The energy in the building was electric. Coaches and scouts alike fixed their eyes on Enrique Cruz Jr., the 313-pound tackle who already stunned the league with a 4.94-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He moved with a fluidity that made his massive frame look light. Meanwhile, Jalon Daniels reminded everyone why he sits second in school history with 9,282 passing yards. He zipped passes to Emmanuel Henderson Jr. with the same precision that defined the 2025 season.
Scouts from over two dozen teams, including heavy presence from the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs, crowded the sidelines. They weren’t just checking boxes; they were hunting for the next Bryce Cabeldue, the former Jayhawk who recently secured a Super Bowl LX ring with Seattle. The atmosphere felt less like a practice and more like a coronation for a program that has spent the last five years climbing out of the Big 12 cellar.
“It’s a great day for our program and these departing seniors. They have an opportunity to fulfill a dream—a chance to play at the highest level of football. I’m awful proud of them and what they’ve done, whether they were here for their whole career or a short stint.”
— Lance Leipold, Kansas Head Coach
The focus now shifts to late April. While Daniels and Cruz are the marquee names, specialists like kicker Laith Marjan—who set a school record with 14 consecutive field goals—made a strong case for a late-round flyer. The depth of this class reflects the stability Leipold has brought to Lawrence. Unlike previous years where the roster was a revolving door, these players represent a core that stayed, won, and now prepares for Sundays.
With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, the Jayhawks are poised to have their most successful showing in decades. Evaluators left Lawrence with plenty of tape and even more questions about how high these prospects can climb before the first name is called in Philadelphia.
