Kansas football losing 6 players to transfer. But they’re getting a former Jayhawk back
Sometimes, familiarity is a good thing.
Former Kansas Jayhawks defensive lineman Gage Keys is returning to KU for his final season after playing one season with the Auburn Tigers.
“My fault y’all … I was TRIPPIN !“ Keys wrote on X/Twitter.
Keys didn’t play much at Auburn, playing a total of just 18 snaps in two games.
He was a definite contributor for KU in 2023. Keys played in all 12 KU games and started three that season. He finished with 21 tackles, including 13 solo, as a rotational D-lineman for KU. Keys played a total of 301 snaps.
Keys is the third player KU has picked up from the portal. The other two are former South Carolina linebacker Bangally Kamara and Iowa running back Leshon Williams.
Keys coming back certainly isn’t the only thing that’s happened in Lawrence over the last week.
KU football has a new offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. Plus, the Jayhawks’ star quarterback announced his return on Friday.
On top of that, several KU players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Here’s a closer look at the Jayhawks who have entered the portal or announced their intention to transfer...
KU transfer portal departures
Freshman defensive end Deshawn Warner: Perhaps the most significant departure for the Jayhawks so far. Warner is a former four-star recruit who has three years of eligibility remaining. He was KU’s highest-rated signing since recruiting tracking began in 2010.
When they landed him, the Jayhawks beat out Ohio State, Michigan and others. He ended the season with two tackles and five pressures over 202 defensive snaps. To add fuel to the fire, Warner recently picked up an offer from KU rival Missouri.
Redshirt-sophomore cornerback Brian Dilworth: Dilworth was the first KU player to enter the transfer portal. He has two years of eligibility remaining. The seldom-used Dilworth played 18 defensive snaps in the 2024 season. He ends his KU career with two tackles in six games played.
Redshirt-junior running back Sevion Morrison: Morrison has one year of eligibility remaining. In his three seasons in Lawrence, Morrison was primarily a third- or fourth-string back behind Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw. He ran for 164 yards on 27 carries and had two touchdowns in the 2024 season.
Redshirt-sophomore safety Kaleb Purdy: He has two years of eligibility remaining. He primarily played special teams for Kansas, playing 78 snaps in 2024. He was mainly the backup to O.J. Burroughs and Taylor Davis during the latter half of the season.
Redshirt-freshman wide receiver Jarred Sample: Sample has three years of eligibility remaining. The former three-star recruit didn’t play a single snap in 2023 or 2024.
Redshirt-freshman offensive lineman Harrison Utley: Utley has four years of eligibility remaining. The Norman, Oklahoma, native picked up an offer from the Sooners late in last year’s recruiting cycle but stayed committed to Kansas. He is a former three-star recruit.
