Originally Posted by Mr. Laz (Post 10293496)

FOOTBALL ADDS THREE MIDYEAR PLAYERS IN DECEMBER SIGNING CLASS
12/18/2013 8:10:00 PM
Football Signing Day Graphic
Kansas bolstered one of its most improved units from last season while adding needed depth and competition at another as the Jayhawks signed three junior college student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on the first day of the midyear signing period Wednesday.

The Jayhawks added a pair of defensive backs in Ronnie Davis (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) and Anthony Smithson (Hartnell College) to a secondary that held opposing offenses to nearly 40 less yards per game and intercepted 14 opponent passes, the most since 2008. Kansas also signed talented offensive line prospect Keyon Haughton (Georgia Military College).

Kansas finished the 2013 season with a 3-9 overall record, including the team's first win over a Big 12 Conference opponent since 2010, and looks to add to the positive momentum further as it builds the 2014 signing class. The midyear signing period comes to a close Jan. 15, with football's annual National Signing Day on Feb. 5.


Ronnie Davis
Play Button 2
DB, 6-0, 181, Jr.
Midwest City, Okla.
Midwest City HS/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M

A three-star prospect out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) at defensive back according to Rivals.com... Played for head coach Sherard Poteete... Had 24 tackles, four interceptions and three pass breakups in seven games in 2013... Earned honorable mention All-Southwest Conference honors... Tallied 48 stops, one interception, 2.0 TFLs, two pass breakups and a blocked kick in 10 games in 2012... Helped lead Midwest City HS to an 11-1 overall mark in 2011 and a trip to the Class 6A state quarterfinals... Played both quarterback and defensive back at Midwest City HS under coach Steve Huff... Earned all-state honors after a standout senior season where he collected 58 tackles, including two sacks... Also hauled in seven interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns... On offense he carried the ball 38 times for 335 yards and four TDs... Also caught three passes for 45 yards, with all three resulting in TDs... Rated the 18th-best player in the state of Oklahoma by MaxPreps following his senior season... Tabbed as the 20th-best player in the state of Oklahoma by the The Oklahoman... Selected to play in the 2012 Oil Bowl... Also participated in basketball and track at Midwest City HS... Son of Tangie Davis and Ronnie Mathenia.


Keyon Haughton
Play Button 2
OL, 6-2, 309, Jr.
Baltimore, Md.
W.E.B. DuBois HS/Georgia Military College

Comes to Kansas after spending the past two seasons at Georgia Military College where he helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-1 mark and a No. 3 national ranking in the final 2013 National Junior College Athletics Assocation (NJCAA) poll... Anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line that paved the way for the NJCAA's top rushing offense at 289.2 yards per game in 2013... Played for head coach Bert Williams at GMC... Played on both the offensive and defensive lines at W.E.B. DuBois HS... Earned Scholar Athlete honors from Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation... Son of Desreene and Demetrius Whitted.

Anthony Smithson
Play Button 2
DB, 5-11, 185, So.
Baltimore, Md.
Highland HS (Utah)/Hartnell College
Arrives at KU after playing the 2013 season at Hartnell College under head coach Matt Collins... Helped lead the Panthers to the Coast Conference title, including a 9-2 mark and a win in the Living Breath Foundation Bowl, in 2013... Earned All-Coast Conference First Team honors in 2013... Named Hartnell Defensive MVP after leading the Panthers with 74 tackles and eight interceptions on the season... His 58 solo stops and eight picks led the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA)... Also forced two fumbles and was credited with five pass breakups in 2013... Signed with Navy out of Highlands HS (Salt Lake City, Utah) and attended Navy Prep in 2012... Played primarily on offense at Highland HS under head coach Brody Benson... Helped lead the Rams to a 7-4 mark during his senior campaign, while completing 32-of-61 passes for 528 yards and six touchdowns... Also rushed for 492 yards and nine touchdowns on 69 carries... Son of Lori and Tony Smithson... Brother, Shaky, played wide receiver at Utah before a stint in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers... Goes by the nickname "Fish".
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10297360)

I had a dream last night that we lost to a high school team that had 3 girls on it, and they still wouldn't fire Weis.

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk (Post 10310342)

Jayhawks land commitment from former Florida tight end Kent Taylor

Taylor was top-ranked TE in Class of 2012
By Matt Tait

For the third offseason in a row, Kansas University’s football program has landed a commitment from a high-profile transfer.

Former Florida player Kent Taylor, the No. 1-ranked tight end in the Class of 2012, told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com on Tuesday that he was transferring to Kansas.

Shortly after the news broke, Taylor’s Twitter feed (@kenttaylor18) was flooded with congratulatory messages, and Taylor made it clear that he was thrilled about his decision.

He wrote: “Couldn’t be more excited about my opportunity to go play football for the University of Kansas! #rockchalkjayhawk”

Taylor, a 6-foot-5, 223-pound athlete known for his dynamic pass-catching ability, played in six games in 2012 with Florida — including a touchdown catch in the Sugar Bowl against Louisville — but did not play in 2013 and elected to transfer at the end of the season. He is expected to sit out the 2014 season due to transfer rules but will be able to go through spring football in a few months and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2015.

Taylor joins quarterback Dayne Crist (Notre Dame), quarterback Jake Heaps (BYU), wide receiver Justin McCay (Oklahoma) and defensive end Chris Martin (Florida) former highly ranked prospects to transfer from big-time football schools to play for coach Charlie Weis at Kansas.

A consensus four-star recruit out of Land O’Lakes High in Florida, Taylor was ranked as the 10th-best player in the state of Florida and 54th-best prospect nationally as a senior by Rivals.com.

In 2012, at the Army All-American game, Rivals.com pegged Taylor as the third-best prospect on the East roster.

He chose Florida over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon and picked Kansas as his latest destination because of his connection to Weis.

“I think as a tight end playing for Coach Weis there is no one better to play for,” Taylor told Kirby. “I think I have to take that opportunity. When he found out I was leaving and we figured out all of the grades and how to make it work I was really excited.”

Taylor, who said he was contacted by several schools upon hearing that he planned to transfer, has not yet visited KU’s campus but plans to make a trip to Lawrence on Jan. 17.

“I’m going to take my visit and then I’m planning on just staying there,” Taylor told Kirby.

Taylor becomes the 14th player in the current class to commit to Kansas. Three of those players have signed already. Weis said recently that KU could take as many as 26 players in the current class. The mid-year signing period runs through Jan. 15, and national signing day for the rest of the class is Feb. 5.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10297360)

I had a dream last night that we lost to a high school team that had 3 girls on it, and they still wouldn't fire Weis.

Originally Posted by ChiTown (Post 10310365)

He's a transfer, not a recruit who committed. So, he doesn't go into the 2014 class. I'm surprised Kirby reported it that way.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10297360)

I had a dream last night that we lost to a high school team that had 3 girls on it, and they still wouldn't fire Weis.

Originally Posted by KC Hawks (Post 10350615)

@schadjoe: Iowa State has hired former Kansas head coach Mark Mangino as offensive coordinator, a source said

Originally Posted by KC Hawks (Post 10350615)

@schadjoe: Iowa State has hired former Kansas head coach Mark Mangino as offensive coordinator, a source said