A handful of Kansas football players entered the transfer portal during the recent window after spring practices were completed, but the Jayhawks escaped generally unscathed. Rumors surrounding star CB Cobee Bryant and others were put to rest, and no significant contributors departed from the program.
While HC Lance Leipold kept most of his talent in Lawrence, the coaching staff is working on bolstering the current roster via the portal. One player that the Jayhawks have become especially interested in is former Michigan State DE Bai Jobe. On3.com's Steve Wiltfong reported that he had locked in an official visit to KU's campus.
Former Michigan State DE Bai Jobe has locked in visits to Kansas, Mississippi State and UTSA. More transfer portal intel from @PeteNakos_ and I here: https://t.co/Wlv7hl85mV pic.twitter.com/PdutZNNIBc
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 30, 2024
Kansas football stands a chance to secure commitment from DE prospect
After spending one season in East Lansing, Jobe decided to go portaling once the spring window opened. It was a massive loss for the Spartans, as he was the 55th-ranked player and 7th-ranked EDGE in the 2023 recruiting class. Now, Kansas looks to reel the former highly touted prospect in to fill the void that Austin Booker left when he entered the NFL Draft.
The redshirt freshman has all four years of eligibility remaining and will look to start fresh at a new school. Jobe has tremendous size, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 252 pounds. Coming out of Community Christian School in Norman, Oklahoma, he was viewed as one of the highest-upside edge rushers in his graduating year.
A native of Senegal, Jobe only began playing football in 2018 when he arrived in the U.S. However, his physical tools pop off the charts and his pass-rushing moves are explosive off the edge. While Jobe will not be a day-one contributor if he commits to Kansas football, he could be a star in the making with the right development.
Other schools involved in his recruitment are Mississippi State and UTSA. MSU appears to be the top competition in the race for Jobe, as they are receiving the first visit from him this weekend. If Kansas is pursuing him heavily, they must ensure that he does not commit on his first visit. He is expected to travel to Lawrence afterward.
Given what Leipold's staff has done with DE transfers in the past — Lonnie Phelps and Booker were terrific additions to the front four — it's easy to see why Jayhawk fans should be excited for Jobe. His decision should come within the next few weeks after he finishes taking visits.