What Cam Pickett is saying ahead of Kansas football’s 2026 season

FRISCO, Texas — Cam Pickett‘s reasons for staying with Kansas football in 2026, after the team’s disappointing 2025 campaign, aren’t all that complicated.

Pickett, who’ll be a redshirt senior wide receiver, feels like he has unfinished business in Lawrence. A former transfer from Ball State, he likes KU, believes the coaches believe in him and thinks the fans make it fun to be there. There’s also some motivation, of course, from dropping too many close games last year and knowing what the team as a whole needs to work on.

Pickett, who finished tied for first for the Jayhawks in receptions last season and second in receiving yards, also feels more comfortable at Kansas than he did during his first run with KU in 2025. He’s been through spring ball and summer workouts before, and knows what to expect in certain situations. It feels, to him, like he’s been around for longer than just one year.

So, in 2026, he’s a part of a wide receivers room that he seems to find intriguing. There are younger guys he’s seen be eager to learn, and put in a lot of work. Redshirt senior Nik McMillan (Buffalo) and senior Nahzae Cox (Middle Tennessee) are two transfers who’ve stood out to him, and a returner in redshirt junior Keaton Kubecka is someone he can tell is hungry for a good season.

Here are a few more takeaways from what Pickett had to say in July during Big 12 Conference media days in Frisco, Texas:
‘s offense going to thrive at this season?

Pickett said people will see some similar things, compared to last year, but there’ll be some differences as well. Andy Kotelnicki is back on staff as associated head coach, and is looking to help the offense take the next step. Pickett thinks Kansas will be explosive on that side of the ball, and has a lot of players who can make big plays.

Junior running back Dylan Edwards, a transfer from Kansas State, is someone who’s stood out to Pickett. Edwards is someone Pickett thinks can line up anywhere on the field and have an effect on the game, which makes the game easier for the offense in general. Pickett said Edwards is fast and elusive, and knows the game very well.

Kansas fans will remember wide receiver Tate Nagy playing the role of lead punt returner last season. Pickett, though, foresees Nagy having a more expanded role in the offense this year as a sophomore. Pickett’s excited to see what Nagy is capable of.

What impresses Pickett, is how Nagy can operate in as a slot receiver. Nagy is sure-handed, and makes a lot of hard catches. Nagy can find ways to get open, too.

Kansas football’s Sept. 19 game against Arizona State is going to be played in London. It’ll be featured on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” show. And count Pickett among those excited to be able to be a part of playing a matchup overseas.

Pickett understands the history of Wembley Stadium, where the game will be played. The fact that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is happening right now, leads him to think about all of the great soccer players who’ve competed there. To be able to play at the same venue they did, will be fun.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: What Cam Pickett is saying ahead of Kansas football’s 2026 season