Rockhurst defensive end committed to K-State

Jordan Willis, a defensive end out of Rockhurst High School, has verbally committed to play for Kansas State starting in 2013.

K-State extended a scholarship offer to Willis, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior, after watching him play at a camp in Manhattan last summer, and Willis has been smitten with K-State ever since.

When news of his commitment became public on Wednesday, he became the second junior to give his pledge to Wildcats football coach Bill Snyder for the 2013 recruiting class. According to Rivals, Tanner Wood, of Conway Springs, was the first.

Rockhurst coach Tony Severino thinks Willis will be able to help on K-State’s defensive line if he continues to improve his game as a senior.

“He’s a sack guy,” Severino said. “Right now, you can put him in third-down situations, and he can get to the quarterback. You know how important that is at the college level. He can come off the edge; he’s got that kind of burst. He’s not complete, but he’s got another year.”

The Star’s Rustin Dodd contributed to this report