Yasin Willis Undergoes Surgery as Kansas Running Back Room Faces More Uncertainty
Kansas football’s running back room has taken another hit as Yasin Willis recently underwent surgery following the injury he suffered against Arizona State, adding another layer of uncertainty to a position group that was already dealing with several health concerns.
Willis, a Syracuse transfer, entered the 2026 season as one of Kansas’ two starting running backs alongside Dylan Edwards. The Jayhawks expected the 230-pound junior to provide a physical presence in the backfield and play a major role in the offense.
That changed during Kansas’ 24-17 loss to Arizona State in London.
Willis carried the ball eight times for 35 yards before leaving the game. He did not receive another carry in the second half and was seen on the sideline wearing a boot on his right foot. At the time, Kansas head coach Lance Leipold said he did not know how long Willis would be unavailable.
“I’m not sure, I just know he was out for the day,” Leipold said after the game. “I don’t know how long he’s going to be out. But yeah, it’s highly concerning right now.”
Now, with Willis undergoing surgery, Kansas faces questions about when he could potentially return and how the Jayhawks will handle the position while he recovers.
The timing is especially difficult because Kansas has already been dealing with injuries elsewhere in the running back room. Jalen Dupree was limited during the week leading up to the Arizona State game, while other players have also dealt with injuries throughout the season.
Leipold acknowledged after the Arizona State game that Kansas was running short on healthy options.
“We’re down guys there right now, can’t do much about it,” Leipold said. “Maybe you have to be creative and see where it takes us.”
With Willis unavailable, Edwards could become even more important to Kansas’ rushing attack. Edwards carried 18 times for 89 yards against Arizona State, taking on a larger workload after Willis left the game. Walk-on Micah Johnson also received opportunities, including a fourth-down carry in the second half.
Kansas now has a bye week before returning to action against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 3. The extra time gives the Jayhawks an opportunity to evaluate their running back situation and determine how they will replace Willis’ production.
For Kansas, Willis’ surgery creates another challenge for an offense that entered the season expecting its running back room to be one of its strengths. How long he remains sidelined could have a major impact on the Jayhawks as they prepare for the second half of the season.
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Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksROUNDTABLE. He can be reached at [email protected]
