Recapping the 2023 Transfer Class - 93 Days Until Kansas Football
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Last year, showed us just how important the transfer portal has become for college football, as large portions of the roster can change very quickly from one season to the next. Last year, the Kansas Jayhawks had the 20th ranked transfer class which allowed them to fill some pretty big holes going into the season.
This year, Kansas had quite a few players leave that would have had a chance to contribute in Lawrence this season. We'll take a look at those before diving into all the players that are coming to campus this season..
How well this transfer class performs could go a long way towards hitting the goals that Kansas has set for themselves this year.
Transfers Out
Rather than look at each player individually, we'll note some of the bigger names to leave. And none is bigger than the tandem of Ethan Vasko and Ky Thomas. Vasko saw limited time as the third string quarterback last season, but the return of Jason Bean meant that he would keep that role for another season, and it appears he was tired of waiting for his opportunity. It's hard to blame him, but a lot of guys on the staff were excited for what he could do.
Ky Thomas left the Jayhawks after just a single season, where he was in a rotation of four running backs throughout the year. His inconsistent performances could easily be attributed to the lack of consistent work, but he showed some flashes that had people excited for his future.
Elsewhere on the offense, Kansas lost two options in a crowded receiver room, as Kelan Robinson and Steven McBride opted to find a new home. And even in an offense that heavily uses the tight end position, there just wasn't enough room for Max Dowling to get consistent minutes.
On defense, Kansas lost multiple contributors, but none that would be irreplaceable. Gavin Potter left during the season, and Shad Dabney, Edwin White, Jarrett Paul, Eriq Gilyard, and D'Marion Alexander all played in the Kansas rotation, but none were a key cog on their own.
And of course, after losing his job late in the season, kicker Jacob Borcila elected to move on.
But Kansas got some pretty significant commitments in the transfer portal, including shoring up some areas with a worrying lack of depth. The class isn't the 20th ranked like it was last year, but it is a top-50 transfer class that will go a long way to helping Kansas be successful.
Dylan McDuffie, RB
A 6'0" 220lb running back out of Buffalo, McDuffie comes to the Jayhawks from Georgia Tech, but he is coming back to a familiar scene. He was at Buffalo from 2018-2020, and will be reuniting with Lance Leipold's staff in a situation that is very familiar. That familiarity helped him in spring practices, especially as he was the only player at the position that was fully healthy this spring.
It's hard to say what the expectations are for McDuffie this season, but given how many players the Jayhawks rotated at the position last year, it's a good bet that he will see the field nearly every game, even if just for a few plays.
Damarius McGhee, CB
A former top 200 recruit, McGhee saw the field 12 times in his true freshman campaign at LSU. But he was unable to break through in his sophomore season, and he comes to Lawrence looking for more playing time.
The 6'0", 170lb corner comes in at a position of need, as the depth of this unit took a big hit in the offseason, especially from an experience standpoint. Kansas is expecting a lot from him this season, especially given how well he played during spring practices.
JB Brown, LB
A 6'2", 210lb senior, Brown comes to the Jayhawks from Bowling Green, where he played in 24 games over the last two seasons. He had 53 tackles last year, including 4.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He is a veteran presence in a unit that has a very limited roster currently.
The Jayhawks have seen a lot of success with transfers at the position, and I expect his physicality to be a big asset this season, similar to what Craig Young provided last year from the safety spot.
Patrick Joyner, DE
The 6'2" 210lb edge rusher was a hot commodity when he announced that he was transferring from Utah State, and Kansas will look to him in order to replace the hole left with Lonnie Phelps moving on to the NFL this season.
Last season, Joyner had 31 tackles, including 3 for a loss and one sack on 476 snaps. He chose Kansas over TCU, and will be a huge asset for Kansas this season.
Dylan Brooks, DE
With defensive end being a huge area of focus for Kansas, the recruitment of Brooks was a no brainer when he decided to transfer from Auburn. Brooks has three years of eligibility left, and joins a group that only returns Hayden Hatcher as a significant contributor last season.
Brooks was a four-star recruit out of high school, and picked Auburn over multiple Power 5 offers.
Austin Booker, EDGE
One of two defensive lineman who transferred from Minnesota, Booker has impressed the coaches since he arrived on campus. At 6'6" and 240lbs, Booker has impressive speed and reaction time at the position. He has acclimated well to the defense, and notes just how much better the fit is here at Kansas. Even with all the competition at the position now, expect Booker to make an impact this season.
Devin Phillips, DL
A graduate transfer arriving in Lawrence from Colorado State, the 6'2", 305lb defensive tackle will provide a veteran presence on the defensive line that will be without a lot of carry over from last season. While his production took a step back last season, he had 33 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, for the Rams in 2021.
Gage Keys, DL
An early target for Kansas once he entered the transfer portal, the 6'5", 280lb defensive tackle from Minnesota reunited with his former coach in Jim Panagos, who recruited him heavily out of high school.
A three-star recruit in high school, Keys redshirted his first season in 2020, but first played defense for the Golden Gophers in 2022. He totaled 77 snaps in 8 games.
Logan Brown, OT
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, the 6'6", 305lb offensive tackle grades out as a four-star in the transfer portal. He is one of the main candidates to replace Earl Bostick at left tackle, although it seems like he might have fit better on the right side during spring practices. He has two years of eligibility remaining, which will give him enough time to show whether his inability to get off the bench at Wisconsin was more about fit than ability.
Spencer Lovell, OL
The redshirt junior out of Fort Collins, CO is on his third college after transferring from Cal, but seems to be thriving in his time under Scott Fuchs. At 6'6" and 330lbs, he definitely has the size to play across the offensive line, although he seems to be the most comfortable at the guard position. At the very least, he will provide critical depth and maturity at the position, but don't be surprised if he cracks the starting lineup before the end of the year.
Charlie Weinrich, K
A former Blue Valley High School kicker from Overland Park, KS, Weinrich comes to the Jayhawks after a single season at Nebraska. He will have four years of eligibility and will compete for the kicking job this season, although he probably is further down in the depth chart.
Seth Keller, K
A transfer from Texas State, Keller comes in with a pretty impressive pedigree. He has made 37 of his 43 attempts for his career, including 14 of 16 last season. He will have a single season of eligibility remaining and is the favorite to be taking kicks this season.
Summary
Overall, this is a great transfer haul with a focus on spots where Kansas lost a lot of contributors. The defensive line will look completely different this season, and don't be surprised if some additional players make their way to Lawrence this summer. It is easy to see that this class could be as impactful as last year's transfer class, even if the rating is significantly lower.
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