Kansas head coach Lance Leipold watches as Oklahoma State gets set for a field goal attempt at the end of the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

The Kansas football team made things official in the early hours of Wednesday morning by signing 17 of its 18 total commitments for the 2026 class, including six Kansans, on the first day of the early signing period.

In-state prospects linebacker Josh Galbreath (Lawrence), defensive end Hunter Higgins (Maize South), quarterback Jaylen Mason, wide receivers Tyren Parker (Shawnee Heights) and Nate Sims (Ottawa) and offensive lineman Kaden Snyder (Salina Central) all put pen to paper promptly, sealing the deal on a much-discussed local class for the Jayhawks as they continue to attempt to grow their footprint within the state.

They were joined by a pair of Indiana prospects who kicked off the day in offensive lineman Malachi Mills and cornerback Robert Reddick, who were followed in short order by running back Kory Amachree (Haslett, Michigan), wide receiver Corbin Glasco (Denton, Texas), offensive lineman Kaden Moody (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), defensive end Draeden Punt (Orange City, Iowa) and linebacker Joseph Credit (Pearland, Texas).

Shortly before 8 a.m. came the announcements of KU’s two Kansas City-area tight ends (in the first recruiting class as tight ends coach for Matt Lubick), Jack Utz (Platte County) and Kevin Sullivan (Rockhurst). Defensive tackle Na’kwaine Carter, of Oklahoma City, soon followed, as did KU’s only West Coast pledge, cornerback Lennie “Trey” Brown (from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California).

Still on the board after Brown’s signing was the player who was inevitably going to be perhaps the most scrutinized KU commitment of the day, running back KD Jones (Jenks, Oklahoma).

Jones is an unusual case. The well-regarded three-star running back initially picked Oklahoma State over a group of finalists that included KU in March before decommitting after OSU fired head coach Mike Gundy. He then committed to the Jayhawks on Oct. 9 and has remained locked in through signing day.

However, rumors have proliferated in recent days about a potential flip back to OSU and its new coach Chad Morris, and the 247Sports site GoPokes has reported that Jones “talked with Morris over the phone the day after Morris was hired and the phone call went well” and “Jones and his family would love for the talented running back to play in state.” In any case, Jones’ father Kejuan Jones, a former Oklahoma running back, posted on X on Wednesday morning in part, “Like I said from the jump wherever you decide I’m riding to the fullest.”

If Jones ultimately opts to return to the Cowboys in his home state, he will be the latest of several flips to go against the Jayhawks after defensive tackle Lucas Smalls-Allen (Wake Forest) and in-state defensive back JJ Dunnigan (Miami).

KU’s recruiting class ranks No. 49 in the nation on both 247Sports and On3. The Jayhawks also have one transfer committed to this point, Jibriel Conde, who played the 2025 season at Grand Valley State and flipped from Wisconsin to the Jayhawks.

This story will be updated.