KU Jayhawks football — helped by local standout — lands strong Signing Day class
Kansas football’s lack of on-field success didn’t seem to affect coach Les Miles in recruiting.
The Jayhawks, who finished the season 0-9, currently have the Big 12’s fifth-ranked recruiting class, according to Rivals.com.
KU, which expects 21 commitments at the start of the early signing period, for now ranks ahead of Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU.
The Jayhawks announced 18 of their signings Wednesday.
“We met our needs in this list of guys,” Miles said.
The standout for KU is Lawrence running back Devin Neal, the top player in the state who also plans on playing baseball with the Jayhawks. Though he had interest from plenty of other big-name schools, Neal stayed firm with his commitment to Miles and KU.
Miles labeled Neal as a “very fine athlete” who profiles as a leader.
“It was important from the start that we created a great relationship between him and his family,” Miles said. “And we’re thrilled. We think he’s just what we need.”
During his senior year at Lawrence High, Neal rushed 153 times for 1,327 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns.
“I thought he was really good as junior, and I noticed him this summer playing baseball, and he definitely looks stronger,” said Jon Kirby, publisher at JayhawkSlant, which is part of the Rivals network. “In about a year’s time, he added 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, and I think that made a big difference in his game, because he’s got the speed to go the distance. And the one thing I noticed this year on film is he played more with a power game to go along with the speed.”
Also notable: KU’s recruiting class, for a second straight year, is filled with high school players. After taking all preps last season, each of the Jayhawks’ 21 expected signings this week is from the high school ranks.
“The impressive thing about this class is they started fast and got a lot of their early targets and were able to hang on to most all of them throughout the season,” Kirby said. “For this class to be sitting fifth in the Big 12 as we head into the early signing period is a testament to the relationships and evaluations that the coaching staff has done.”
Miles was asked Wednesday to assess the state of KU’s program through his first two-plus years.
“I like where we’re at,” Miles said. “I think we will see an opportunity for us to continue to improve. We’re not a finished product in any way, but I think there’s the opportunity for us to improve and win. And we back this class into the group that is pretty talented, and then the next class ... you could be not only deep, but you could be talented. That’s certainly the plan.”
KU’s 2021 recruiting class
Player, Position, Height, Weight, Previous school (Location)
D’Marion Alexander, LB, 6-4, 210, China Spring (China Spring, Texas)*
Mason Brotherton, TE, 6-4, 235, Mena Senior (Mena, Arkansas)*
Omar Burroughs, DB, 5-10, 175, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)*
Shad Dabney, DB, 5-11, 172, Cherokee Bluff (Flowery Branch, Georgia)*
Tommy Dunn Jr., DE, 6-4, 285, Naaman Forest (Garland, Texas)*
Ben Easters, QB, 6-3, 195, Brownsburg (Brownsburg, Indiana)*
Jayson Gilliom, DB, 6-2, 192, North Gwinett (Swanee, Georgia)*
Kameron Grays, DB, 6-2, 190, Blount (Eight Mile, Alabama)
Garfield Lawrence, DE, 6-4, 235, Legacy (Tyler, Texas)
Devin Neal, RB, 5-11, 205, Lawrence High (Lawrence)*
Corey Robinson II, OL, 6-5, 270, Roswell (Roswell, Georgia)*
Kelan Robinson, WR, 6-3, 190, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas)*
Majik Rector, WR, 5-9, 150, Lancaster (Lancaster, Texas)*
Tanaka Scott, WR, 6-4, 180, Murphy (Mobile, Alabama)
Andrew Simpson, LB, 6-1, 218, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California)*
Trey Staley, LB, 6-2, 200, Brookwood (Snellville, Georgia)*
De’Kedrick Stearns, OL, 6-4, 250, Del Valle (Del Valle, Texas)*
Devonte Wilson, DB, 6-3, 200, Robert F. Munroe (Quincy, Florida)*
Deldrick Withers, DE, 6-4, 245, Robinson (Little Rock, Arkansas)*
Larson Workman, OL, 6-5, 270, Ganado (Ganado, Texas)*
James Wright, DB, 6-1, 195, Lakewood (Sumter, South Carolina)*
— Source: Rivals.com
* — Announced as signed by the school.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
