Kansas Offers Pair of Out-of-State Underclassman Recruits

Jayhawks target athlete Trey Stewart and tight end Luke Gazzaniga

Feb. 7, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The Kansas Jayhawks football program has offered scholarships to two junior recruits from out of state - athlete Trey Stewart from Arkansas and tight end Luke Gazzaniga from California. Both players are highly regarded prospects in the 2027 recruiting class.

Why it matters

Securing top out-of-state talent is crucial for the Kansas program as they look to build on recent success under head coach Lance Leipold. Offering underclassmen early shows the Jayhawks are being proactive in their recruiting efforts.

The details

Trey Stewart, a 6-foot, 205-pound athlete from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, has close to 20 scholarship offers already. He plays both running back and linebacker in high school and could potentially play on either side of the ball in college. Stewart is the top-ranked recruit in Arkansas for the 2027 class. Luke Gazzaniga is a 6-foot-4, 232-pound tight end from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California. As a junior, he caught 20 passes for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns. Gazzaniga is a versatile tight end who can line up all over the field.

  • Kansas offered scholarships to Trey Stewart and Luke Gazzaniga earlier this week.
  • Stewart and Gazzaniga just finished their junior seasons of high school football.

The players

Trey Stewart

A 6-foot, 205-pound athlete from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas who plays both running back and linebacker. He is the top-ranked recruit in Arkansas for the 2027 class.

Luke Gazzaniga

A 6-foot-4, 232-pound tight end from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California. As a junior, he caught 20 passes for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Lance Leipold

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks football program, who is leading the team's recruiting efforts.

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What they’re saying

“After a great conversation with @CoachWallaceKU i am blessed to receive an offer from The University Of Kansas!!”

— Trey Stewart

“Praise God! After a conversation with @CoachLubick I am Blessed and Honored to Have received an Offer from The University of Kansas!”

— Luke Gazzaniga

What’s next

Getting both Stewart and Gazzaniga on campus for visits will be a priority for the Kansas coaching staff as they look to secure these top out-of-state talents in the 2027 recruiting class.

The takeaway

Kansas is being proactive in its recruiting efforts, offering scholarships to highly-touted underclassmen from outside the state. Securing these types of players will be crucial as the Jayhawks look to build on their recent success and compete at a high level in the Big 12 Conference.