With the Kansas 2025 season officially at its end, Kansas fans would not have been blamed if they were licking their wounds over the exits of players like running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., and of course, quarterback Jalon Daniels. While the Jayhawks’ success over the last five years has largely come down to those key players, it is always a promising sight when you know guys like sophomore Leroy Harris III are there to carry the torch.
Harris saw action in 12 games this season, where he totaled 31 tackles and 4.5 sacks, with five tackles twice this season, the first in Kansas’ 42-31 loss to Missouri, the second in the Jayhawks’ 38-21 win over Oklahoma State.
After Kansas’ 31-21 loss to the No. 13 Utah Utes, Harris spoke on the inspiration from the defensive line last season
“I'll say Finkley, for sure, Justice. Just him being a whole leader of the defense, let alone the whole team, just watching how he interacts with the people in the locker room, how he brings it every day. His 1-0 mentality every day that they really preach for us the standard that we have, and that just really just watching that continues to make me attack every day.”
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Finkley, a senior, is a first-year transfer from Texas and combined for 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks on the season. Finkley’s biggest game of his season came in Kansas’ 27-20 win over UCF. Finkley notched five total tackles, including a tackle for loss.
This season, the Jayhawks ranked 108th in rushing defense with 184.1 yards allowed on the ground. Overall, the Jayhawks’ total defense ranked 92nd with 409.5 yards allowed per game, one of the many signs of needed improvement for the Jayhawks heading into next season.
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