2023 | Kansas Jayhawks finalize 3rd recruiting class

[Bundy]

With the Kansas coaching staff entirely focused on their bowl with Fresno State, the Kansas Jayhawks have wrapped up their 2023 recruiting class, filling 24 scholarships.

 

OFFENSE

⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Jeffrey Eagle, Enterprise, AL (Enterprise HS) - 38th QB (7th Pocket QB)

Kansas could lean away from their current offensive identity, with many believing the struggles of current starter Tyler Summers contributing to the lack of confidence in pure mobile quarterbacks. The Jayhawks have brought in several scramblers to date, including 2021 commit Dustin Benintendi, who appeared (sparingingly) in a game this season. Enter Jeffrey Eagle, the #3 QB in the state of Alabama, who was perhaps overlooked when teams instead scouted Joseph Perkins (South Alabama) and Jeffrey Mullins (Alabama). Eagle will certainly be facing a redshirt season to get acclimated to college life, but there's a strong push in the KU alumni network to get Eagle and 2022 KU commit Joseph Perkins (not to be confused with the South Alabama commit from this year) onto the field during the spring sessions. "Simply completing half of his passes would make him QB1" remarked an ex-Kansas player. 

⭐⭐⭐ QB Michael Ryan, Sterling, IL (Sterling HS) - NR QB (NR Scrambling QB)

Ryan didn't place among the top 50 QBs in the recruiting class, nor did he place as a top 25 player of his archetype, so his career as a passer at the next level is likely over before it began. The 6'1". 224lb commit is likely more in the mold of 2022 commits William Abshire and Robert Lemberger, solid midwestern commits who bring eyes to the program and could carve roles out late in their career, similar to Kansas "QB" Aaron Diaz, who played punt returner in 2021 before becoming the RB2 (and disgraced 1-game at QB) in 2023 for the Jayhawks. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Nathaniel Rudebacher, Coral Springs, FL (Taravella HS) - 28th RB (9th Speed RB)

With Bene' Humber sniffing around an NFL practice squad, and Cody Casspi now approaching the swan song of His college career, Kansas needed to focus on the RB position. They swung hard and missed on elite talents like Frank Joliffe (Tulane) and FB Rolando Cantu (Wisconsin), but Rudebacher was on the KU radar from week 1. At 5'11", 201, he comes in very similar to Casspi, and many are hopeful that he could occupy the RB role the way Casspi has, with potential All-KU records being within reach. Still, Rudebacher will likely take time to get onto the field, so there's little guarantee there will be overlap between he and Casspi when it comes to splitting game reps in the 2024 season.

⭐⭐⭐ WR Larry Gaziano, Laurel, MS (Laurel) - NR WR (NR Possession WR)

⭐⭐⭐ WR Robert Bernal, Sandersville, GA (Washington County) NR WR (NR Red Zone Threat WR)

Gaziano and Bernal don't register on a national scale, but the Big 12 is on notice with Kansas' first - and only - WR commits since 2021 landed Ifeadi Barea. They may not have landed a ton of top TE talent this year, but the Jayhawks opted for big WRs on the exterior of their offense, signing two 6'3" threats. As much as the Jayhawks seem to be gearing up for some sort of evolution to the forward pass, they still appear committed to a dominant run game, and with Rudebacher's speed, having big blockers to manhandle corners on the outside could be major.

⭐⭐ WR Sang Vang, Maryville, MO (Maryville) - NR WR (NR Red Zone Threat)

Vang is even less likely to be someone you've heard about, but with offers from top FCS schools in the area, it became priority for Kansas to add a solid local commit. Last year's recruiting class was picked apart by Kansas natives as being "too national", and Vang is someone who should help quiet those outspoken. He's 6'2" and had some dominant grabs on his YouTube highlight reel.

# 62 OVERALL RECRUIT⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Wallace Brooks, Grapevine, TX (Grapevine Faith Christian) - #13 OT (#4 Run Blocking OT)

Brooks might be the biggest offensive grab for Kansas since Steel Blue achieved slight national buzz back in 2021. He has potential to start as soon as next year, becoming a staple at right tackle for years to come. However, it seems much more likely Kansas will redshirt him in hopes of creating a formidable, long-term line of 2022 commits David Hager (already starting at guard) and fellow interior linemen Enrique Guerra and Jesus Hernandes (who both redshirted in 2023). Kansas has been churning out mid-round NFL OL talent, and Brooks could easily be the next big thing.

⭐⭐⭐ OT Michael Morrison, Jacksonville, FL (Lee) - NR OT (NR Run Blocking OT)

Kansas has signed a handful of tackles in these three recruiting classes, and Morrison is just another talent to the hog mollies up front. It's possible Morrison becomes Brooks' long-term backup, though he'll be competing with Drew Nunnally (2021), Tim Jarvis (2021), Kenny Morrison (2022) and Jason Seay (2022). Kenny Morrison is actually Michael's cousin, with Kenny hailing from Ocala, Florida.

 

DEFENSE

⭐⭐⭐⭐ DT Steve McAlister, Tulsa, OK (Bishop Kelley) - #12 DT (#3 Pass Rusher DT)

When it seemed all of Kansas' regional recruits were leaning towards committing to 2021 National Champion Tulsa, headlined by area legend @acewulf, Steve McAlister was actually looking at taking himself northward. "I really loved experiencing the win, I've never seen Tulsa come together like that before as a city, and just the celebration and atmosphere was ecstasy," McAlister noted to the local sportstalk radio. "But I've lived here all of my life, and part of the 'experience' of college in my perception has been 'going away' to college. I want the challenges of life 'on my own'." 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ DT Richard Fulkerson, Fishers, IN (Fishers) - #15 DT (#7 Balanced DT)

Though Kansas has leaned heavily into recruiting tight ends in its first two recruiting classes, it's led them to take notice of other recruits when scouring the country. While on a recruiting visit to steal 2022 Indiana TE Travis Campbell from the clutches of Purdue and @BabaYaga, the KU staff saw Fulkerson's junior highlights on the local news on a TV in an Indiana hotel room, when he had 3 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown in a massive Fishers win. Fulkerson then exploded onto the national scene with a big camp cycle heading into his senior year this season, but the 6'4" defensive tackle actually weighed 30lbs less as a sophomore and had attended a local camp as a tight end, where he had met Campbell. Campbell convinced Fulkerson that KU was the place to be, and the rest, well, could lead to rampant and raucous Jayhawks success.

⭐⭐⭐ DE Michael Beddoe, Hialeah, FL (Champagnat Catholic) - NR DE (NR Run Stopper DE)

⭐⭐⭐ DE Mark Depot, Houston, TX (St. Thomas Catholic) - NR DE (NR Speed Rusher DE)

⭐⭐⭐ DE Gary Yates, Mason, TX (Mason) - NR DE (NR Run Stopper DE)

Kansas bulked up their defensive line depth majorly this crooting cycle, and they struck hard in the home areas of Big 12 conference foes. Depot, a Houston native, actually has a sister that goes to school at Houston, and Beddoe, who hails from Miami, often considered going to UCF growing up for the locality to Disney. Yates was born and raised in central Texas, but was leaning towards Tulsa strongly and was practically a crystal ball lock until late in the cycle. There are a ton of DEs ahead of the 2023 trio in the current KU pecking order, with 2021 4-star Robert Wims already seeing the field, and 2021 and 2022 3-stars Kevon Jeter and Brian James all being spoken of highly in the locker room. While Wims is certainly a starter of the future, the opposite bookend spot will be up for grabs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ OLB Brian Bartels, Semmes, AL (Montgomery) - #23 OLB (#5 Run Stopper OLB)

Bartels' relatives wish he would have stayed home and played for Bama, but the success of young Sung Franzese as a true freshman drew Brian to Kansas in hopes of early playing time. Bartels will almost certainly redshirt during 2024, but could challenge for a LB role in 2025, when the KU LB corps will consist of Franzese, 2021 4-star Michael Koehn (who "started" at LOLB this season, though Kansas typically ran a 4-2-5), and the next guy on this list. Kansas could potentially lean towards utilizing a 3-4 even with such a loaded LB corps, though the signings of McAlister and Fulkerson at DT may hinder such a move. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ILB David Minson, Washington, DC (Maret) - #21 ILB (#6 Run Stopper ILB)

David "the next guy on the list to Brian Bartels" strictly fits the mold that Kansas wants in their linebackers, playmakers who are recognized nationally, and feared throughout the Big 12. Nelson Velazquez was a 2021 All-Conference linebacker who had a cup of tea in the NFL, while Sung Franzese was just named 2023 All-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and also earned 1st-Team conference honors. Ezekiel "Ziggy" Sands was a force to be reckoned with as well. Minson could be next on the list, as the most promising truly inside LB to come to the program with pedigree. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐CB Elbert Jackson, Monroe, LA (Neville) - #25 CB (#5 Ball Hawk CB)

If there's one player who households across the country might know from the Kansas Jayhawks, it's ball hawk CB Chaz Tuivailala, who has totaled 21 career interceptions to date. Kansas has been looking to replicate the outstanding defensiveback. but has failed to find the right recruit (or has lost potential recruits, such as 2023 croot Nathan Spires, to programs with more pedigree). Not afraid to put recruits onto the field early (see 2021 recruit 4-star Ross Patton, who has played significant reps with Tuivailala this season), there's possibility for Jackson to take over immediately once Tuivailala goes pro. Jackson will likely pair with Patton in some form early, be it as a nickel CB or even a true starter off the bat. 

 

SPECIALISTS

If there's one thing Kansas is known for on the recruiting trail, its specialists. 4-star 2021 commit Jake Ramirez has already booted a 57-yard field goal, while 4-star 2022 commit Craig Lonergan took over punting duties from the moment he stepped on campus this year as a true freshman.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ K Jon Allen, Overland Park, KS (Blue Valley North) - #3 K (#2 Accuracy K)

Allen will see a redshirt season as a freshman, and will likely be held to kickoff-only duties as a redshirt freshman, but the only Kansas commit of the past two classes (and first in-state 4-star to come to Lawrence) knows what he's signing on for: a shot at the NFL. KU coach @Bundy is quickly earning a reputation among pro scouts as a ST developer, and Allen could be a hot commodity in the 2029 draft. 

⭐⭐⭐ P Steve Arena, Columbus Grove, OH (Columbus Grove) - #31 P (#14 Accuracy P)

While Arena will likely ride pine for the next 3 seasons behind Lonergan, he comes to KU with an elite reputation as a holder on special teams. Arena doubled as a QB in high school, and while he doesn't have collegiate talent at the signal calling position, he does what he's asked to when holding for kicks, with 0 snaffus in his 3 high school seasons holding for varsity. 

 

THE GREAT AMERICAN RECRUITING TRIP

Just two weeks ago, Kansas coach @Bundy used a team bye week to travel to Orlando and Tampa, Florida, from his offseason home in Wisconsin. We can trace the route he followed across the country with the sheer amount of recent KU commits.

⭐ RB Jay Ludden, Nashville, TN (Father Ryan) - NR RB (NR Speed RB)

⭐ FB Ivan Leon, Downs, IL (Tri-Valley) - NR FB (NR Balanced FB)

⭐⭐ TE Victor Santiago, Sarasota, FL (Riverview Sarasota) - NR TE (NR Blocking TE)

Santiago might be the only of these recruits expected to have a chance at any measurable playing time, but with Kansas' focus on TEs in years past, and a crowded TE room ahead of him, Santiago's commitment to Kansas may entirely be as a character in the locker room, and focus on a degree. 

⭐ DT Victor Munoz, Decatur, IL (St. Teresa) - NR DT (NR Balanced DT)

⭐ CB Jason Salas, Wauchula, FL (Hardee) - NR CB (NR Ballhawk CB)

⭐ SS Jorge Quintanilla, Warner Robins, GA (Northside) - NR SS (NR Zone Coverage SS)

Legend has it that Quintanilla stopped coach @Bundy in a Buc-ee's parking lot just minutes south of Byron, Georgia, with a pamphlet including his Hudl address and a brisket taco. Coaches cannot buy recruits so much as a hamburger, but can recruits buy coaches a breakfast? The simNCAA will have to let us know. 

 

 

A look back at those who were led astray

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FB Rolando Cantu - committed to Wisconsin (92 points) (50/50 Wisc/Kans)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Joaqin Mancera - committed to Texas (85.9 points) (57 Kans/43 Tex)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Nathan Spires - committed to Tulsa (76.9 points) (37 Kans/32 Ill/32 Tuls)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ TE Jamie Traniello - committed to Texas Tech (72.9 points) (22 Kans/20 4-teams)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Gerald Dallas - committed to ECU (68.9 points) (51 Kans/49 ECU)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Frank Joliffe - commited to Tulane (66 points) (25/25/25/25 Kans/Utah/UtahSt/Tul)

⭐⭐⭐ CB Ulberto Carrillo - committed to Florida State (60.1 points) (52 Kans/48 FSU)

⭐⭐⭐ FS Michael Mannion - committed to Ohio State (59.5 points) (56 Kans/44 Ohio)

5 more croots who had 40+ points on them

May the transfer portal set you souls aright, all roads lead to Lawrence

[BabaYaga]

Bravo. Nice class.

[npklemm]

Nice Class - would have been great with those 4* Secondary guys who were lead astray