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Kansas Football Places 11 Players on Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List Ahead of 2026 Season

Kansas' offseason roster overhaul is already receiving national recognition. The Jayhawks placed 11 players on the Shrine Bowl 1000 watch list, which recognizes NFL Draft-eligible players from all levels of college football who are under consideration for the annual East-West Shrine Bowl.

The group includes a mix of returning starters and transfer additions as Kansas prepares for the 2026 season following consecutive 5-7 campaigns.

Leading the defensive selections are linebacker Tre Lathan, defensive tackle Blake Herold and cornerback Jalen Todd, all key returners expected to anchor coordinator D.K. McDonald's defense. Lathan earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors last season, while Herold and Todd each emerged as consistent contributors in 2025.

Kansas' transfer additions were also well represented.

Former Tulane defensive tackle Tre'Von McAlpine, ex-Boston College linebacker Bam Crouch and former Louisville safety Corey Gordon all landed on the list before playing a game for the Jayhawks. Their inclusion highlights the expectations surrounding a transfer class that addressed several defensive needs.

Offensively, running back Dylan Edwards headlines Kansas' selections after returning to his home state last season. Edwards is joined by offensive linemen Amir Herring and Calvin Clements, along with wide receivers Cam Pickett and Nik McMillan.

McMillan arrives after earning first-team All-MAC honors at Buffalo, while Pickett transferred in following a productive 45-catch season. Clements and Herring both return after serving as key pieces on Kansas' offensive line in 2025.

The Shrine Bowl 1000 serves as an early evaluation list for NFL scouts and event organizers ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft process. While inclusion does not guarantee a Shrine Bowl invitation, it identifies players viewed as potential professional prospects entering the season.

Kansas' 11 selections reflect the program's blend of veteran returners and experienced transfers as Lance Leipold looks to guide the Jayhawks back to postseason play.

The Jayhawks open the 2026 season on Aug. 29 against Fresno State at the newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium before traveling to London to face Missouri in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

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