Kansas University Football Recruiting

There may no longer be a spring transfer window for FBS football, but that didn’t stop Kansas from finding a way to make a late addition to its roster on Friday afternoon.

Jalen Atkins, a defensive lineman from Coffeyville Community College, announced his commitment to KU. He tallied 14 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, in six games with the Red Ravens during the 2025 season.

He will be a redshirt sophomore when he joins the Jayhawks. Atkins, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, hails from Wagoner, Oklahoma, and started his career at Northwestern Oklahoma State, an NCAA Division II school.

Atkins had offers from FCS programs such as Bryant, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Hampton, Jackson State, Towson and Western Illinois. He had at one point been committed to Division II Emporia State.

Based on his measurements and KU’s needs, he likely projects as a reserve defensive tackle for the Jayhawks. It’s a position at which they have returning experience in Blake Herold and Marcus Calvin and transfer additions Jibriel Conde (Grand Valley State), Tre’Von McAlpine (Tulane), Kevin Oatis (Arkansas) and Eamon Smalls (UAB), along with younger players in Josiah Hammond and incoming freshman Nakwaine Carter. But there is some injury uncertainty in the room, especially with the marquee veteran acquisition McAlpine after he was “banged up,” position coach Jim Panagos said, late in the spring.

KU may not be done in the junior-college realm. It has had some reported interest in Victor Valley College wide receiver Don Henry, who caught 41 passes for 523 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season; the Jayhawks have an open spot at wideout after the departure of Jaden Nickens, who decided to leave the program and pursue basketball instead.