Kansas football recruiting

Jaylen Mason, a high school junior quarterback from Wichita Northwest, announced his commitment on Tuesday night to play college football at Kansas.

He became the first member of the Jayhawks’ 2026 recruiting class.

In doing so he followed in the footsteps of Edmond, Oklahoma, quarterback David McComb, KU’s first 2025 commitment in July 2023. Between current true freshman Isaiah Marshall, McComb and Mason, KU is now well situated at quarterback for the years ahead.

Mason, a 6-foot-2 passer who is rated a three-star prospect and the state’s top quarterback by Rivals, told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com that the “family environment” at KU and his relationship with position coach Jim Zebrowski played significant roles in his decision to commit.

Now, before even reaching November of his junior year, he has pledged to join the Jayhawks.

“It’s like a relief,” he told Kirby. “Now I can just go out there and play football knowing that I don’t really still have things to prove to coaches. I know where I’m going for college. I have it set in stone already, so I can just go out there, relax, and play football.”

Mason recently visited for KU’s game against TCU at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. He picked the Jayhawks over offers from Iowa State and Liberty.

The commitment of Mason, who currently has 1,394 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions in eight games this season according to MaxPreps, provides a valuable local recruiting win for KU. It closely follows the recent loss of in-state offensive lineman Juju Marks, a 2025 prospect who flipped to Nebraska.