Once the recruiting season finally stops, it seems like it just starts right back up again.

The 2008 class already is in the minds of college football coaches nationwide, including Kansas University's staff. According to Rivals.com, KU has made offers to juniors in Texas, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Alabama, among others.

And, of course, offers have been made to several local standouts as well.

It's looking to be a strong year for football talent in Kansas and the Kansas City area. One Kansan will have his choice among the most prolific college football programs in America. A Kansas City, Mo., tight end has around 15 big-school offers already, with more surely to come.

Almost every school, Kansas included, wants to build a solid class with local recruiting as the backbone, and the reasons are too plentiful to list.

That said, here's a look at some of the top local high school targets KU is pursuing as 2008 recruiting gets under way:

Arthur Brown

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds

Position: linebacker

High school: Wichita East

Early offers: Too many to list, but they include Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Southern California. In all, he has more than 50 offers.

Notable: USC coach Pete Carroll has been quoted as saying, "Every recruit out of state, we're trying to find a (first-round draft) pick. That's the criteria." That's says plenty about the limitless potential of Brown, who has a USC offer in hand : He's already the most heavily recruited Kansan since Kamerion Wimbley, who's now in the NFL. : KU is considered a long shot at best, as this expects to be a battle between several national-title contenders.

Chris Harper

Height/weight: 6-2, 225

Position: athlete

High school: Wichita Northwest

Early offers: Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Texas A&M

Notable: Rivals.com reports Harper favoring Kansas State early on. : Wants a chance to play quarterback, but could project as an imposing wide receiver. : Rushed for 1,000 yards out of the QB position for Wichita Northwest and scored 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Tanner Hawkinson

Height/weight: 6-6, 230

Position: tight end

High school: McPherson High

Early offers: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Colorado State.

Notable: Impressed onlookers at the Fort Worth NIKE Training Camp last month. : Had 363 yards receiving and nine touchdowns for McPherson as a junior. : Hasn't been shy to tell media that Kansas is an overwhelming favorite, despite growing attention.

Spencer Ladner

Height/weight: 6-7, 230

Position: tight end

High school: Kansas City (Mo.) Pembroke Hill

Early offers: Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, Clemson, Michigan, Washington State, Wisconsin.

Notable: Had 620 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for Pembroke Hill as a junior. : Attended KU's spring game as an unofficial visitor. : Both of Ladner's parents attended KU. : According to Rivals.com, Ladner plans to narrow his choices in the summer.

Jarard Milo

Height/weight: 6-3, 195

Position: athlete

High school: Olathe Northwest

Early offers: Minnesota

Notable: Did not play his junior season because of KSHSAA rules forcing him to sit out after transferring from Olathe North. : Plans to hit the camp circuit hard this summer due to the lack of game film. : Could be a safety or wide receiver in college. : Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Wisconsin are keeping in touch with him, and more offers are expected to come this summer.

Kale Pick

Height/weight: 6-2, 198

Position: quarterback

High school: Dodge City High

Early offers: Kansas, Iowa State, SMU, Colorado State.

Notable: Passed for 1,779 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, completing 55 percent of his passes. : Interested in finishing his recruiting this summer. : Led Dodge City to a 6-3 record as a junior, primarily working as a pocket passer. Could see more of a dual-threat role as a senior this fall.

Sean Ransburg

Height/weight: 6-1, 185

Position: athlete

High school: Harrisonville (Mo.) High

Early offers: Committed to Kansas in April.

Notable: A dual-threat quarterback for the traditional power Wildcats, garnering 2,800 yards of total offense as a junior. : Could project as a running back or defensive back for Kansas. : Harrisonville rolled to a 14-0 record with Ransburg at QB, winning the Class 3 state title game by five touchdowns.

Kyler Reed

Height/weight: 6-2, 215

Position: athlete

High school: Overland Park Aquinas

Early offers: Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Colorado, Colorado State.

Notable: Sees himself as a wide receiver in college, though he could play defense, too. : Nebraska is recruiting him as an outside linebacker, where he never has played. : Contributed all over the field as a junior for Aquinas, but starred as a receiver, catching 36 passes for 632 yards. : Said Aquinas coach Kevin Kopecky: "He's just a great football player. You can play him anywhere."

Aldon Smith

Height/weight: 6-5, 235

Position: defensive end

High school: Raytown (Mo.) High

Early offers: Kansas State, Missouri

Notable: Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but moved to Raytown before his junior year. : Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas are showing early interest, but only the Tigers and Wildcats have offered to this point. : Could be a tight end in college, as well.

Duane Zlatnik

Height/weight: 6-4, 260

Position: defensive end

High school: Rossville High

Early offers: Kansas, Kansas State, Wisconsin

Notable: A standout tight end and defensive end at Rossville who projects as a defender in college. : Attended KU's spring game on an unofficial visit and has stated he's a Jayhawk fan. : A two-time state champion wrestler. His 285-pound Class 3-2-1A title earlier this year capped a 42-0 season.