Kansas Running Back Yasin Willis Had Surgery
The Kansas running back will miss the remainder of the season following surgery on a foot injury.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Football
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Kansas running back Yasin Willis underwent surgery last week for a right foot injury sustained against Arizona State. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
The Kansas football program faces significant depth challenges after Willis joined three other scholarship running backs sidelined for the season. The team has responded by adjusting the roster and moving players across positions.
Yasin Willis recorded 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries across three games before his injury. The team has added Chase Belcher, who recorded 566 rushing yards on 107 carries during the 2025 season.
The players
Yasin Willis
He is a running back for the Kansas football team who recorded 125 rushing yards before his season-ending injury.
Lance Leipold
He serves as the head coach for the Kansas football team and is responsible for managing roster adjustments.
Chase Belcher
He is a running back who joined the Kansas roster after receiving eligibility through an injunction against the NCAA.
Khijohn Cummings-Coleman
He is a player who transitioned from his position as a safety to a running back to address team depth issues.
Clifton Thompson
He is a defensive tackle who joined the Kansas football team following a successful legal injunction against the NCAA.
The details
In response to the injury crisis, the coaching staff moved safety Khijohn Cummings-Coleman to running back and added Chase Belcher and defensive tackle Clifton Thompson to the roster. Belcher and Thompson were granted eligibility to join the team through an injunction against the NCAA.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: Yasin Willis suffered the right foot injury during the game against Arizona State.
Week of September 21, 2026: Yasin Willis underwent surgery for his injury.
September 28, 2026: Coach Lance Leipold confirmed the surgical procedure and subsequent roster changes.
Season Trajectory
The reliance on legal injunctions to bolster roster depth reflects a shifting landscape in collegiate sports where judicial intervention frequently alters competitive availability. These additions are critical for maintaining the team's depth as they navigate a challenging path through the remainder of the season.
With three scholarship running backs currently sidelined, the offense will rely on the immediate production of new roster additions and positional shifts. The team's ability to maintain offensive output depends on the effectiveness of these emergency replacements during the upcoming conference schedule.
The takeaway
The team's reliance on mid-season roster additions highlights the importance of positional versatility in modern collegiate football. Fans should monitor how quickly new additions like Chase Belcher integrate into the offensive scheme.
Further reading
For more updates on the team's progress, visit the Football section.
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