CFB analyst praises Kansas football's recruiting efforts under Jayhawks Lance Leipold

The Kansas football program has seen tremendous improvement under fourth-year HC Lance Leipold. The former Buffalo coach led the Jayhawks from the basement of Power 5 football to one of the best young teams in the NCAA. He changed the culture and perspective of KU in the years to come.

Leipold has taken the school to new levels with his strong recruiting classes, among other things. He picked up the program's top picks in the ranked era, including top-rated player EDGE Deshawn Warner. KC Sports Network podcast member and former 247 Sports beat reporter Kevin Flaherty joined K-Nation this weekend to talk about how Leipold's success in building his roster has led to better results on the field.

“Just a few classes ago, there was a top recruit in the state who basically sent the message, 'If I stay in state, I'm not going to Kansas.' And it was an early stage of recruitment. ‘I won’t even give you a chance.’ And I think that’s been the biggest difference… I think the doors are more open for kids and they’re willing to listen to what people are saying.”

– Kevin Flaherty

Flaherty's opinion is shared by many Jayhawk fans. The recruiting success did not solve the numerous on-field problems under previous coaches such as Charlie Weis, David Beaty and Les Miles. Flaherty mentioned how the recruiting scheme in Lawrence is different from a decade ago, when Weis kicked several players off the team each year due to personal grudges.

High school signings aren't the only way Leipold has used his options to bolster the roster. Transfers during his tenure include Dominick Puni and Austin Booker, two All-Big 12 First Team honorees whose names were called during the 2024 NFL Draft. Others include Mike Novitsky and Lonnie Phelps, who have also moved on to the next level.

Even more important to Leipold than his portal additions is player retention. He convinced several stars to stay out of the transfer portal even as more promising NIL deals were on the table elsewhere. Standouts like Devin Neal, Jalon Daniels and Cobee Bryant are perfect examples of players who stayed and laid the foundation for the future of KU football.

Only time will tell what the Jayhawks can accomplish with a healthy roster and touted recruiting classes. One thing is for sure: Kansas football's trajectory could be higher than ever before in school history.