Two Kansas football players have departed the program and are currently stepping away from football. Cornerback Damarius McGhee and linebacker Tristian Fletcher are no longer a part of the program. Both players would be entering their senior season with the KU program in 2025 but have elected to step away from football.

“They’re no longer on the roster and they’ll be finishing school,” Lance Leipold said after KU’s first spring practice on Sunday. “I don’t know their plans as far as playing. I think both of them right now are just going to graduate and take the next step. But we appreciate those young men. Both had trouble staying healthy. Good young men, love both of them. Love their personalities; very unselfish, never a problem with attitude or work ethic.”

McGhee was a big addition for KU coming out of the transfer portal in the 2023 offseason. The cornerback played as a true freshman at LSU before he redshirted in his second season and entered the transfer portal. Coming out of high school in the 2021 class, McGhee picked LSU over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and USC to name a few. He was one of the top-100 recruits nationally in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports staff.

McGhee’s first season at KU was impacted by a back injury. He played in KU’s season opener in 2023 against Missouri State but he did not take the field again during the season. Last season, McGhee played in the first six games of the season as a reserve cornerback and he averaged about 10 snaps per game. But, he suffered an injury and missed the remainder of the season after KU’s first bye week.

Fletcher was a JUCO addition for KU ahead of the 2022 season. The linebacker played in three games during his first season with the program and earned a redshirt. As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, he played in three games but only totaled a handful of snaps over the course of the season. Last year, Fletcher played in the first six games of the season, totaling 16 snaps on defense. He was also a part of the kickoff coverage unit. But, he suffered a season-ending injury after KU’s Week 6 game at Arizona State and did not feature again.