Cruz's impressive combine, powerful play, and determined transfer journey land him with the 49ers, making NFL Draft history for Kansas.
Kansas football has its first name off the board. San Francisco 49ers selected Enrique Cruz Jr. with the No. 179 overall pick in the fifth round, making him the first Jayhawk taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. It also continues a trend of the 49ers trusting Kansas linemen after taking Dominick Puni in 2024.
This is a big moment for Cruz and honestly a big rise from where most people had him projected. A lot of mocks had him going later, but his pre draft process changed that.
A 4.94 forty at his size, plus a 35 inch vertical and a 9 foot 8 broad jump, that is not normal for a 6 foot 6, 320 pound tackle. Those numbers had him near the top of his position group, and it got NFL teams paying attention fast. Add in a strong showing at the American Bowl and KU’s pro day, and his stock kept climbing. His path to this point is just as important.
Cruz started his career at Syracuse, moved around the line early, then lost his spot before transferring to Kansas. He came in during the 2025 offseason, earned the starting right tackle job, and really hit his stride once Big 12 play started. By the end of the year, he was an all conference honorable mention and one of the more reliable pieces on that line. Now he heads to a great situation.
San Francisco has a track record of developing offensive linemen, and they already have familiarity with Kansas guys. That matters. Cruz is going to have a real chance to come in, develop, and compete for a role early in his career.
Zooming out, this is another sign of what Kansas is building under Lance Leipold. Offensive line development has taken a jump, and NFL teams are noticing.
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Kansas Lands Christian Reeves, Adds Size and Experience to Frontcourt
The Kansas men's basketball team continued its transfer portal push by landing big man Christian Reeves, a move that could solidify the center position heading into next season.
Reeves, a 7-foot-2 center, arrives in Lawrence after a breakout year at Charleston, where he averaged 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. After limited roles at Duke and Clemson, he finally showed his potential, earning All-CAA and All-Defensive Team honors while emerging as one of the top offensive rebounders in the country.