Recruiting Update: Rod Harris, Darius Parish

KU added Blinn County JUCO wide receiver Rod Harris to the 2008 list of verbal commitments this weekend according to Rivals.com. Harris is leaving Blinn County after one year and judging by his video the 6-2/190 lb. wide out comes to Kansas ready to play. Rivals awarded him three stars.

KU also added a big-time defensive tackle recruit Darius Parish from Wichita during the build up to the Orange Bowl. Rivals lists the three-star recruit as commited to Jayhawks way back on 12/28. Parish has the size already at 325 lb. on a 6-3 frame.

2008 Recruits Complete List

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
4-OL -- Nathan D'Cunha*/Santa Barbara, CA -- 6-7/307 -- 12/12/2007
3-WR -- Rod Harris*/Brenham, TX --6-2/190/4.5 -- 1/12/2008
3-DT -- Darius Parish/Wichita, KS -- 6-3/325/5.08 -- 12/28/07
3-CB -- Greg Brown/Cedar Hill, TX -- 5-11/164 --12/21/2007
3-DB -- Lubbock Smith/Dallas, TX -- 5-11/182/4.4 -- 12/17/2007
3-DE -- D.J. Marshall/Mesquite, TX -- 6-4/275/4.75 -- 12/9/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007
3-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
3-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

Rod Harris Video

Greg Brown Verbals, Plato Upgraded

The Kansas football team received another verbal commitment last week. This time it was three-star cornerback Greg Brown out of Cedar Hill High School in Texas. Yes, that's the same school that produced both Dezmon Briscoe and Marcus Herford. Brown is 5-11/164 and is the 37th best corner in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Rivals also upgraded defensive end Nicholas Plato to a three-star ranking. That means KU's 2008 class contains players that are all three-stars or higher.

2008 Recruits By Position

OFFENSE

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
4-OL -- Nathan D'Cunha/Santa Barbara, CA -- 6-7/307 -- 12/12/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007

3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007

3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007

3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007

DEFENSE

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
3-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007

3-DE -- D.J. Marshall/Mesquite, TX -- 6-4/275/4.75 -- 12/9/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007

3-CB -- Greg Brown/Cedar Hill, TX -- 5-11/164 --12/21/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-DB -- Lubbock Smith/Dallas, TX -- 5-11/182/4.4 -- 12/17/2007

3-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

2008 Recruits Complete List

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
4-OL -- Nathan D'Cunha/Santa Barbara, CA -- 6-7/307 -- 12/12/2007
3-CB -- Greg Brown/Cedar Hill, TX -- 5-11/164 --12/21/2007
3-DB -- Lubbock Smith/Dallas, TX -- 5-11/182/4.4 -- 12/17/2007
3-DE -- D.J. Marshall/Mesquite, TX -- 6-4/275/4.75 -- 12/9/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007
3-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
3-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

KU Lands Lubbock Smith

Three-Star safety Lubbock Smith from Dallas, Texas gave a verbal commitment to Kansas today according to Rivals.com. Smith is 5-11/182 and runs a 4.4 forty.

Stories:
http://hs.beloblog.com/archives/2007/10/carter_int_for_lubbock_smith.html
http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/playerweek/stories/102907dnspohsfbdefpow.3684e87.html

In other recruiting news, wide receiver Jamaal Johnson out of Houston, Texas is off the board for KU. According to Rock Chalk Talk, he didn't qualify academically for KU.

Also, both Zach Stadther and Sean Ransburg have both moved up to three-star rankings at Rivals.com.

2008 Recruits Complete List

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
4-OL -- Nathan D'Cunha/Santa Barbara, CA -- 6-7/307 -- 12/12/2007
3-DB -- Lubbock Smith/Dallas, TX -- 5-11/182/4.4 -- 12/17/2007
3-DE -- D.J. Marshall/Mesquite, TX -- 6-4/275/4.75 -- 12/9/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007
3-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
3-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

Update on Recruiting

Shouldn't We Be Higher By Now?

The players that come in look pretty good, but Kansas is still ranked 49th overall in recruiting by Rivals.com. The Jayhawks have 13 three-star commitments to date out of a class of 15 commitments. It's still early, but there aren't a lot of scholarships left to give. Of course, the Mark Mangino and 2007 Jayhawks proved that the ratings system doesn't work, but you'd still like to see us land a highly-ranked class off of an 11-win season.

RIVALS TEAM RANK (BIG 12 NORTH)
14 -- Nebraska
20 -- Colorado
30 -- Missouri
45 -- Kansas State
49 -- Kansas
62 -- Iowa State

Rivals Big 12 Conference Page

2008 Recruits Complete List

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
3-OL -- Nathan D'Cunha/Santa Barbara, CA -- 6-7/307 -- 12/12/2007
3-DE -- D.J. Marshall/Mesquite, TX -- 6-4/275/4.75 -- 12/9/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
2-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
2-WR -- Jamaal Johnson/Houston, TX -- 6-2/180 -- 5/25/2007
2-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

Rivals Reports O-Line Commitment-Nathan D'Cunha

Rivals is reporting that Nathan D'Cunha of Santa Barbara CC in California has verballed to KU. At 6-7/307 lb. this guy looks like he is ready to roll.

D.J. Marshall Video - KU Verbal Commitment

2008 KU Football Recruiting Update

With the all the hype during the final month of the season, recruiting took a little bit of a back seat at Hawk Digest. Still, Mark Mangino and his staff landed four recruits in November and we know they're out there workin' it now. All four of the November picks are impressive, but I especially like the two defensive ends. Nicholas Plato at 6-6 looks like a nice two-star project. With all of the spread attacks in our conference, I'd say height on the d-line is going to become more critical. Class breakdown to date:

November Verbals

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007

2008 Recruits Complete List

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
3-DE -- Duane Zlatnik/Rossville, KS -- 6-4/260 -- 11/18/2007
3-DB -- Corrigan Powell/Garland, TX -- 5-10/161/4.5 -- 11/5/2007
3-OL -- Trevor Marrongelli/Round Rock, TX -- 6-4/285/5.1 -- 11/4/2007
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-OL -- Ben Lueken/St. Louis, MO -- 6-5/318/5.1 -- 9/17/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
2-DE -- Nicholas Plato/Edwardsville, IL -- 6-6/228/4.82 -- 11/18/2007
2-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
2-WR -- Jamaal Johnson/Houston, TX -- 6-2/180 -- 5/25/2007
2-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

Three-Star Quarterback Kale Pick to KU | Video

Rivals is reporting that three-star quarterback Kale Pick has verbally commited to Kansas. This comes after the 6-1, 198 lb. senior from Dodge City High School backed out of a commitment to Arkansas on Sunday night. This looks like a solid pick up as he is listed as the #11 dual-threat QB in the country and runs a 4.5 forty. Other schools on his list included Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Rice, Iowa State, Colorado State and SMU.

Another note from Phog.net -- they list him as 6-2 and rank him as the 33rd best QB nationally.

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
3-QB -- Kale Pick/Dodge City, KS -- 6-1/198/4.5 -- 10/22/2007 
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
2-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
2-WR -- Jamaal Johnson/Houston, TX -- 6-2/180 -- 5/25/2007
2-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

OL John Williams Verbals To Kansas

According to Rivals, three-star offensive lineman John Williams out of Tulsa, Oklahoma gave a verbal commitment to the Jayhawks yesterday. Wiliams is 6-4, 335 lb. That's a big kid.

Reports are that Ryan Glazer has opened up recruiting, but Rivals still has him on the KU list, so I'll keep him there as well.

Star/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
4-DT -- Ryan Glazer/El Cajon, CA (JUCO) -- 6-3/285/5.1 -- 6/3/2007
3-OL -- John Williams/Tulsa, OK -- 6-4/335 -- 10/9/2007
3-TE -- Tim Biere/Omaha, NE -- 6-4/235/4.8 -- 6/18/2007
3-TE -- Tanner Hawkinson/McPherson, KS -- 6-6/230/4.8 -- 6/16/2007
3-WR -- Daymond Patterson/Mesquite, TX -- 5-8/165/4.43 -- 6/9/2007
2-DT -- Zach Stadther/North Little Rock, AK -- 6-2/275/4.9 -- 6/19/2007
2-WR -- Jamaal Johnson/Houston, TX -- 6-2/180 -- 5/25/2007
2-ATH -- Sean Ransburg/Harrisonville, MO -- 6-1/185/4.5 -- 4/10/2007
Rating Source: Rivals

Ryan Glazer Photo

2008 JUCO DT Commit

As a refresher, Ryan Glazer gave a verbal commitment to KU back on June 3. Phog.net has him rated as a four-star defensive tackle while Rivals has not yet rated him. The 6-3, 285 lb. defensive tackle out of El Cajon, California was recruited by Bill Young according to Rivals and is probably expected to compete for a starting spot in 2008. Standout DT James McClinton will be a senior this season and the staff will probably want to bring in a number of tackles to create competition for the position.

Tanner Hawkinson Video

Quick Recruit Video

Here's a quick look at a few plays from three-star tight end recruit Tanner Hawkinson out of McPherson, Kansas. As a refresher, Hawkinson is 6-6/230/4.8 and gave KU a verbal on June 16.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1577303708111122045&q=Tanner+Hawkinson&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0