Since the clock ran out in Kansas’ 31-21 loss to the No. 13 Utah Utes to end November and secure a second-straight bowl-less season, the momentum of the Jayhawks’ football program has largely stalled. The Jayhawks’ transfer exodus recently reached 23, with the promising linbeacker Joseph Sipp Jr. being the last to announce his exit from the 5-7 squad.
However, yesterday the Kansas football program began to find its footing again, with the welcoming of former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki in an associate head coaching role. With Kansas’ perception of Kotelnicki being so high, a sudden boost in the excitement over the program took place.
Things got even better when, earlier this evening, redshirt freshman QB Isaiah Marshall announced his return to the program.
Back to work! #RockChalk 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/TwgNQ8H0rD
— Isaiah Marshall QB (@ZekeMarshall07) January 3, 2026
Marshall was rated as the 31st-ranked quarterback in the class of 2024, as a three-star prospect according to 247Sports.
Marshall saw decent minutes last season, which included eight games where Marshall notched a 3-3 passing mark with 28 yards, all in Kansas’ 46-7 win over FCS side Wagner. It was on the ground where Marshall really excited KU fans, as Marshall rushed for 160 yards on just 15 rushes. 124 of those yards came against Power 4 competition as well.
Retaining Marshall was a big ask for a Jayhawks team that had also recently lost true freshman David McComb to the portal. McComb was Oklahoma’s 15th-best prospect in the class of 2025 and was a contender for the starting spot, assuming the Jayhawks did not reach into the portal to find a new quarterback.
Getting Marshall back is a big get for an offense looking to replace longtime signal caller Jalon Daniels, who finished his career as a Jayhawk after the 2025 season.
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