Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks have picked up their biggest commitment of the winter transfer portal cycle as North Texas offensive lineman Tyler Mercer has announced he is headed to Lawrence ahead of the 2025 season.
While an offensive lineman transferring from the AAC might seem insignificant to the casual fan, Mercer’s addition is one to get excited about for several reasons.
Mercer was a three-star prospect out of Prosper, Texas, and rated as the 146th-best offensive lineman in the class of 2024. However, when he arrived in Denton and got to work for the Mean Green, it was pretty obvious that Mercer’s ceiling was much higher than many had anticipated.
Despite his youth, Mercer won the starting job at center in his first season of college football and logged 565 snaps on the year. In one of the most explosive offensive attacks in the country, Mercer was an immediate difference-maker, allowing just three total pressures on 386 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF data.
With just three QB hurries and no sacks allowed on the season, Mercer’s pass-blocking efficiency grade of 99.6 ranked him first among all centers with 500+ snaps and third among centers with 100 snaps or more.
As a result, Mercer garnered Freshman All-American honors from several outlets, and at 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, became one of the biggest names in the transfer portal when he entered on December 9. On his social media account, Mercer reported offers from Miami, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Arizona State, and North Carolina, among others.
According to On3, Mercer is the No. 4 overall interior offensive lineman in this cycle and the No. 58 overall player in the cycle.
Now, with three years of eligibility remaining, Mercer will head to Lawrence to learn under Bryce Foster, and perhaps even make a push to start at the Power Four level in his second season of college football.
