KU continues in-state recruiting run with commitment of Higgins

Kansas football recruiting

The Kansas football team continued its recent run of in-state success in the 2026 high school recruiting class, beating out a trio of Big Ten Conference schools for the commitment of Maize South’s Hunter Higgins.

Higgins, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive end, announced his decision Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony at his high school, selecting KU over finalists Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. He had also reported numerous other offers, including those from Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and USC.

“I didn’t make the decision just to be done with it because I always say so many people would love to be in my position,” he told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “For me to wish like that it would be over, I think is wrong. Even though it can get pretty crazy at times, I always keep that in the back of my head that this is such a blessing. I felt like it was time, and I felt like I did everything I needed to. It was the right time for me to commit to Kansas.”

Higgins recorded 43 tackles and 11 sacks for Maize South during his junior season, according to MaxPreps, including five sacks in a single game to set the school record.

He currently ranks as the No. 2 junior in Kansas on Rivals, where he is a four-star prospect and No. 4 on 247Sports, where he is a three-star.

Higgins becomes KU’s third in-state commitment in the 2026 class after quarterback Jaylen Mason of Wichita Northwest and Manhattan defensive back JJ Dunnigan, who made his decision at the Under Armour Next All-America Game on Jan. 2. The Jayhawks’ lone out-of-state pledge thus far is Lennie “Trey” Brown, a cornerback from Tustin, California.

“I’m already recruiting guys,” Higgins told Kirby. “I want our class to be the best one they’ve ever had. And so, I already have started. I have already started recruiting for sure.”

KU continues to improve its future prospects at defensive end, where it has Adrian Holley and Garrett Martin signed for the 2025 class, and a pair of rising redshirt freshmen in Dakyus Brinkley and Kentucky transfer Caleb Redd.