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

Kansas safety Damani Maxson takes part in spring practice on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Lawrence.

Kansas safety Damani Maxson announced on Wednesday that he will enter the transfer portal.

“I’ve officially entered the transfer portal,” Maxson wrote in a post on X. “Hungry for a new opportunity to grow, compete, and contribute at the highest level. Let’s work.”

Maxson follows a series of teammates — running back Johnny Thompson Jr., linebacker JaCorey Stewart, tight end Jaden Hamm and more — who played sparingly in recent seasons and will all depart KU when the portal opens for real on Jan. 2.

Maxson spent two years in Lawrence, during which time he played 19 combined snaps in three games, all on special teams, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety showed promise as a three-star prospect from Clear Lake High School in Houston, but he didn’t work his way into action as a redshirt freshman, even as the Jayhawks struggled with injuries at the safety position.

Taylor Davis and Lyrik Rawls garnered the vast majority of the snaps, and Devin and Jalen Dye played in reserve roles. Mason Ellis also spent time at safety after beginning the year as the starter at KU’s new nickel-back position.

Davis, Rawls and Ellis can all return in 2026, but the Jayhawks may well need to accumulate a bit more depth in the offseason to supplement that trio. Other scholarship players on the roster include Auburn transfer Laquan Robinson and young prospects Darrion Jones and Brandon Schmelzle.