- Gale Sayers was a two-time consensus All-American in 1963 and 1964.
- Todd Reesing is the Jayhawks' all-time leader in passing yards with 11,194.
- The Jayhawks retired John Hadl’s No. 21.
At the BetMGM online sportsbook, you can wager on the college football odds for the Kansas Jayhawks football team.
Before 2023, if you bet on the the moneyline football odds for the Jayhawks, things didn’t go your way, as they posted 15 straight losing seasons (2008-22).
Below, I’ll examine the top nine Jayhawks football players of all time.
9 Best Kansas Jayhawks Football Players
| Rank | Player | Position | Kansas Jayhawks Years |
| 1 | Gale Sayers | RB | 1962-64 |
| 2 | Todd Reesing | QB | 2006-09 |
| 3 | Ray Evans | QB/RB/DB | 1941-42, 1946-47 |
| 4 | John Hadl | QB/RB/DB | 1959-61 |
| 5 | John Riggins | RB | 1968-70 |
| 6 | Aqib Talib | DB | 2005-07 |
| 7 | Nolan Cromwell | QB/S | 1973-76) |
| 8 | David Jaynes | QB | 1971-73 |
| 9 | Gilbert Brown | DT | 1989-1992 |
1. Gale Sayers
From 1962 to 1964, Sayers had 2,675 rushing yards, a school record until the mid-1970s.
While with Kansas, Sayers was a two-time consensus All-American (1963 and 1964), three-time first-team All-Big Eight (1962, 1963, 1964), and the team retired his No. 48.
Sayers went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL and is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
2. Todd Reesing
Reesing passed for a school-record 11,840 yards from 2006 to 2009. Next on this list is Frank Seurer, with 6,112 yards, meaning Reesing has almost doubled his yards.
Reesing holds the top three single-season passing yards records in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Todd Reesing days away 5⃣🐐 pic.twitter.com/qGq1jbgqI8
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) August 28, 2022
Reesing was responsible for 105 total touchdowns across his Jayhawks career (first), including 90 passing touchdowns (first).
He was second-team All-Big 12 in 2007 and led the Jayhawks to an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech that season.
3. Ray Evans
Evans played in 1941 and 1942 and returned in 1946 through 1947 after serving in the military. While he’s designated as a halfback, Evans holds the Jayhawks record for interceptions with 17.
He was first-team All-American (1947), third-team All-American (1946), three-time first-team All-Big Six (1942, 1946, 1947), and the team retired his No. 42 jersey.
Evans is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. John Hadl
Hadl played multiple positions for the Jayhawks. He was an All-American in 1960 and 1961 at quarterback. He became the first-ever Jayhawk to receive that honour twice.
He was first-team All-Big Eight as a running back in 1959 and again as a quarterback in 1960 and 1961.
The Jayhawks retired his No. 21 and was the No. 10 overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft.
5. John Riggins
Riggins was a three-time All-Big Eight selection during his Kansas career (1967-70), earning first-team honours in 1968 and 1970 and second-team in 1970.
He finished his college career with 2,659 rushing yards across three seasons.
6. Aqib Talib
Talib finished his Jayhawks career (2005-07) with 13 interceptions, including six in 2006.
He was a unanimous All-American in 2007, a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, and won the Jack Tatum Trophy.
In the 2008 Orange Bowl, he had a pick-six thrown by Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor and was named the Orange Bowl MVP.
7. Nolan Cromwell
Cromwell ranks second in single-game rushing yards for the Jayhawks with 294 in 1975 against Oregon State. What makes this so impressive is that Cromwell played quarterback and safety. In 1975, he had 218 carries for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing for 333 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.
During his time with the Jayhawks, he was the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year in 1975 and first-team All-Big Eight that same season.
Cromwell was a unique player. He was taken in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft.
8. David Jaynes
Playing quarterback for the Jayhawks from 1971 to 1973, Jaynes ranks fourth in passing yards (5,132) and fourth in passing touchdowns (35).
He was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Eight in 1973.
His standout game that season came when he completed 35 of 58 passes against Tennessee, although Kansas lost 28-27. Jaynes finished fourth in the Heisman voting in 1973.
9. Gilbert Brown
Across four seasons with the Jayhawks, Brown started all but two games and is tied for sixth in program history for tackles by a defensive lineman with 168, fifth in tackles for a loss with 30, and recorded 7.5 sacks.
He was second-team All-Big Eight in 1990 and was the No. 79 overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Brown’s 10-year pro career included winning Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers.
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