Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - CLASS OF 2026 BREAKDOWN | What Could Have Been in a Solid Class for Kansas Jayhawks Football

Starting point is 00:00:00 On this bonus locked on Jayhawks, we break down an overall pretty solid class for KU, especially comparatively to past years, but one that felt like it was running out of momentum, kind of stumbling to the finish line. You are Locked on Jayhawks, your daily podcast on the Kansas Jayhawks, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. What's going on? Derek Johnson here. This is Locked on Jayhawks. Thanks to joining us on this bonus episode of the show where we're going to be breaking down the class of 2026. We'll get into overall thoughts on the class, how it compares to past classes under Leipold and under past coaches at KU. And then we'll get into a little bit of my guys, the guys that I'm super into that I'm expecting big things. I'm obviously, you know, you have high hopes for all these players, but the guys that you're willing to be backed up in a corner and be like, I'm, you know, everybody's got to have your guy, basically, right? Okay, so on today's episode, let's get started with that class of 2026. Right now for KU, they wind up signing 16 players in the class.

Starting point is 00:01:09 And it's actually a pretty solid class. It just feels like one that is kind of a what if, is kind of a what could have been for Lance Leipold and KU because it ends up again, like if I'm viewing this from a standpoint of the percentage of the recruits, right? because the 16 commits, that's, right? When you look at the Turner Gill days, they're bringing in 24 and 32. When you bring in the Charlie Weiss days, it's 25, 37, 30. The David Beatty is 26, 20, and on and on.

Starting point is 00:01:39 Like the number of commits that you're bringing in under the past coaches is obviously way more than what you're bringing in now because of the transfer portal and that kind of, you know, supplants it. So it's hard to look at it from the standpoint of saying just from accounting perspective. But if we're looking at it by the quality of the 16 they're bringing in, 50% of the recruits KU is bringing in are top 1,000 recruits on the 24-7 composite. And that 50% ratio of top 1,000 recruits on the composite is actually the third highest number that a KU recruiting class, which the 24-7 composite goes back to 2010. So it's the third best recruiting class that KU has ever brought in since 24-7 sports has been.

Starting point is 00:02:26 been tracking this stuff. So, like, actually, that sounds really good. Now, 2025 by that number is actually first, oddly enough, 24 was second and 2023 is third. So again, like, okay, you're consistently stacking more talent comparatively to past Kansas years, right? And another way of looking at this, not, not every class is the same, right? So if we look at it from a standard grade of 0.860 or higher on the 24-7 sports composite, this one has 15 of the 16 in that range of 0.8600 higher on the composite score, that would mean 90, almost 94% of their commits this year are in that range. That's actually the best number they've ever had in the 24-7 sports

Starting point is 00:03:09 era. Last year was the third best, the year before is the second best, year before is the fourth best, right? And then you have to go back for the fifth best all the way to 2010 with Turner Gill. So by some of these metrics, this is a good recruiting class for KU. What I mean when I say it felt like it was running out of steam at the finish line and it was the what if, is that it had the chance to be the best, quite honestly. And I do think from an in-state perspective, this is the best in-state class KU has gotten, certainly in the Leipold era, and certainly in a long time. Six commits in the class of 2026 in-state, all players that I think could have a bright future for KU. That is great news. And if they can carry that in-state recruiting over into future

Starting point is 00:03:48 years, although how is Colin Klein being the head coach? We just did a bonus episode of that. How does that affect KU recruiting in the future in state and stuff? But those are all positives for KU. It does feel a little doom and gloomy because of how it finished. And what I mean by that, how it finished, you had some decommits. You lost the defensive lineman decommit, who I thought was a good player. You obviously lose KD. Jones on signing day who flips to Oklahoma State. And that one certainly hurts you a little bit there.

Starting point is 00:04:17 And the big one was you lost J.J. Dunnigan to Miami. and that would obviously hurt you with losing your best player in the class, right? So those three hurt you in terms of the elite utmost quality of the recruiting class at the top because even though, as I mentioned, like this one stacks up just as well, if not better than all their recent classes in terms of the number of players who are top 1,000 in the composite or the number of players who are 0.860 or higher. It's the reason why is it's a lot of players right in that cutoff, right in that range of being there,

Starting point is 00:04:56 which means it's not the, like, okay, so the class of 2024, even though it winds up having a lower percentage of kids who are 0.860 or higher, even though it ends up having a similar, slightly better top 1,000, that class was a lot better because you had some big titans at the top. You think of Dak Brinkley, you think of DJ Warner, you think of the desert edge kids right and so this one has a lot of i guess it would be like in baseball terms this one has a lot of singles and doubles right it's working you're getting on base these are solid commits for k u overall and it has a couple home runs it has a couple triples

Starting point is 00:05:33 but those classes you know maybe you didn't have one as many singles or doubles but maybe you had an extra home run in there or something like that right and that would kind of be the best way of kind of putting that and it is unfortunate because again if we look at most top five hundred recruits that KU has has brought in in a class. The class in 24 had the second most with three of them. The only season that had more is 2010 with Turner Gill. They had four of them, but that was with 24 commits. And they did it with 17 in 2024.

Starting point is 00:06:02 This year they had one of them, right? And if you had JJ Dunnigan, that would have been a second one. And it would have been a really highly second one rated one there. Top 800 commits. They have five of them this year. That is tied for the fourth most that a KU class has ever brought in on the 24-7 composite again since 2010 here. So that's a good number, top four. But if you would have had KD. Jones, if you had had J.J. Dunnigan, uh, you know, all of a sudden, you're getting this

Starting point is 00:06:26 number up to seven or eight people. And 2024 had seven of them. That's the second most. Again, the first most was eight in 2010, but that's eight of 24 as opposed to seven of 17. So you get the point here that like it's missing a little bit of as much of the quality that you had before the D commitments. But overall, I do still think this is a solid recruiting class for KU that they're bringing in. All right, let's get to my guys, so to speak. We'll start the offense, move to the defense. This is locked on Jayhawks. Today's episode of the show is brought to you by Omaha Steaks. The holidays always feel a little easier when you already know what the perfect gift is. And Omaha Steaks just makes

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Starting point is 00:07:38 That is Omaha Steaks.com. Promocode College. Terms apply. See site for details. Thanks for joining us on Locked on Jayhawks, a little bonus episode breaking down the class of 26. Okay, so I think everybody needs to have a guy or two, right, in a class. I think it just kind of makes it fun, you know, like stake your claim that I think

Starting point is 00:08:00 this dude's going to be good or like I'm buying into this. And obviously it becomes fun. Like you can, you know, oh man, I was a big like, I don't know, Tyreech Stark's guy, like a quarterback, you know, several years ago and fun in a, in a weird way. But like, let's start with the offense here. Who were my guys? who are guys that I would be like if you told me this dude's going to become an all big 12 player

Starting point is 00:08:19 you told me this dude is going to make a big impact for KU who's somebody that I feel like the odds of that would be increased or that I would be willing to go to battle for and my only rule with this is you can't pick like a four or five star I mean the five star thing doesn't really apply for KU info but like you can't pick a four star because that's obviously everyone's guy every if KU gets a four star usually they're getting somewhere between one or two four stars um like obviously they're going to be expected to be good They're one of the best recruits in your class. So that's my only role.

Starting point is 00:08:48 You can't take one of those. I would start here. I know KU lost KD. Jones. I don't want this to come across as like, oh, sour grapes, like, oh, whatever, they didn't need KD. Jones. No, I think KD. Jones would have been a great addition for KU. But I will say this. I do think KU is still good at the running back position or set at the running back

Starting point is 00:09:07 position because I am really high on Kori amokri. Corey Amokri is the commit from the state of Michigan. KU had to fend off. like, I don't know, Michigan State and some other schools to be able to land him. And I think this dude is going to be really good. I look at his game and I see a bit of a powerback that has a good flexibility of speed. And like, I like a mockery so much that I'm not quite willing to go out there and say he's going to be, he's going to do what Devin Neal did, which was just in terms of as a freshman.

Starting point is 00:09:38 What Devin Neal did as a freshman was he was starting by, what was it, like week three or something like that? and then Felton Gardner transferred away. I'm not saying it's going to be that level, but like could he get some real reps as a true freshman? That would not shock me. Now, the problem right now to doing that, I think right now it's easier to say that on paper because you just lost Johnny Thompson to transfer away.

Starting point is 00:10:01 It's like, okay, you have a lot of young running backs in the room. There's going to be playing time available there. Realistically, they might add somebody maybe too, who knows, in the transfer portal. And so that makes that a little bit. it more difficult. But I just think this dude has the goods. I really like his running style. I like his game. I like his pedigree and a football family. I really would stake my claim that a mockery can be one of those guys for KU at the running back position. And then my honorable

Starting point is 00:10:30 mention one, just to throw somebody else out there is Corbyn Glasgow. This dude is fast, fast. Like, he will come in and probably going to be the fastest guy on KU next year because this past year was Emmanuel Henderson. He graduates. I think Glasgow is going to, and Glasgow might be even faster than Anderson. So he's going to come in and be the fastest player. He'll be a true freshman. He's a little lower rated on the, I think he's an 87 graded three star, which is still a solid number,

Starting point is 00:10:54 but comparatively to the KU class that's on the back half. I wouldn't be surprised if in the same way, like Tate and Aggie had a, he was on the back half of the rankings for KU, and he ended up having a big role as a freshman for Kansas, right, being the punt returner. I would not be surprised if Corbyn Glasgow, because of how fast he is, has some sort of role for this team, right?

Starting point is 00:11:16 That could just be specific packages where he's getting a receiver screen or running deep. That could be on special teams. It would not shock me at all if he has like kind of a minor role as a freshman on the KU offense. And then I think in general, because of his speed, he's going to be somebody who, I don't know, it'll be interesting to see how they use him. Like do they use him like an Emmanuel Henderson down the road where he's kind of an outside receiver? Do they use him more like a Trevor Wilson, which is on special teams and in the slot as kind of a deep slot guy.

Starting point is 00:11:44 Do they use him in the vein of like De Anthony Thomas, right, that we saw in Oregon where he is getting special teams, he's getting jet sweeps, he's getting runs in the backfield even a little bit, just to give you a home run threat back there, some catches on the outside. I'm kind of hoping that's the case of we get to see this kid like maximized in a lot of different ways. But yeah, I love the speed. I don't know how you couldn't. All right, let's get to our guys on the defensive end of the ball.

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Starting point is 00:13:10 Thanks, you have for joining us on this bonus episode, breaking down the KU class of 2026. Who are my guys on the defensive end of the ball? We'll give an honorable mention first, actually, in this one. And that'll go to Joseph Credit. Joseph Credit, I don't think is getting enough credit. Again, 86 rated three star. To me, I don't know. I see some of the production and some of the highlights.

Starting point is 00:13:32 And I'm like, maybe this dude should be like an 88 or an 89. He's from the Texas area was recruited by like a lot, a lot of schools. There's a lot of competition for KU. Um, just kind of a, a quick enough linebacker with hard nose skills. I guess it would be the best way of putting it. And it's interesting because I feel like KU has recruited linebacker well. We haven't really seen the fruit to the labor yet because the best linebackers like this year, you know, Bengali Kamara had peaks and valleys, but you had some good peaks.

Starting point is 00:14:04 Trey Lathen was awesome for KU this year. Those were transfer additions, you know? And you think back like, uh, other. KU lineback like Rich Miller was a transfer edition. We've yet to see it really like homegrown. It feels like we're getting there. It feels like we're getting there with the way that they've been able to stack up some freshman recruits.

Starting point is 00:14:20 And this year, I mean, you're going to have John John Kamara in 2026, who could be in for a huge season as a breakout candidate. You've got like Logan Brantley. It's kind of like time to, you know, put something out there. And he's slowly worked his way up the depth chart. Maybe this will be the big year for him. They brought in some other commits too. And you think it like Malachi Kirby, who was a high end recruit for the class of 2025.

Starting point is 00:14:39 So I think credit goes into that too. And I know a lot of people are high on him as well. So he's my honorable mention. But my guy that I would take the claim for is going to be right here in the backyard of Lawrence High. And that would be Josh Galbraith. Josh Galbraith is, I mean, I was watching this dude at Lawrence High like play football. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:14:57 Was he on varsity as a freshman? He certainly was as a sophomore. And he was like arguably the best player as a sophomore on the team. He was just like a really good player. And it was interesting because under Clinton Bowen, I didn't get a chance to see him this year as a senior. Under Clint Bowen, they were running obviously kind of some of those multiple hybrid defenses, right? Some of that 425 stuff.

Starting point is 00:15:17 And I think that'll prepare him for the college level because he'll have some more of the terminology. And KU is running some different defenses sometimes. It is kind of a 425. So I think that'll be helpful for him the experience he had. But this dude is a freak athlete. He's like 6'3 over 200 pounds. He's playing safety in high school at Lawrence High. he's going to play linebacker for KU,

Starting point is 00:15:39 but maybe he profiles into being that kind of safety linebacker hybrid that they had Mason Ellis play. And at times, I guess we saw, you know, Jason Gilliam in past years and stuff. But he kind of like he profiles more to being like Craig Young, but I think he's going to be a more actualized version of Craig Young. Craig Young was a good player for KU.

Starting point is 00:16:00 But there were times where, I don't know, other teams targeted him in the passing game. I think, I think Galbraith has a chance to be even better. better in past coverage. Now, that's a high bar, but, like, I think he can live up to, like, I guess point being, if you told me somebody's going to be in a future NFL draft pick, I might pick Josh Galbraith off. I know that might be crazy, but, like, he is that good of an athlete that you just don't

Starting point is 00:16:24 see linebackers that size, that speed, that movement that, like, in the same way we saw Echo Boy Doe, you know, go to Kansas State and have some time in the NFL, in the same way that, you know, we've seen some guys from the local area. Devin Neal go on and have success. I would not be shocked if he's kind of the next in that running. I'm really high on Josh Galbraith. And again, I like, okay, the base linebacker spots, I don't think he's going to have a chance to crack into those this year just

Starting point is 00:16:53 from a standpoint of like assuming guys come back, right? You don't know who's coming back. But as of right now, Trey Lathen could come back. He'd be a stud. Joseph Sip coming off a redshirt year. I think there'd be higher expectations. there. I mentioned John John Kamara could be in for a breakout season.

Starting point is 00:17:09 Logan Braley, you have a lot of competition there. But that Hawk role, they've called it in the past. I don't know what they called it this year, but again, that Mason Ellis is playing that kind of linebacker safety role. I legit would not be shocked if like he was good enough to get snaps at that in year one with

Starting point is 00:17:25 how perfect he fits into that position to me. I don't know. So yeah, that would be my other guy. All right, that'll do it for this episode of Lockdown Jayhawks. You can find our show anywhere you get your podcast, including on our YouTube Adrian, you can like and subscribe to the show. Don't forget check out our KU Missouri preview or our episode talking about if Matt Campbell takes the Penn State job, Colin Klein to Kansas State.

Starting point is 00:17:44 Plenty of content this week. So make sure to check it all out anywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube. See you next time with LOJ.

Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - CLASS OF 2026 BREAKDOWN | What Could Have Been in a Solid Class for Kansas Jayhawks Football

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