Wichita RB picks Kansas

By Matt Tait     Mar 27, 2010

As expected, Wichita Heights running back Dreamius Smith orally committed to Turner Gill’s Kansas University football program on Saturday.

Smith, in town with his family to take in the Jayhawks first practices of the spring and visit the facilities, becomes the second commitment in KU’s Class of 2011. He joins fellow-running back Darrian Miller, of Blue Springs (Mo.) High as the first high school juniors to commit to Kansas this season.

“I met all of the coaches and they made it feel like a home to me,” Smith told Rivals.com on Saturday.

KU assistant coach Robert Wimberly was the lead recruiter for the projected four-star running back and Smith said last week that he felt as if Wimberly was one of his best friends.

After meeting with Wimberly and other KU assistant coaches — including running backs coach Reggie Mitchell — Smith and his family sat down with Gill and told the head coach of his decision to become a Jayhawk.

As a junior in 2009, Smith, 6-foot, 205 pounds, rushed for more than 1,300 yards and helped lead Wichita Heights to the Class 6A state title game, where they lost to Olathe North. In addition, Smith joined heavily-recruited hoops teammate Perry Ellis in leading Heights to the state basketball title.

In February, Kansas became the first school to offer Smith a scholarship. That early interest, combined with Smith’s childhood dreams of playing his college football in Lawrence, helped lead him to commit.

Smith also received heavy interest from Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State.

Jayhawks offer son of former foe

Kansas has offered a scholarship to Tyler Lockett, son of former Kansas State receiver Kevin Lockett.

Lockett, a junior wide receiver at Booker T. Washington High in Tulsa, Okla., stands 5-10, 165 pounds, runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and is receiving interest from Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU.

His father, a second-round pick of the Kansas Chiefs in 1997, played eight seasons in the NFL after starring at K-State.

PREV POST

KU tennis team edges Iowa State, 4-3

NEXT POST

35105Wichita RB picks Kansas

Author Photo

Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.