Kansas football has not had the success everyone had hoped for. The Jayhawks have been competitive but haven't been able to finish games, an ongoing issue that has plagued Kansas over the last three seasons.
One KU player, however, is having a tremendous season. Leroy Harris III is among the national leaders in several defensive categories, having come a long way in his development since he transferred from Chattanooga after his freshman season.
Now, two years later, Harris is emerging as an NFL prospect as an edge rusher, impressing NFL Draft Analyst Daniel Parlegreco.
Leroy Harris III is one of the more intriguing EDGE prospects I've watched recently.
— Daniel Parlegreco (@DTPDraftScout) November 12, 2026
The size, athleticism and ability to dominate against the run really stand out. He's already a terrific edge setter, and I think there's even more pass-rush potential to unlock.
Big fan!
It seems unlikely that Kansas will be able to retain Harris. He's either going to go to the NFL, or the transfer portal could be calling from a program that can compete for a national title. The Draft Hub thinks he's talented enough to go in the first two rounds of the 2027 NFL Draft, and if Harris is taken that high, I would be the highest draft pick for any Kansas football player since Aqib Talib went 20th overall in 2008.
Leroy Harris III is a Top 50 player for me in this Draft Class.
— The Draft Hub (@TheNFLDraftHub) November 10, 2026
So impactful, and doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as he should.
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Where does Kansas' Leroy Harris III rank nationally and in the Big 12?
Here is where Harris ranks in several categories in the Big 12:
- Blocked kicks: 2, 1st
- Quarterback pressures: 46, 1st
- Forced fumbles: 4, 1st
- Tackles-for-loss: 14, 3rd
- Sacks: 6.5, 3rd
He ranks high in these same categories nationally as well.
- Blocked kicks: 2, 1st
- Quarterback pressures: 46, 3rd
- Forced fumbles: 4, 3rd
- Tackles-for-loss: 14, 7th
- Sacks: 6.5, 28th
Those numbers are all good enough that he should be getting more attention, but because of Kansas' struggles, Harris isn't getting the national exposure he deserves.
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Harris is part of a three-headed monster on the Jayhawks' defense. Harris is joined by defensive lineman David Santiago, who has nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries, and linebacker Trey Lathan, who has a team-leading 62 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Lathan's eligibility will run out at the end of this season, but Santiago and Harris both have two more years left if they choose to stay in college. It seems more and more likely that Harris has played himself into a nice position for the draft, but Santiago will probably choose to stick around for another season.
It seems unlikely now that Harris will be at Kansas next year, and he may have played himself into a scenario where he'd make more in the NFL than in college. Even if he decides to stay in school, what are the chances he stays at Kansas? Santiago probably won't go to the NFL next year, but he's been productive enough that he could attract attention from schools with a better shot at competing for a title.
Regardless, Harris has been a beast with his 6-foot-five frame, coming in at 270 lbs., showing his power and speed on every snap. He gets tackles back on their heels quickly, and if the block does get dragged out, he can escape and disrupt.
He also brings some intangibles to the field. Matt Tait of Wave the Wheat posted on social media about how great a leader Harris is.
#KUfball DC D.K. McDonald said he's been thrilled with so many things about Leroy Harris III this season but one of the biggest is the leadership part... He said Harris' voice is the one he always tends to hear, in practice, on game day, etc., when things get intense.
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 6, 2026
It would be tremendous news if Kansas could somehow retain Harris, but it seems unlikely. The young man has earned whatever he has coming because of his work ethic, talent, and leadership. Fans should enjoy watching him these last three games. Luckily, it seems as if fans might get to watch him on Sundays in the near future.
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