Kansas head coach Lance Leipold watches a replay on the video board during the second quarter on Saturday Nov. 11, 2023 at Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

While the Kansas football team had already laid out most of its vision for the future when it inked 17 freshmen and one transfer in December, the Jayhawks officially added a few more promising talents as part of Wednesday’s National Signing Day.

KU rounded out its transfer class by signing defensive linemen Javier Derritt (North Dakota State) and Dylan Wudke (Youngstown State), offensive linemen Shane Bumgardner (Tiffin) and Darrell Simmons Jr. (Iowa State) and safety Devin Dye (Utah State), all of whom had previously announced their commitments to the team.

They join tight end DeShawn Hanika, a Topeka native who was part of the December class after transferring from Iowa State. That means the Jayhawks have two transfers from within the Big 12 Conference, one from a Group of Five school, two from the Football Championship Subdivision level and one from NCAA Division II.

KU also inked 10 freshman walk-ons to flesh out its depth for the years ahead. All are Kansans, and the most familiar name for Lawrence residents will be Wesley Edison, from Free State High School. While Edison was a Journal-World All-Area quarterback for the Firebirds, he is listed as a linebacker for KU.

The other incoming walk-ons are as follows:

• Tyler Antle, punter, Frontenac, Frontenac Senior High School

• Donald Collier, wide receiver, Andover, Trinity Academy

• Myles Ewell, offensive lineman, Overland Park, Blue Valley West High School

• Micah Johnson, running back, Wichita, Goddard High School

• Colter McDaniel, safety, Cheney, Cheney High School

• Hollis Moeller, long snapper, Shawnee, Bishop Miege High School

• Jameer Moore, cornerback, Salina, Salina Central High School

• Eli Richmond, offensive lineman, Paola, Paola High School

• Jason Strickland, defensive lineman, Olathe, Blue Valley Southwest High School

The 2024 roster is not necessarily finalized, especially because there remains a brief spring transfer window (which is when, for example, quarterback Ethan Vasko left last season). However, with two signing days in the rear-view mirror, KU is close to finalizing the group of players who will take the field against Lindenwood at Children’s Mercy Park on Aug. 29.