photo by: Kevin Berg/Photo courtesy of KU Athletics

Kansas tight end Will Huggins dives forward with the ball in his hands during the Jayhawks' scrimmage on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at KU's indoor practice facility.

Kansas tight end Will Huggins, who spent four years with the program, announced Monday afternoon that he will enter the transfer portal.

Huggins, a Lenexa native who attended Shawnee Mission South, had one catch for a 20-yard touchdown as time expired against Oklahoma as a freshman in 2020. He has recorded no other stats while playing in 11 total games during his four-year career with the Jayhawks. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

In a post on X announcing his departure, Huggins expressed his gratitude to the coaching staff and offered “a huge thank you to all my brothers.” A three-star recruit out of high school who committed to Les Miles’ staff back in the spring of 2019, Huggins is the first scholarship player to announce his offseason departure from KU. Walk-on receiver Reece Thomas is also in the portal.

The 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end was never able to climb the depth chart during his tenure in Lawrence. He played 18 offensive snaps in 2023 and 23 on special teams, per Pro Football Focus. Andy Kotelnicki, the former Kansas offensive coordinator who left last week for the same role at Penn State, served as his position coach.

Mason Fairchild is about to exhaust his eligibility, but Jared Casey, Trevor Kardell and Tevita Ahoafi-Noa are expected to headline the returning tight ends for KU next season. One younger player to watch is Eudora’s Jaden Hamm. Who will coach them remains unknown.

The Jayhawks also have three-star Iowa tight end Carson Bruhn, from Sioux Center, coming in next season.

The transfer window officially opened Monday and continues until Jan. 2. KU may be limited somewhat in its ability to acquire transfer talent this offseason by the size of its freshman class, which currently contains 16 commitments (who will be eligible to sign on the Dec. 20 early signing day).