Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | Season-high 1 yds |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
#24
John Kelly
Freshman running back for Kansas. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 205 lb · Cypress, TX · Cypress Christian
Returning to Kansas for 2026
The numbers
1
rushing yard · 2026
1 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 rush yds, vs Long Island University
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 running back for Kansas. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Kansas in 2025.
John Kelly
He has spent two seasons in the Kansas backfield. The receipt on tape: 1 rush yds against Long Island University, Week 1, 2026.
1 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 1 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Kansas3-star out of Cypress Christian School
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Kansas
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Lance Leipold — 6-8 over that span.
2025Kansas5-7HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
2026Kansas1-1HC: Lance Leipold · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 1.0 YDS/g, 1.0 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Leipold
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
1 rush yds (1 car)
Dominant 45-point win at home against Long Island University.
With I. Marshall — 246 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 80.7 · 49 rush yds (7 car) · C. Ballard — 90 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.2 · 14 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Kansas
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Kansas
Returning around him
- 18% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 2 Kansas players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +5 net (31 in / 26 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Kansas · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #62 · 2026 recruiting class #61
Background
Get to Know John ... Who is your biggest role model and why? My brother. He has taught me so much. What is the significance behind your number? It's a mix of my high school numbers. Who was your favorite football player growing up or who is someone that you model your game after? Adrian Peterson...
The backfield · Kansas
- #6Yasin Willis553 rushing yards · 2025
- #4Jalen Dupree508 rushing yards · 2025
- #1Dylan Edwards205 rushing yards · 2025
- #25Justin Thurman32 rushing yards · 2025
- #24John Kelly8 rushing yards · 2025
3 more on the roster · Kansas team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology