KU football makes first 3 transfer portal additions of 2026, including big names
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas added former UAB defensive tackle Eamon Smalls as a transfer portal pickup.
- The Jayhawks then landed two more players, including Texas OL Connor Stroh.
- KU will need to rebuild after losing several important seniors following 2025 season.
Kansas football landed its first FBS transfer of the 2026 cycle Sunday. It was the start of a busy day, with two more names to follow.
The Jayhawks first picked up a commitment from former UAB defensive tackle Eamon Smalls, he announced Sunday evening.
Smalls has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He became KU’s second pickup from the transfer portal, joining defensive tackle Jibriel Conde, a Division II player from Grand Valley State.
Smalls finished last season with 50 tackles, including 24 solo tackles, and one sack. He started every game for the Blazers and played a total of 416 snaps. In the 2024 season, he recorded 16 total tackles and played in seven games.
The 6-foot-2, 310-pound native of Lady’s Island, South Carolina, was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He originally picked UAB over West Virginia, Charlotte, East Carolina and others.
The Jayhawks were just getting started...
KU football adds Kentucky linebacker Landyn Watson
After picking up Smalls, the Jayhawks added a commitment from Kentucky linebacker Landyn Watson. He announced the news on social media.
“Let’s work,” Watson posted on X.
Watson played in every game for the Wildcats as a rotation linebacker. He had 21 total tackles, including eight solo tackles. Before he arrived in Lexington, he played two seasons at Marshall.
In the 2024 season, he recorded 66 total tackles and had one interception. The three-star recruit out of high school spent his first two college seasons at TCU.
Texas offensive lineman chooses the Jayhawks
Kansas football certainly had a busy Sunday. And it could be a big one as far as 2026 goes.
The third KU addition Sunday was former Texas offensive lineman Connor Stroh, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
The left guard has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Stroh started five games for the Longhorns in the 2025 season. He didn’t see any action in his first two seasons at Texas.
The 6-foot-7, 340-pound offensive lineman was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He picked Texas over KU, Auburn, Florida and others.
This story was originally published January 4, 2026 at 5:31 PM.
