Next season, the Kansas Jayhawk defense needs to improve. 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 that this was an easily fractured defense. The 2025 campaign was the first with D.K. McDonald, and while there were moments of strong defense, it was often followed by an offense drive devoid of confidence, and the ball was flipped right back, forcing Kansas on defense.
One of the bright spots for the Jayhawks was defensive end Leroy Harris III. Following Kansas’ 31-21 win over the No. 13 Utah Utes, the Jayhawks' sophomore end spoke about his biggest priorities over the offseason.
“I want to be a big focus for the defense, you know, a key part, but I would say just growing overall in my game, definitely need to work on just finishing those rushes, getting to the quarterback more, and then setting the line of scrimmage.”
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.
Harris spent last season at Chattanooga. Harris played in all 12 games as a true freshman, compiling 11 tackles, along with .5 tackles-for-loss, 3 fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. Harris was also named a freshman All-America by Phil Steele.
Harris was a three-star prospect out of Tennessee and was rated as the nation’s 1,347th best prospect from the portal. The class of 2024 prospect only had three high school offers, including the Mocs, Eastern Kentucky, and Memphis.
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