Kansas Lands NDSU Transfer DL Javier Derritt
The level of football being played in Lawrence, Kansas, over the last three seasons is such a stark difference from the decade that preceded it that it’s nearly unrecognizable.
Since Lance Leipold stepped in and took over the program, Kansas football has only gotten better. In 2023, the Jayhawks finished 9-4 and ranked No. 23 in the final AP poll, their first time finishing a season ranked since 2007. The offense has carried the day for KU, but the defense took strides in ’23 and hopes to do so once again in 2024.
The chances of them doing just that got a little bit better on Thursday as they added another defensive piece to the puzzle that had several other Power Four offers.
Javier Derritt, a transfer defensive lineman from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, announced his commitment to the Jayhawks on Thursday afternoon, choosing KU over offers from USC, Cal, Minnesota, and Missouri.
Derritt spent five seasons with the Bison and became a fixture along the interior of the defensive line during that time.
In 2023, the senior racked up 31 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks to cap his career for NDSU. Over the course of his career there, Derritt totaled 90 tackles, 16.0 tackles for a loss and 11.0 sacks.
Now, with one year of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound defender will become an immediate contributor along a Kansas defensive line that showed improvement in 2023, but still struggled to hold up against Big 12 rushing attacks, allowing 182.4 rushing yards per game in league play.
With a bevy of returning talent on both sides of the ball, Kansas has a chance to be a real contender for a conference crown in 2023, and with another quality piece along the defensive line, they’re one step closer to winning their first Big 12 title in program history.
