The Kansas football offseason is in full swing after the Jayhawks’ season ended with a loss to Baylor. While several players have transferred away from the program, others have committed to KU via the portal.
Earlier this week, Lance Leipold and his staff made a massive acquisition. Gage Keys, a familiar face to Jayhawk fans, transferred to Kansas for the second time in his college career. The standout defensive tackle will spend his final year of eligibility back in Lawrence.
My fault y’all … I was TRIPPIN ! #RunItBack #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/Fxx7kjzNPy
— Gage Keys (@5100keys) December 10, 2024
Gage Keys transfers to the Kansas football program for a second time
Keys initially committed to Kansas after his freshman year at Minnesota, where he followed eventual NFL Draft selection Austin Booker. Although Booker had a greater impact in his lone season at KU, they were both important pieces on the defensive line. Keys later departed to Auburn and reportedly signed a lucrative NIL deal.
Unfortunately for him, things didn’t work out at AU. He only saw the field for 18 snaps in two games at his third school in as many years. Keys decided the grass wasn’t greener on the other side and decided to head back to Kansas for his redshirt senior season.
In 2023, Keys played 12 games for the Jayhawks, totaling 13 solo tackles and 21 total tackles. The 6-foot-5 run stuffer made a huge difference in the trenches.
Keys should see an even more significant role in his second stint at KU with interior linemen Javier Derritt, Caleb Taylor, and Dylan Wudke graduating. For a defense that surrendered 153.5 rushing yards per game in 2024, bringing him back is huge for the Jayhawks.