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<\/a><\/p>\nSo, as the 2-3 Jayhawks get set to travel down I-70 to take on Kansas State in this year\u2019s Sunflower Showdown \u2014\u00a011 a.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan on FS1 \u2014 is it possible that KU has that guy on its roster?\u00a0<\/p>\n
For my money, his name is Leroy Harris III, a junior defensive end who has had a sensational start to the 2026 season, even if the wins and plays by his teammates haven\u2019t always piled up around him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris, who received insanely high praise from his coaches throughout the offseason for the person he is, the work he put in and the jump they believed he would make, has been a monster for the improved Kansas defense during the first five games of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end from Brentwood, Tennessee, who runs like a track star, hits like a strong safey and harasses quarterbacks and ball carriers like a middle school bully, leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss (9.5) and forced fumbles (3) and also sits tied for third in sacks (3).\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just a ballplayer, and that\u2019s really what it\u2019s about.\u201d \u2014\u00a0KU defensive lineman Blake Herold on teammate Leroy Harris III <\/p>\n
He\u2019s been a factor on KU\u2019s special teams, blocking a field goal that led to a touchdown against Missouri, and also has stood out on a few dozen plays this season that did not lead to him recording any stats.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the thing, though. None of this has come as any kind of surprise to his teammates.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just a ballplayer, and that\u2019s really what it\u2019s about,\u201d defensive lineman Blake Herold recently told R1S1 Sports when asked what stood out to him about Harris. \u201cYou can teach drills and techniques all you want, but when you\u2019re out there some of that stuff isn\u2019t like it is in a drill, so you just have to be a ballplayer and I really like that out of him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Herold, now in his fourth year with the KU program, still remembers his first thoughts when KU brought Harris in from Chattanooga ahead of the 2025 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The D-End was coming off of a solid season at the FCS school and had clear upside, but he was closer to 230 pounds back then and it showed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was like, \u2018Dude, who did you guys bring in here,\u2019\u201d Herold recalled, laughing at the thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take him long to figure it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even in his first season with the Jayhawks, Harris led the team in sacks (4.5) and pass breakups (8), showcasing the versatility that has become one of his biggest strengths while sparking in the minds of his teammates and coaches how big his potential truly is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They just got that look to them \ud83d\ude08@davidsantiiagoo<\/a> x @LH3_31<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gEYuUIYknr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kansas Football (@KU_Football) October 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cJust his size and strength, being that tall and that long and being able to move the way he does \u2014 21 mph \u2014 he\u2019s for sure a freakish athlete,\u201d Herold said. \u201cLeroy continuing to grow is gonna be great for this defense and this team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Added KU defensive lineman Alex Bray: \u201cHe put on size pretty quick. He\u2019s a monster now. He\u2019s a dog. It\u2019s fun to watch him. He\u2019s a good dude but he can turn it on when he\u2019s on the field. He\u2019s got the length, he\u2019s explosive off the ball, he\u2019s powerful at the point of attack. He\u2019s got all the tools that you need to go out there and be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked recently about Harris\u2019 strong start to the season \u2014\u00a0in particular, him forcing a fumble in three straight games against Missouri, Arizona State and Middle Tennessee \u2014\u00a0KU coach Lance Leipold said he was thrilled with the defensive end\u2019s production, effort, growth and leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n Harris has become the heartbeat of the KU defense and the model for the way the Kansas coaching staff wants its players to play on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know if there’s many more things Leroy does that really surprises me,\u201d Leipold said. \u201cBecause, you know, he has such a high ceiling and he continues to do things. But every week there seems to be a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n Harris did not force a fumble in last week\u2019s loss at Utah, but he did register 2.5 tackles for loss, with 2 of them being sacks, adding another highlight to his fantastic first five games.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the things his teammates like the most about Harris\u2019 game is how matter-of-fact he is about all of it. Whether he puts up big numbers in massive moments or makes the right read on a play where he does not even record a stat, Harris is equally pleased with himself for simply doing his job.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI try to keep the main thing the main thing,\u201d Harris said earlier this season when asked to look ahead to what promised to be a big year. \u201cI try to focus on getting better every day and the rest will take care of itself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cComing from FCS, I\u2019m just blessed to be here and I\u2019ve been taking advantage of all the resources we have here, the training room, all the people we have to work with. We\u2019ve got a bunch of support staff and I wasn\u2019t used to that. So, I\u2019ve gotten used to utilizing all of that and my body\u2019s in a better spot because of it \u2014\u00a0athletically, physically, getting coached, football-wise; it\u2019s just all-around improvement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Added Bray: \u201cI think he knows his potential, but he\u2019s not focused on what\u2019s down the road. He\u2019s focused on what\u2019s in front of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Right now, that\u2019s a massive chance to defeat Kansas State and snap the Wildcats\u2019 17-game winning streak in the Sunflower Showdown series.\u00a0<\/p>\n If he helps the Jayhawks do that, Harris will be remembered for a long time around here, no matter what his stats in this game look like.\u00a0<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan is slated for 11 a.m. on FS1. <\/p>\n \u2014 For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n