Tis The Recruiting Season -- Jayhawk Style

A few offensive guys on my wish list in no particular order --

Toben Opurum -- RB
They call him a fullback, but when you watch this video--you realize he can be a feature back. According to Scout, he's visiting this weekend and I wish they'd move the high 3 degrees on Sunday up about 40 degrees. Anyway, you all know the story here -- Sharp, Quigley and Crawford will all be seniors next year. The starting spot is wide open for 2010 against the weak rotation. You can be a the back for a team hell-bent on getting to the Big 12 title game.

Skyler Scott -- WR
Info from the HuskerJournal on the Texas wideout indicates that he has eliminated Mizzou and has narrowed his choices to Baylor and KU. You have to scroll down on that link to pick up his full comments, but he looks like a Baylor lean. Understandable being close to home and the chance to play with Robert Griffin III. However, I'll throw out a few pros for Kansas:

1) Legitimate division contender -- hard to imagine Baylor rising to the top in the south. Heck, OSU and Tech haven't been able to do it

2) Dexton Fields graduates -- you could actually play in year one during Todd Reesing's senior year.

3) Otherwise, redshirt and go at it in 2010 against the weak schedule. Kerry Meier will graduate as well so competition at wideout will be open.

Comments from Skyler:

“I like the coaching staff at Kansas. I like their uniforms a little bit I do like the offense they run and their quarterback.” Scott said

I like Coach Beaty (Kansas) he’s a really cool guy, I hear from him a lot. Coach Beaty said I could play as a true freshman.” Scott added

Video at MaxPreps -- http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/maxprepstv.mxp/videoid-142656a1-27d0-441f-b7fe-9dd3db26cc34

Bryant Allen -- WR
I hadn't heard much about Bryant until KJ-IBT noted that Mizzou was off of his list and that he was down to KU and Minnesota. When you take a look at his profile on Scout, the first thing that jumps out at you is the 4.3 forty time. Yes, I think he'd fit in nicely to the mix at wide receiver. I'd mention the same bullet points to Bryant that I listed above for Skyler. Compare KU's place in the North division versus Minnesota's slot in the Big 10.

Ronnie Wingo Jr -- RB/ATH
Looks like we're still on the list and has said in the past he will visit KU. Looks like Mark Mangino and Gary Pinkel visited this week, but that particular reporter feels good about Arkansas. Still, how about a little video:

Video Posted from Ronnie's Gallery on Takkle.com

Oh, but I'm too greedy as the list goes on -- visions of Kendial Lawrence, Tyrece Gaines, Tracy Moore and Ricco Sanders are also dancing in my head. Not to mention more QBs still on the list and a particular JUCO defensive end on the other side of the ball. The real job is calling, I'll have to save those for another day ... but I have to say it is the most wonderful time of the year.

Update on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 08:20PM by DJ Goodwin

Go ahead and scratch Bryant Allen -- he's headed to Minnesota.

Wednesday Recycle: Dezmon Briscoe SI Honorable Mention

CONGRATS TO DEZMON
The Breeze made SI's honorable mention as an All-American. The future is bright. 

KNOW YOUR HISTORY
I've been sitting on this link for a while. It's an old one, but if you ever need to check in on KU football history, it's a great start. Eventually, I'll put it on the resources page.

http://www.kuhistory.com/se1.asp 

DINING IN THE PHOENIX AREA
This restaurant in Chandler, AZ should be on you list of stops. Nurse, oh nurse ... I think I might be choking. By the way, this ain't my father's CBS:

Watch CBS Videos Online 

Fox 4 Scores The Insight Bowl

Jim Marchiony said on Tuesday afternoon that the Insight Bowl and the NFL Network have agreed to allow Fox 4 in Kansas City to broadcast the game, which will pit the Jayhawks against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 4 p.m. central time.

Good news, but note the 4:00 p.m. CST. start time. I wonder if that is accurate.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/939762.html

KEVIN YOUNG DEFECTION -- THE BIG, HUGE POSITIVE

You want this to go away, right. Well, never fear. I'm bringing this up in a different context. It was so ugly that everyone wanted to turn away (sort of like the Chizik exodus to Auburn). Here's one thing that gets me excited for the future of the program -- KU football fans were nearly outraged and on the verge of labeling the kid from Olathe a traitor. Do you understand the cosmic shift that represents? In the past, KU fans yawned when a high-rated local would choose Nebraska over the Jayhawks -- that's just the way it is. Actually go back to Wichita's Bryce Brown earlier this year. The KU nation didn't bat an eye when the five-star chose Miami -- yes, former national power Miami (headed to the coveted Emerald Bowl) because every kid wants to play college football in the tradition-rich ACC. Check that, I guess that would be hoops. 

Anyway, it was a good call by Bryce who didn't even visit KU. Right now, we'll have Rell Lewis and Deshaun Sands battling for the starting RB job at KU in the spring of 2010 (approximately 15 months from now) as we head into the weak schedule rotation (OSU, Baylor, A&M). Yep, some youngster is going to become a star RB at KU in 2010. The Jayhawks will absolutely be in the mix for another north division title and with a new QB at the helm, KU will need to rely a little more on the ground game while the next Todd Reesing gets comfortable.

Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Toben Opurum come on down because Mark Mangino is going to make you famous.

Update on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 06:37AM by DJ Goodwin

I don't think I really focused on the main point in this piece. The intention was to emphasize the fact that I think it's a good thing that KU fans have now set their expectations higher and they feel strong enough about the program that we can actually criticize top-rated locals that abandon their home state. Not sure, how I got sidetracked onto Bryce Brown, but hopefully that makes a little more sense.

This Was Bound To Happen

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Auburn Fans Are Pumped Up

In case you missed it on Dr. Saturday.

Insight Bowl Promo Video: KU vs Minnesota

Kansas Football Updated Recruiting List (2009 Class)

OFFENSE
PS Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
QB -- Christian Matthews/Arlington, TX -- 6-3/180/4.6 -- 6/20/2008
QB -- Jordan Webb/Union, MO-- 6-0/204 -- 4/12/2008

RB -- Deshaun Sands/Coconut Creek, FL -- 5-9/175/4.5 -- 4/10/2008

OL -- Tom Mabry/Althoff, IL -- 6-5/270 --10/13/2008
OL -- Gavin Howard/Owasso, OK -- 6-5/260 -- 6/23/08
OL -- Riley Spencer/Hesston, KS -- 6-6/265/5.1 -- 6/22/08

DEFENSE
PS Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
DE -- Jacoby Thomas/Texarkana, TX -- 6-3/223/4.71-- 12/9/2008
DE -- Randall Dent/Grand Prairie, TX-- 6-4/256/4.9 -- 12/7/2008
DE -- Tyrone Sellers/McCook, NE -- 6-4/215/4.57 -- 7/2/2008

LB -- Julian Jones/Lawton, OK -- 6-2/253 -- 10/27/2008
LB -- Huldon Tharp/Mulvane, KS -- 6-0/208/4.65 -- 8/25/2008

DB -- Calvin Rubles/Tyler, TX (JUCO) -- 6-2/180/4.4-- 12/10/2008
DB -- Dexter Linton/Arlington,TX -- 6-0/180 -- 6/20/2008
DB -- Darian Kelly/Girard, KS -- 6-2/195/4.5 -- 6/5/2008
DB -- Prinz Kande/Euless, TS -- 5-11/182/4.5 -- 6/2/2008
DB -- Tyler Patmon/Cedar Park,TX -- 5-11/180 -- 4/17/2008

Updated 12/12/08

Preferred Walk-Ons:
DB -- Rashawn Copeland/Highland, KS (JUCO) -- 6-2/190/4.4 -- 12/8/2008

Defections:

WR -- Neil Barlow
LB -- Earnest Norman
DE -- Kevin Young

Barry Sanders Jr -- Literally

I feel bad for #52 in this video. He really wants it, but in the end, it's a fail.

Friday Recycle: Quigley and Recruiting

Angus Quigley / Photo: annependleton.com 

Had to do a little business travel this week and no free internet at the hotel, so the staff has fallen behind a bit. Besides the Insight Bowl announcement here's some of the stuff that caught my eye ...

QUIGLEY TO LB?
Yeah, it sounds great -- for spring of 2007. At this point, I think we have to admit that the personnel at running back has been mismanaged. The ideal scenario would have been for AQ to be moved last spring, the have Carmen Boyd-Anderson and Jake Sharp splitting time during the season while redshirting Jocques Crawford. Redshirting JC would have been a tough call, but I think not keeping CBA on deck was a mistake. The job is open in 2010. At 6-2/222. AQ is the right size and speed for LB and I'd love to see him rushing the QB, but it's hard to imagine he'll get that position figured out in one season. (Source - Dugan at KUsports)

WHY PAY FOR RIVALS?
DenverJayhawk at Rock Chalk Talk has pretty much eliminated the need for a premium subscription at Rivals. His interviews with the recruits are the best content out there and if you were following this week he had posts on two new defensive backs that will join the Jayhawks -- Three-star Rashawn Copeland from Highland CC and JC Three-Star Calvin Rubles from Tyler Texas. Copeland will join KU this spring as a preferred walk-on.

HELP AT DE ON THE WAY
Rivals is listing Randall Dent and Jacoby Thomas (RCT Breakdown) as new commitments at defensive end for the Jayhawks this week. Dent is listed as a three-star but Rivals has not yet rated Thomas. Signing two defensive ends is pretty nice after losing Olathe, Kansas three-star Kevin Young to Nebraska.

RIVALS PROFILE LINKS
DE Randall Dent
DE Jacoby Thomas
DB Calvin Rubles
DB Rashawn Copeland 

Big 12 Championship Recycle: Boomer Sooner Style

Boomer Sooner / credit: photo mojo (flickr CC)

ALL OU, ALL THE TIME
Well, I don't think anyone was surprised by the 62-21 smash-up of Missouri by Oklahoma. Jason Whitlock is right on one account, the Sooners have the spread figured out. It's not too challenging. If you have better athletes at every position on the defensive side of the ball, you pretty much suck the life out of these prima donna style offenses. It starts with good cover skills in the secondary and then you mix in a d-line that can get pressure with four guys and you're pretty much set. Once the seconday is warmed up and sticking like glue, you can start blitzing just to make it more fun.

THE FUTURE
Too me, the future is Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson. Of course, defensive coordinators that can recruit top talent and coach the fundamentals are like the Holy Grail right now. However, if you can solve the defensive side of the equation, an old-style running attack is going to be very effective and morally crushing in the future. They'll eat the clock and run straight at these defenses that will be built on speed.

OKLAHOMA vs FLORIDA
On this one, Jason Whitlock is wrong. OU is going to demolish Florida. Why? Simple repetition. The Sooners have played their offense against teams that know how to defend them. Florida may have the athletes, but they don't have a season's worth of preparation. On the other side, again OU's defense has been doing this all year. They'll get more of a challenge out of their scout team. The only way OU fails is if they read, watch and listen to the media hype as they will be spinning this as an even matchup. As a Big 12 fan, here's my take -- OU, you better deliver the message because I think there are about four additional teams in the conference that would be more than willing to eat up the Gators. No screwing around, get your job done.

OU vs TEXAS
Yep, that would be the real championship game. I say the players set an informal date at some high school in Texas around February 1. OU can bring their trophy and the winner takes all.

NEBRASKA vs MU
I'm kind of surprised that MU isn't a little sore about being picked after Nebraska in the Big 12 bowl pecking order. You know, after trashing the Huskers in Lincoln. Of course, everyone understands how it works in the bowl system and the Tigers probably feel pretty good about playing in Texas for recruiting purposes.

KU vs NORTHWESTERN
The Alamo Bowl did miss out on a potential game that would have had some serious appeal to KU football fans. We'd all like to get another shot at the variation of Wildcat. Still, playing at an outdoor venue in a warm weather location has a ton of appeal.

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
I could not find an online version, but the KC Star had a really cool two-thirds page photo/text summary of of all the Big 12 Championship games. It would have been much better in color but it packs a lot of information. Like there are five teams that have never played in the game -- KU, ISU, Tech, Baylor and OSU. Also, of the seven teams that have made it, they've all been in more than once. I want in.

Big 12 Predict-O-Scores: OU/MU Championship Game

As usual, the VIC-20 supercomputer is picking a close one. On paper, you sure like OU and Bob Stoops, but the Tigers sure have a few things in their favor -- the cold, a serious desire to erase the KU game, recent experience on the turf and probably a pretty good base fans at Arrowhead. We'll see:

Oklahoma 38, Missouri 33
Vegas has moved OU up to a 17-point favorite this week