photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU safety Kaleb Purdy jogs on the field during the game against Iowa State at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 9, 2024.

Kansas safety Kaleb Purdy, a redshirt sophomore from St. Louis, announced on Wednesday afternoon that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

Purdy follows in the footsteps of his classmate Brian Dilworth, a cornerback from Hollywood, Florida, who became the first Jayhawk to leave on Tuesday.

Like Dilworth, Purdy saw sporadic playing time during the 2024 season. However, Purdy still got by far the most snaps he had received in any of his three years in Lawrence. Thrust into action due to injuries to several safeties, Purdy backed up O.J. Burroughs and Taylor Davis during the second half of the year. He played 26 defensive snaps in KU’s victory over Houston, according to Pro Football Focus, compared to just 33 in the rest of his career with the Jayhawks combined.

Purdy was also a consistent contributor on special teams for KU in 2024, tallying a total of 78 snaps there, spread across all 12 of the Jayhawks’ games. He finished the year with four tackles overall, including two in the Sunflower Showdown.

In a short message on social media, Purdy thanked the KU coaching staff, teammates and other personnel.

“Last I want to thank the fans for welcoming me into Lawrence with open arms and coming to support at the games,” he wrote.

KU loses longtime contributors at safety in Burroughs and Marvin Grant this offseason, but it brings back Devin and Jalen Dye along with Davis, Mason Ellis and Damani Maxson. The Jayhawks also signed two safeties, Darrion Jones from Florida and Brandon Schmelzle from Kansas, on Wednesday as part of the 2025 freshman class.