Story by
The Topeka Capital Journal
Was Lance Leipold surprised David McComb transferred from KU football?
- Story byThe Topeka Capital Journal
- Was Lance Leipold surprised David McComb transferred from KU football?
LAWRENCE — That Kansas football would have a new starting quarterback in 2026 was a given, with Jalon Daniels moving on to pursue a professional career.
Daniels, who's been one of the Jayhawks participating at this year's NFL Combine, wrapped up his time in college with KU in the 2025 season. Daniels had spent his entire college career at Kansas . As the Jayhawks continue to make their way through the offseason, and prepare for the fall, one of the sustaining storylines will center on which player will follow him in that starting role.
Advertisement
But one player who isn't in contention anymore to start at Kansas in 2026, is David McComb. McComb, who spent his true freshman season at KU in 2025, revealed his intention to enter the transfer portal following the season and committed to Miami (Ohio). And in February, Kansas coach Lance Leipold explained his reaction to that.
RELATED: What Jalon Daniels, Emmanuel Henderson Jr. are saying at NFL combine
"I'm learning that nothing will surprise me anymore, with what's happening," Leipold said. "You've got to respect everyone's decisions, whether you always agree or not, and David's situation, I understand it. He felt it would be tough to get a full run at the position. David's a quality young man that, I think a lot of him and his family."
Leipold continued: "But, yeah, did it surprise me? Probably not. Because at the beginning — it did in the fact that I thought we were on a good track, that everything was pointing that he would. And then, all of a sudden, you get detoured. And we did that with about four or five other guys as well that that happened to. So, yeah, and then of course you get a lot of calls about him and stuff like that, and we tried to help every guy that moved on. And I think most of our guys have."
Advertisement
Two players who were already going to be on the roster this season for Kansas at quarterback are redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall and redshirt junior Cole Ballard. Both have appeared at times during their college career for the Jayhawks. Also, after McComb's announcement in December he intended to leave, in January the Jayhawks saw Rice transfer and redshirt junior Chase Jenkins reveal his commitment to KU.
Whichever player ends up earning the starting role for Kansas, which does have a new freshman coming in at quarterback in Jaylen Mason, will attempt to help the Jayhawks end a two-season drought of not playing in bowl games. Kansas hasn't appeared in one since going to back-to-back bowl games in 2022 and 2023. Head coach Lance Leipold is going into his sixth season leading the program.
Then with Kansas, quarterback David McComb (16) throws a pass during a practice inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Aug. 1, 2025.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association's sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: David McComb transferred from KU football. Was Lance Leipold surprised?
