Jul 8, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Kansas head coach Lance Leipold speaks to reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Not to activate coach speak, but you can never underestimate the power of good special teams. Even if it comes from having everyone do their job at a consistent rate. It will seldom require a Lou Groza winner or Ray Guy nominee for a team to excel in the third phase. 

Kansas’ special teams corps is likely not going to wow you, but this is a core that, if it does the right things right, will help secure the Kansas Jayhawks’ third bowl game in six years under head coach Lance Leipold. 

Depth chart help is provided here by ourlads.

KU had to replace its special teams depth

Dane Efird is the only returning kicker the Jayhawks have from last season, but even Efird only played in one game and that was a blowout win over FCS side Wagner. 

Through the portal, the Jayhawks added Martin Connington from Michigan State. Connington was rated as a 3-star transfer. With the Spartans, Connington went 12-16 from field goals. Here are his stats from certain distances. 

6-of-7 from 20-29 yards, 5-of-5 from 30-39 yards, 0-of-1 from 40-49 yards and 1-of-3 from 50+ yards. 

Connington added 37 kickoffs and went 27-28 on point-after attempts.

With the redshirt sophomore presumably taking the kicking mantle, this means Connington will probably be the team’s place kicker and kickoff specialist. 

At punter, the Jayhawks will likely be resorting to freshman Matthew Gill. Gill comes from the Australian Kicking Academy. Gill will be taking over from Finn Lappin. If not Gill, then freshman Matt Shipley will be responsible for punts.

Last season, the Jayhawks relied on Australian Finn Lappin. Lappin compiled 39 punts for 1,767 yards and roughly 4 punts a game in the Jayhawks’ 5-7 campaign. 

During the 2025 season, KU was led by elite returner Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Henderson’s elite vision and speed made him a threat on every single kickoff. 

Henderson ended his sole season with the program totaling 18 kickoff returns for 455 yards and a 25.28-yard average for 1 touchdown, with a long of 94 yards. 

Set to replace Henderson on kickoffs is sophomore Tate Nagy. Nagy nabbed three kickoffs last season, where he went for an average of 19 yards per return. 

Nagy is also set to keep handling punts as he did last season. In 2025, Nagy took 17 returns for 116 yards with a long of 30. There were several occasions last fall where Nagy looked as if he was one move away from being able to break a big run, so do not be surprised to see him become one of the Big 12’s most consistent returners. 

Backing up Nagy on punts is set to be Keaton Kubecka, who returned three punts for 18 yards last season. On kickoffs, it is projected that Cam Pickett will be the other returner. Pickett took just one kickoff last season for 38 yards. 

Overall grade: A-

Connington will hopefully provide solid numbers as he did in his one season in the Big 10. Gill may not be a phenomenal punter in year one, but Nagy has the potential to flip games on a dime, so he makes up for any faults Gill may bring. 

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