Kansas running back Johnny Thompson Jr. (20) smashes into Wagner defensive back Alim Parks Jr. during the third quarter on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas running back Johnny Thompson Jr. announced on Thursday afternoon that he intends to enter the transfer portal.

Thompson, who spent three years at KU and is originally from Canoga Park, California, will have two seasons left to play. He carried the ball 24 times for 107 yards during his career as a Jayhawk, receiving some significant action in mop-up duty in a trio of blowout wins for KU early in the 2025 season and losing one fumble along the way.

“I want to start with thanking Coach (Lance) Leipold, Coach (Jonathan) Wallace and the staff of Kansas University for making KU feel like home,” Thompson wrote in a post on X. “In addition, Jayhawk Nation has shown nothing but love and I want to thank them for the constant support shown throughout my journey.”

“I was blessed to be able to bond and compete with such a great group of guys and (I’ll) cherish our moments for life. I’m excited for the opportunity to find the best fit for my future, both academically and athletically.”

KU coaches often spoke highly of Thompson’s elusiveness and the way his skill set complemented those of the Jayhawks’ hard-charging top-level backs like Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams, but it didn’t necessarily equate to playing time. The younger Harry Stewart III surpassed Thompson on the depth chart, and he received many of the additional carries at times when Hishaw and Williams battled injury (he had 21 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown over the course of his redshirt freshman campaign). Stewart garnered 82 offensive snaps on the year to Thompson’s 34.

Thompson’s portal entry, which is the second announced by a Jayhawk since KU concluded its season (reserve punter Efren Jasso previously made his intentions known on Tuesday), leaves the Jayhawks a bit thin at running back. With Hishaw and Williams exhausting their eligibility, Stewart now helms a group that also features Justin Thurman and John Kelly, who were true freshmen during the 2025 season, and incoming 2026 signee Kory Amachree from Haslett, Michigan.

With Thompson’s departure and KD Jones’ signing-day flip back to Oklahoma State, there will certainly be room for KU to pursue additional running-back options in the transfer portal, building on the success it had with Williams.

The portal opens in earnest on Jan. 2.