Kevin Young Video

Scout: You Had Me At Recruiting Widget

Are kidding me? I was just thinking today that I'm going to have to figure out something new to keep up with KU football recruiting. So, now Scout.com unleashes this recruiting widget. Heck, if I would have known you would feed in a rated recruiting list to my site, you would have had me a long time ago. I might even get premium membership now. How about whipping up a schedule widget, maybe standings as well? Although I could use those a little narrower.

I've already got this thing on the Hawk Digest recruiting page, so it'll always be available there (too wide for my front page). Hiphop -- you stay away from this thing I found it first.

Holiday Wishes from Santa Mangino

Oh, Santa Mangino, thy recruiting bounty is plentiful. Please enjoy the updated commit list with Toben Opurum added for your holiday pleasure:

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 -- Toben Opurum/Plano, TX -- 6-2/229 -- 12/23/2008
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
DT -- Travis Stephens/Brenham, TX (JUCO) -- 6-3/265/4.6 -- 12/21/2008

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

Note: There's a lot of talk that Travis Stephens will play DE in college and Randall Dent will end up as a DT.

For star rankings, check the Rivals Commit page.

Toben Opurum: Just a Quick Link and Quote

It's Christmas Eve and I already opened my present. It was a Toben Opurum verbal commit. Thank you, Santa Mangino. Here's a Toben quote from the KUsports.com story (via Rivals) plus should check out the MaxPreps page with his junior year stats. There's a video and I think you'll see in his receiving stats that the kid can catch the ball.

“The visit went great. The thing that stood out was how well I meshed with all of the players and coaches. I knew after the visit there was no need to take others. I saw what I needed and knew I could make decision off that.”

Monday Recycle: Travis Stephens Verbal + Website Header

A NEW BANNER
The banner above was created by Phog user Cactii. He's also known to be the brother of single-season rushing record KU legend Jon Cornish. I picked it up at KJIBT a while back and it fits Hawk Digest so nicely, I figure I'll leave it up for a while (11 months or so). By the way adverstisers, that space is available.

JUCO DT FOR KU
The Jayhawks picked up JUCO DT Travis Stephens (6-3/265) who will graduate in May. An interesting move as a lot of fans were expecting a JUCO DE. KUsports.com has more details on Travis here. Full 2009 list:

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
DT -- Travis Stephens/Brenham, TX (JUCO) -- 6-3/265/4.6 -- 12/21/2008

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-SIGNED) -- 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 12/22/08

Details available on the free Slant Commit page.

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.

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.

Big 12 Recruiting Map

Here's a nice little tool that maps out Big 12 recruiting. Check it out:

Big 12 Google Map

Be sure and click on the pins. You'll see a player photo, quote and vitals. Cool stuff.

Recruiting Update: Tyler Patmon, Jordan Webb

Time to catch up on the growing 2009 recruiting class. In the most recent news, Kansas landed a commitment from Texas defensive back Tyler Patmon (5/11/180) yesterday. In addition, KU added Union, MO quarterback Jordan Webb back on April 12. Webb is 6-0, 204. Along with RB Deshaun Sands the 2009 class already has three members.

2009 Recruits

OFFENSE
Hdr/PS   Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
40-QB -- Jordan Webb/Union, MO -- 6-0/204 -- 4/12/2008

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

DEFENSE
Hdr/PS  Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
12-DB --Tyler Patmon/Cedar Park,TX -- 5-11/180 -- 4/17/2008

Hdr = Hawk Digest Rating