photo by: AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Denver Broncos linebacker JB Brown (50) warms up during Back Together Weekend at an NFL football training practice Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Centennial, Colo.

The NFL preseason is imminent, and with a recent influx of Kansas football players into the league after the graduation of last year’s sizable senior class, any given exhibition game has about a 70% chance of featuring at least one former Jayhawk.

That’s because there are now 15 players who finished their college careers at KU scattered across the league, playing for 14 of its 32 franchises, and that’s even after four were released over the course of the spring and early summer. Most of the remaining 15 will likely play significant roles in the next several weeks of exhibition action, too, as precious few have roster spots assured for the 2025 season.

It all begins on Thursday with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, featuring Luke Grimm and the Los Angeles Chargers against the Detroit Lions.

Grimm, KU’s longtime standout slot receiver, is among a group of undrafted rookie Jayhawks looking to start their professional careers on a positive note and catch on with a franchise. Others include linebacker JB Brown (Denver Broncos), offensive tackle Logan Brown (Minnesota Vikings), cornerbacks Cobee Bryant (Atlanta Falcons) and Mello Dotson (Carolina Panthers) and Grimm’s fellow receiver Quentin Skinner (New York Jets).

Dotson in particular has already weathered his first bit of NFL adversity, as he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders, who had signed him when he first went undrafted, and picked up by Carolina on Saturday.

Defensive end Jereme Robinson, another member of the rookie class, was waived by the Chicago Bears on July 22 in favor of veteran (and former Kansas City Chief) Tanoh Kpassagnon and is still looking for his next team. Other Jayhawks on the free agent wire include offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr. (waived by the Dallas Cowboys following this year’s draft), linebacker Kyron Johnson (released from injured reserve by the Tennessee Titans in May) and Mike Novitsky (waived by Seattle after the draft).

As for the rest of those who are currently on rosters and could see action this preseason, newly converted guard Bryce Cabeldue of Seattle and running back Devin Neal of New Orleans were both sixth-round picks, as they became the latest two Jayhawks selected after defensive end Austin Booker (Chicago Bears) and guard Dominick Puni (San Francisco 49ers) the previous year. Puni started as a rookie and might not be on the field much in August.

Quarterback Jason Bean, though once a top pick in the United Football League’s draft, remains on the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts under general manager Chris Ballard, the father of Bean’s former backup (and current Jayhawk) Cole Ballard. Linebacker Craig Young started out on the Colts but had moved to Pittsburgh and now to its division rival, Cincinnati.

A few NFL veterans remain in the league who predate the Lance Leipold era at KU. Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji spent all of last season, when he was with the Cleveland Browns, on injured reserve and then signed with Dallas in the spring. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong is entering the second season of a three-year deal with Washington after his key plays in last year’s divisional playoff game helped the Commanders reach the conference championship. Finally, wide receiver and return specialist Steven Sims Jr. caught on with his sixth team in seven seasons, the recently quite KU-friendly Seahawks.

Onetime Jayhawk Khalil Herbert, who finished his career at Virginia Tech, is also now with the Indianapolis Colts.

While the NFL begins its preseason Thursday, a few former KU standouts have been hard at work on the gridiron over the course of the spring and summer. Mason Fairchild, Kwamie Lassiter II, Darrius Moragne, Lonnie Phelps and Bryce Torneden were in the UFL last season, and Fairchild even won a championship with the DC Defenders.

Kenny Logan Jr. has gotten off to a fast start with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League, and Hayden Hatcher is playing arena ball in the Indoor Football League, as is Pooka Williams Jr.

photo by: AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue jogs during the NFL football team’s training camp Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Renton, Wash.

photo by: AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal (30) gets a hand off from quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) during the team’s NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

photo by: AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steven Sims runs with the ball during the NFL football team’s training camp in Renton, Wash.

photo by: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) in action during practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va.

photo by: AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Craig Young (59) performs a drill during practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Cincinnati.

photo by: AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jason Bean (12) throws during practice at the NFL football team’s training camp in Westfield, Ind., Wednesday, July 23, 2025.