A week from now, we'll be diving into Long Island and getting ready for the first KU football game of the 2026 season, which is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Sept. 4 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
That means we've got one last full week to share a few things we learned about this team during the offseason, most recently at preseason camp, where effort was high, battles were waged and anticipation grew day by day.
🚨 ICYMI: A similar look at the KU defense
We heard from KU coach Lance Leipold four times during the past few weeks, both coordinators (Andy Kotelnicki and D.K. McDonald twice each) and every position coach, as well.
That's to say nothing of the few dozen players who talked after KU camp practices to fill us in on their progress, their position group, the team as a whole and the outlook for the upcoming season.
After digesting it all — or at least as much of it as I was able to get to — I came up with two lists of players to keep an eye on. One for the offense and one for the defense.
It doesn't include everyone, of course. And some of the more obvious names were left off. For instance, you won't see top cornerback Jalen Todd, likely all-Big 12 defensive end Leroy Harris III, middle linebacker Trey Lathan or left tackle Calvin Clements. Running backs Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis won't be on these lists either.
You likely know most of those guys and their positions on the team are pretty well set in stone.
The following list of KU offensive players — the list for the defense ran yesterday — is made up of three players you'll know soon and three players who need to show up strong to start the season to secure their spots.
Three names you need to know
O-Lineman Kasen Carpenter – The Oklahoma State transfer who played in 7 games for OSU last season, with 2 starts, could be the key to continuity and cohesion in the trenches for the KU offense. If he’s able to stick at center, that allows Amir Herring to play at guard, where he’s probably best suited to play and also most effective. If not, Herring may have to move to center and that would force the KU coaching staff to shuffle around some more pieces up front.
Tight End Jailen Butler – KU’s tight end room is loaded with depth and it features a few different guys who can get the job done for the offense in a few different ways. As blockers, route runners, pass catchers and decoys, this group has no shortage of options. What it may be short on is an explosive playmaker. That’s where Butler comes in. KU tight end Carson Bruhn is a very good receiver and he has earned a huge chunk of the targets and the playing time. But even he has acknowledged that when it comes to a faster, more athletic player at the position, Butler is probably the guy to look to. The James Madison transfer was used in both roles — blocker and receiver — last season, but he should be looked to as more of a receiver in this offense. That helps not only the tight end room but also the KU wideouts because OC Andy Kotelnicki could elect to line Butler up out wide just as often as he’s tied to the line. Because he’s sharing snaps with at least two or three other tight ends, his overall production might not wow you. But he might deliver a few wow moments.
Kicker Martin Connington – Laith Marjan was a consistent presence for the Jayhawks in the kicking game last season and that hasn’t always been a given within the program. Even during the Leipold era. So, it makes sense then that we should at least know the name of the man who KU has replacing him. It’s Martin Connington. He came to KU after two seasons at Michigan State, where he was the Spartans primary place kicker a season ago. He says he’s comfortable from 55 yards and in, but his game log shows that he hasn’t really been tested enough from 40+ to make a read on how reliable he actually is. Confidence matters, though, and he has it. So does the coaching staff, in him.
Honorable mention: O-Lineman DeAndre Harper, O-Lineman Amir Herring, WR Nik McMillan.
Three names that need to show
Wide receiver Keaton Kubecka – Kubecka had a great camp and is in line to be a bona fide starter. The reason? Experience. Not only has he been around this offense for a few years now, but he also has grown to understand what he didn’t know and then went to work on getting it fixed. That’s maturity. And when you match that with the good size, good hands and solid athleticism that he brought in as a true freshman, we might finally be looking at a season where Kubecka is a consistent factor. He’s gotta show up early and often, though, for that to happen.
Quarterback(s) Cole Ballard & Isaiah Marshall – The coaches have said all offseason that both will likely play. And that makes sense because both bring different things to the field and this KU offense. But for the sake of KU’s hopes of rejoining the ranks of the bowl eligible, one of them better emerge as a legitimate option that can run the team, make plays and be counted on. Ballard certainly seems like the safer pick. And Marshall, with his ability as a play-maker on the run in space, may have the higher ceiling. It’s a shame you can’t combine the two strengths into one QB. But since you can’t and because KU will likely need one of them to emerge as the guy, all eyes will be on both of them in the first few weeks of the season. Don’t expect to learn a ton from the Long Island game. But it’s certainly safe to
Wide Receiver Cam Pickett – When he was on the field in 2025, Pickett was an absolute weapon. It was the injuries that undercut his season and also took their toll on the KU offense. He’s back in more of a leadership role in 2026 and the Jayhawks need him to be every bit as good as we’ve seen him be in the past for this offense to truly work. That means avoiding injuries is paramount and that’s something he had a slightly difficult time doing during camp. The coaching staff said they weren’t worried about the bumps and bruises he suffered in camp keeping him out of Week 1, but given how important he is to this offense, his status — and, eventually, his production — is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Honorable mention: O-Lineman Tavake Tuikolovatu, RB Jalen Dupree,
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