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

Kansas linebacker Trey Lathan participates in Kansas football's spring practice on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Lawrence.

The Kansas football team had the privilege this offseason of being able to retain its leading tackler, the ever-reliable linebacker who played more snaps on defense than anyone during the 2025 campaign.

But the Jayhawks almost lost him.

Trey Lathan announced on New Year’s Day that he was entering the transfer portal. Two weeks later, he announced his return to KU.

“Just wanted to see what was the best opportunity for me,” Lathan said on Thursday. “Transfer portal, you got a lot of resources, people use a lot of resources. So just wanted to see what was out there for me, and decided to come back to Coach (Chris) Simpson and (Lance) Leipold, decided it was the best opportunity, best scheme, best fit, so came back.”

Lathan added that the return came with no animosity from those he had considered leaving behind, “especially because I was transparent throughout the whole process.” Indeed, KU is happy to have him. What had looked like a complete reset for the Jayhawks in the linebacker room is instead generally a fresh start but one that can be ushered in by an established senior leader in the middle of the defense.

“It’s tremendous having him back,” Simpson said, “and he’s doing a really, really good job — I can’t stress that enough — kind of taking a step forward.”

Lathan and the Jayhawks maintained open lines of communication during his two weeks of uncertainty. Part of what KU did during that time was try to figure out its best possible pitch to retain Lathan, who was coming off a distinguished season in which he recorded 86 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered two more and intercepted a pass.

“You’re trying to find the ways to make sure you explain why it’s in their best interest to stay and where that’s at,” Leipold said. “Sometimes you don’t know until they tell you.”

One point that ultimately proved compelling was the potential upside of a second year in the same defense — Lathan had of course seen that firsthand when he spent his first three years experiencing continuity at West Virginia.

“Not saying I can’t learn a new system, but being in the same system twice, it helps you more than you really know about,” Lathan said.

“And the things that we kind of promoted to Trey is kind of what’s come to fruition now,” Simpson said, “which is year two in a system, really picking up where he left off, (he) obviously was very productive for us a year ago, and to be able to take his knowledge of what we’re doing and take another step and really improve his game. I think he’s doing that and doing a very good job of it.”

The linebackers coach added that KU wanted to instill faith in Lathan that it would surround him with viable pieces “so that he’s not just doing it on his own.” Depth at linebacker was an issue for the Jayhawks in 2025, which was part of why Lathan had to play so many snaps. But in the days between Lathan’s initial announcement and his return, KU got commitments from Landyn Watson (Kentucky), Quincy Davis (New Mexico State), Jaron Willis (South Carolina), Bam Crouch (Boston College) and Jibreel Al-Amin (Marshall).

“I think he’s kind of seeing some of that too, which is really getting him to settle in and do a really, really good job this spring,” Simpson said. “He’s having a phenomenal spring, quite honestly.”

Lathan said assignments and alignments are indeed coming more easily to him in his second season with the Jayhawks, especially in the run game.

“It’s a lot of things that come naturally now, knowing what to do, knowing how to do things and just going about it with some more knowledge into it, it makes everything easier,” he said.

Something that might not come as naturally to Lathan is leadership, at least the demonstrable kind that involves and affects his teammates.

“I’m not really a vocal guy,” he said, “but especially the season we’re about to have, the season we need to have, I got to take those next steps to be a leader and lead this team, hopefully have a great fall.”

Leipold mentioned Lathan along with the likes of defensive tackle Blake Herold and cornerback Jalen Todd among potential defensive standouts who are “stepping out of their comfort zones to help lead our defense.” Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said Lathan has been “getting guys together and pulling guys aside,” and indeed Lathan said he has tried to show up early more often and bring other players with him.

“It’s just fun to see kids’ growth as they come into their second year of anything,” McDonald said. “This is his last go-round, so you want seniors playing the best football, and that’s what I take a lot of pride in, and that’s what we’re trying to do, help them play their best.”

As much as Lathan’s renewed efforts could bolster KU’s chances in 2026, they could also be a longer-term play. The redshirt senior said leadership is the biggest thing he needs to improve in order to make it to the next level: professional football.