Four-star recruit JJ Dunnigan decommits from KU days after Sunflower Showdown loss
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas football has lost its highest-rated recruit in the 2026 class, as four-star defensive back James "JJ" Dunnigan Jr. announced his decommitment from the University of Kansas on Monday evening, just two days after the Jayhawks' lopsided loss to rival Kansas State.
Dunnigan, a senior from Manhattan High School, posted his decision on social media, stating that after "much prayer and thoughtful conversations with my family," he decided to decommit from the program.
"I'm truly grateful for everything the coaches and staff have done for me and for the way they've treated me throughout this process. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it's the best one for me and my future," Dunnigan wrote.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect's decommitment comes following Kansas' 42-17 defeat to Kansas State on Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Dunnigan was in attendance for the game along with much of the Jayhawks' 2026 recruiting class.
Originally committing to Kansas on Jan. 2 over Kansas State, Nebraska, Stanford and other finalists, Dunnigan appeared locked in as recently as May when he announced he was shutting down his recruitment. His sudden change of heart represents a significant blow to head coach Lance Leipold's program, which now holds 19 total commitments in the 2026 class, including six from Kansas.
"The initial acquisition of Dunnigan in January was a major in-state recruiting coup for the Jayhawks and helped set off a series of commitments from Kansas players during the winter," according to reports from the Kansas City area.
Dunnigan is ranked No. 136 overall in the 2026 recruiting class and No. 2 in the state of Kansas, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He also earned Under Armour All-American honors as a junior, when he emerged as a dual-threat player for Manhattan High School.
During his junior season, Dunnigan compiled 65 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions on defense while catching 28 passes for 556 yards and five touchdowns on offense. He also contributed three return touchdowns on special teams.
Despite his original commitment to Kansas, Dunnigan continued to receive offers from nationally prominent programs throughout his junior year. Programs including Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, Georgia Tech and Michigan extended offers to the Kansas prospect.
According to recruiting reports, Dunnigan has already scheduled official visits to Miami and Colorado. Multiple national programs are expected to pursue the versatile defensive back in the coming months.
The decommitment follows the Jayhawks' continued struggles this season. Kansas currently stands at 4-4 on the year and has lost 17 consecutive games in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry series against Kansas State.
Dunnigan's father, James Dunnigan, played for the Kansas State Wildcats, making his son's original commitment to the Jayhawks a notable recruiting victory for Kansas at the time.