Can Kansas football improve on 5-7 season with new-look roster and coordinators?
Lance Leipold likes what he has seen so far.
The fifth-year Kansas Jayhawks football coach is making that known as he works closely with his new look-roster this spring.
“I’ve been extremely pleased with the attitude, the effort, the work ethic of this team, embracing what we’re setting as standards,” Leipold said. “Got a lot of work to do yet, got a lot to clean up and some things in critical times, but 12 practices in, I’m very pleased where we’re at.”
The Jayhawks have two spring practices remaining — and just a few starters left over from last year’s squad. Graduation ensures that much for KU.
That’s made for a been a busy offseason around the program, with Leipold and his staff of assistant coaches bringing in 22 transfers — 10 on offense, 10 on defense and two on special teams.
“I’ve really got to thank our staff and commend them for the job they’ve done,” Leipold said, “not only just what the guys have done on the field, but how they fit in the locker room.
“These guys have come in and understood that opportunity is here, but at the same time they have to earn it by working hard and doing things. And they’ve been able to do that.”
The newness around the team right now extends beyond the players. KU has new offensive and defensive coordinators.
Leipold promoted Jim Zebrowski from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator full-time when Jeff Grimes vacated the role for the same position with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Zebrowski is a familiar face. He’s close with starting quarterback Jalon Daniels, who continues to be limited this spring after undergoing what the team termed a “minor” offseason knee procedure.
Daniels is the only skill-position starter remaining on offense from last season’s roster. He ended the 2024 season with 2,174 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 410 yards and six TDs.
Zebrowksi has played a leading part in getting KU’s program back on track after years of losing. He was nominated in 2023 for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
That came after he helped lead the Jayhawks to their best season since 2007. Daniels played in just three games because of a back injury that year, but Jason Bean filled in seamlessly and KU finished 9-4.
Zebrowski continues to impress his boss.
“Jim Zebrowski has done a nice job,” Leipold said. “With the input that he has … I like what we are doing with continuity and identity, with what we want to be.“
On the other side of the ball, longtime defensive coordinator Brian Borland retired this offseason. In his place, Leipold promoted former cornerbacks coach D.K. McDonald. McDonald joined KU before the 2024 season following a stint as defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Multiple players have told The Star that the Jayhawks’ 2025 defense figures to be more “instinct-based” than it was last year, when KU finished 5-7.
Leipold is counting on it.
“D.K. McDonald has done a great job really establishing a standard of play and physicality of what we want to be,” he said. “(He is h)olding our guys to that standard each and every day of how we are going about it and attack the field.
“Again, the changes that we’ve made a little in schematics — I think the guys have picked it up well.”
