Kansas football recruiting

With the early signing period just days away, the Kansas football team got a bit of bad news on the recruiting trail as 2025 linebacker Kenyon Rivera flipped his commitment to Memphis.

Rivera made the announcement on Thursday morning, and it deprives the Jayhawks of one of their two freshman linebacker commitments for next season. They still have Malachi Curvey, from Waukee, Iowa, one of the earliest pledges in the class, as well as transfer linebacker Bangally Kamara, who will join KU after a brief stint at South Carolina.

Rivera had been one of five players to commit to KU in rapid succession around an official visit weekend in mid-June. At the time, he told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com that he was impressed by the ongoing stadium project and the resources available at KU to help him be successful later in life.

Instead, the Buford, Georgia, native has opted to attend a Group of Five school somewhat closer to home. The Jayhawks have one remaining 2025 commitment from Georgia in wide receiver Jackson Cook of Snellville.

KU is back down to 15 commitments in what has been a far more tumultuous fall for the 2025 class as opposed to the rather tranquil lead-up to signing day for the 2024 group. The Jayhawks had most recently flipped running back Justin Thurman from Notre Dame on Nov. 18, the fourth of four flips in KU’s favor to help counterbalance three that have gone against the Jayhawks.

The early signing period begins on Wednesday.