Former Syracuse starting RB Yasin Willis transfers to Kansas
Former Syracuse starting running back Yasin Willis has transferred to Kansas, CBS Sports reported Wednesday. Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
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Former Syracuse starting running back Yasin Willis has transferred to Kansas, CBS Sports reported Wednesday. Willis ran for 558 yards in nine games as the Orange’s starting running back in 2025.
Willis became a surprise to enter the transfer portal for SU after he said before the end of the season he wasn’t planning on leaving the school and was already planning 2026 with quarterback Steve Angeli. Willis entered the portal on Dec. 23, leaving a hole in Syracuse’s offense.
A three-star out of Montvale, New Jersey, Willis originally committed to Pittsburgh before flipping to the Orange once Fran Brown’s staff took over in December 2023. Willis served as a backup option to LeQuint Allen Jr. in his freshman campaign and then moved into the starting role once Allen Jr. departed for the NFL.
Willis scored three touchdowns in the season opener against then-No. 24 Tennessee, but then scored just one more the rest of the season. The Orange have already added to the running back room in the transfer portal with LSU’s Ju’Juan Johnson, aiding the return of Tylik Hill.
Kansas is coming off a 5-7 season where it finished 11th of 15 teams in the Big 12. Head coach Lance Leipold has produced one winning season in his first five years with the Jayhawks.
