photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Landon Leipold talks to his coach during the season opener against Shawnee Mission East on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Lawrence.

Football has always been part of the lives of Free State wide receiver Landon Leipold and his family. As the son of Kansas head coach Lance Leipold, Landon always spent time around his dad’s teams with the dream of being like them.

That dream is coming to fruition. Leipold committed to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, an NCAA Division II school about five hours from Lawrence.

“Since I posted my commitment, I’ve had so many of my dad’s former players reach out to me and tell me congratulations,” he said. “It’s a really good feeling because it reminds me that I’ve been chasing this dream to be like them, and now I get to be like them.”

Leipold first got into contact with UNK when he was a junior in high school and was invited for a junior day to the team’s spring game earlier this year. Leipold took his time deciding where to go, but already, he knew that UNK was where he wanted to be.

“It felt like home right away,” he said. “I took another gameday visit back in mid-October, and it felt right then.”

UNK competes in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference, which boasts some of the perennial top teams in Division II. Leipold got most of his offers from within the conference and said he’s looking forward to competing at that level.

“Watching (this conference) for the past two years, it’s smash-mouth football,” he said. “I’m excited to compete with some of the best players at the D-II level. It’s going to be really fun. Even in practice, it’s going to be fun to compete.”

The Lopes went 5-6 after a 3-8 season in 2023. Coach Ryan Held, who was the University of North Alabama’s offensive coordinator and interim head coach before taking the job at UNK, is in his second year with the program. Held has coached at the Division I, Division II, and junior college levels.

UNK had a leg up on other schools because of its sports management program. Leipold wants to begin coaching once his playing career ends.

Leipold finished high school football with Free State in a somewhat turbulent season, particularly on offense. Starting quarterback Boston Baker broke his hand midway through the season, and the team had to develop a new offensive attack. It was challenging, but Leipold said the team was the closest group he’s ever participated in. It was a good season to cap off a high school career.

Now, the future Loper is preparing for the next level. Leipold has been working with KU Director of Sports Performance Matt Gildersleeve to prepare for the jump to Division II football. Leipold went on a college weight-room plan, which Leipold’s former Free State teammate Hank Fuchs, the son of fellow coach Scott Fuchs, did before playing for Indiana State University.

Along with physically preparing with Gildersleeve, Leipold is training with Gehrig Dieter, a former Kansas City Chiefs receiver, and will compete in 7-on-7 tournaments throughout the winter and spring.

Originally a quarterback, Leipold became a receiver in high school to be able to make an impact on the field right away. That time at quarterback helps Leipold understand what a quarterback is thinking and seeing on a play, which helps him be a better receiver.

At UNK, Leipold said he wants to be known as a first-in-the-building, last-one-out guy. He knows what it takes to play at that level, and he’s ready to put in the work and have some successful seasons with UNK.

“There’s a great thing building up there, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Leipold said.