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Kansas University commitment Marcus Jenkins-Moore, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker from Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, Calif., has yet to sign with or suit up for the Jayhawks, but he already has sampled a taste of the rivalry between KU and Kansas State.
In Manhattan last weekend for an official visit with juco teammate and KU target Marquel Combs, Jenkins-Moore became even more fired up about his commitment to KU while standing on the sideline watching KSU’s victory over Texas.
“It showed me how intense the rivalry is and how much the fans care about those schools and the recruits,” he said of his interactions with KU and K-State fans both at the game and on Twitter. “I understand all the fans out there are different, but it doesn’t matter to me, I’m just ready to ball.”
After returning to California earlier this week, Jenkins-Moore, who originally hails from Louisville, Ky., solidified his commitment to Kansas both on Twitter and in person with Kansas coach Charlie Weis.
“He already knew that I would stay committed,” Jenkins-Moore said of Weis. “Me and coach Weis have been talking on Facebook a lot and I tell him, ‘I’m strong on the process and I’m strong on my commitment to Kansas because I want to make that difference for ’em.’”
The two Pierce CC defenders have been a priority for Weis, who has conducted in-home visits with both players and their families already this week.
“I appreciate that on their first day off since the season ended that they came to my parents’ house and Marquel’s parents’ house,” Jenkins-Moore said. “They told my mom that they were gonna make me go to class and academics would be a priority and everything was gonna be good for me. That was just another thing that made my mom happy, so it made me happy.”
It remains to be seen which school the 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle Combs will select, but the Jayhawks appear to be very much in the mix, and Jenkins-Moore is doing all he can to inspire Combs to join him at Kansas.
“We would love to play together,” Jenkins-Moore said. “We’re not friends, we’re not homies, we’re like brothers. I was in his ear about (recruiting) a lot about a month ago, and we’ve been having long discussions about it, but lately, I’ve been keeping quiet and giving him the time to think about it himself. It’s his decision.”
Rivals.com’s Rob Cassidy reported in late November that Combs had narrowed his list to a top three of KU, Kansas State and Washington State.
Combs will graduate this month and he told Rivals he would make a decision Dec. 18.
CBSSports.com honors Sims
Junior running back James Sims, who, this season, became the 11th player in KU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, was named to CBSsports.com’s all-Big 12 first team earlier this week.
Sims’ total of 1,013 yards came in just nine games after he served a three-game suspension to open the season.
Sims’ career total of 2,482 ranks him eighth on KU’s all-time rushing list, 1,359 yards behind all-time leader June Henley. Sims’ 27 career touchdowns rank third all-time, one behind Tony Sands for second, and 14 behind Henley.
CB reopens recruitment
Taylor Lewis, a senior at DeSoto (Texas) High has been removed from KU’s commitment list on JayhawkSlant.com and appears to have reopened his recruitment.
The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback who committed to Kansas in late June also has offers from Oklahoma State and Washington State and has been rumored to be seriously looking at the Cowboys.
With Lewis no longer in the mix, KU sits at 13 oral commitments in the Class of 2013 and is expected to bring in roughly twice that many, with several coming from the junior-college ranks.
OSU offers Texas kicker
KU’s efforts to sign Arlington, Texas, place kicker Ben Grogan became a little more difficult recently, when Oklahoma State officially offered the 6-1, 175-pound player a scholarship.
Grogan told Jay Fielder of OStateIllustrated.com that he was leaning heavily toward the Cowboys. Grogan has plans to visit both Kansas State and Kansas in the near future and also is being pursued by Memphis.
2012 Photos of the Year - Nick Krug January 1, 2013
Charlie Weis KU-TCU postgame, Pt. 4 September 15, 2012
Charlie Weis KU-TCU postgame, Pt. 3 September 15, 2012
Charlie Weis KU-TCU postgame, Pt. 2 September 15, 2012
Charlie Weis KU-TCU postgame, Pt. 1 September 15, 2012
Comments
LTCUSARet 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Rivals now has Grogan listed as committed to OkState.
jayhawkintx1973 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Quite frankly, looking at Taylor Lewis's highlights, I wasn't all that impressed with the kid any way. But this Combs kid, I think if he visits Kansas, he'll commit to becoming a Jayhawk. I like this LB from Cali, 4.5 40 will give him the ability to cover TEs over the middle and make some plays, plus he will be able to pursue the ball and make some punishing hits. That's a 4.5 40 and he weights 240 lbs. Just think if he can drop 15 lbs and get to a 4.4 at LB.
RockChalkCaliHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Where are you getting this information that Jenkins-Moore weighs 240? This article has him at 210, which is actually relatively small for a LB.
Kman_blue 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I think he's talking about Manti Te'o's 2nd cousin, Samson Faifili, who's 5'11" 240lbs. out of American River C.C. in Sacramento, CA. He committed to KU a couple of weeks ago in part because of Manti talking up coach Weis to him.
TopCityBob 5 months, 2 weeks ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_SOf2... This was the kid he was talking about.
KGphoto 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks. That was as solid a highlight reel as I've seen in a while. Every tackle was sound, and the inside blitz looked downright nasty. I can see why they call him Lil Polamalu. In the second half of the video, with his hair grown out, he's bigger and faster and blowing up the backfield on those blitzes. He looks EXACTLY like Polamalu on those plays.
Awesome!
jayhawkintx1973 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I wasn't talking about Jenkins-Moore. Maybe I should have said his name, but rivals.com lists these guys and you don't have to subscribe to see the names.
dagger108 5 months, 2 weeks ago
sorry for the double - missed yours phog
dagger108 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Combs has already visited - last fall (Sept?).
swunruhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Keep the football stories coming! Great info. Thank you.
springtxhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't usually get excited about stories about kickers, but after watching our kicking game this season, i think we need to sign 2.
Never have I personally observed such a lesson on the impact of field position / ability to take 3 from the 35 yd line vs. being essentially forced to go for it on 4th down.
Maybe the guy is a senior, but good grief, OSU has an amazing kicker so kind of surprised we can't compete for the commitment....
jjjjjhok 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Kickers must be HARD to recruit. The good ones sign with top teams and start for 4 years. We need to find a disgruntled transfer.
DXJhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Yet Rice was able to get an excellent kicker
vd 5 months, 2 weeks ago
+1000
jaykan7 5 months, 2 weeks ago
It would be great to land some good talent, but kids want to play for great teams. Kids want to go to Alabama, LSU, Ohio St, UCS and Texas. Just makes me wonder sometimes about kids that want to come to Kansas. I think they come to Kansas for a reason, they are not the cream of the crop and have to be coached up emmencely. I would love to see some 4 and 5 star kids headed our way. Get to work HCCW.
dagger108 5 months, 2 weeks ago
immensely?
Kids also dream of playing and getting to the next level. We definitely offer the former, and with it an opp for the latter. This is particularly true of JC's.
KGphoto 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Higher ranked kids come to KU for playing time. Weis has said it's one of, if not the biggest selling point. Sure if you get an offer from Alabama, Ohio St., USC etc. you might go just to be a part of it, but if you are getting offers from Oklahoma St., Cal, Virginia Tech, or any other of the second tier teams, and you aren't going to play much, Kansas starts looking pretty good. These kids want to play more than they want to watch their team win from the sidelines.
I think Charlie is really good at selling that point. "Come to Kansas and be a part of something special. How special will be up to you, because you will be playing." Any kid who thinks he's worth his salt will buy that idea.
NebraskaJayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm trying not to be too critical because I too think that Weis could turn things around and I do like what I've seen so far for the most part, but if we don't get some wins next year, Weis isn't going to be able to sell JACK SQUAT and might be living in a....VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER. Okay, maybe a very nice mobile home off a scenic lake shore. Well, probably more like a million dollar mansion off the coast of Florida, but even so....he needs to win next season.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Exactly, KG! Well said.
bville_hawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Recruiting is the lifeblood of ANY successful college sports team. Charlie gets that.
Stay the course. Patience. Patience. Patience.
HouTexHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Everyone understands the importance of recruiting. Weis' emphasis on that is no different than any other coaches'. During the only year Turner Gill could focus 100% on recruiting, he had a Top 40 class. I think Rivals had him at #34. It will be tough for Weis to come close to match that.
bville_hawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Where have Kansas State's last 10 recruiting classes ranked with Rivals?
KGphoto 5 months, 2 weeks ago
A lot of that was due to hiring Reggie Mitchell.
trajanj 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Having a highly ranked class and finding the players to help you win games and fill spots you need are two different things. In Gill's 2 years he didn't sign a single interior defensive lineman.
plasticJHawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
ultimately these HS kids don't really care where they go to college, because they really dream of playing in the NFL.
if I were a HS kid with the dream of playing in the NFL, then I'm going to want Weis and Campo on my side moreso than Turner Gill.
rxdoc1973 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Matt Tait,
I've been wondering about Ty Mckinney. Any news on him? He was supposed to be a stud. With he and Combs in addition to what we already have we could show huge improvement next year. Any news on him? Haven't anything for a long time!
Matt Tait 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Got a call in... Hope to hear back from him.
Table_Rock_Jayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah Tavia was supposed to be an NFL caliber stud as well...but we saw how that turned out.
Boouk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Who said he was NFL caliber?
Boouk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Exactly. No one, idiot.
rxdoc1973 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Mckinney was a Defensive Tackle. sorry if I forgot to mention that.
jjjjjhok 5 months, 2 weeks ago
75 percent of K-States impact players are juco transfers in their SECOND YEAR at Silo Tech. I know we need help right now but I'd like to see some of our juco guys redshirt next year.
HawkOverseas 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Reports are that Gundy has been offered the job at Tennessee... It'd be nice if he took it and maybe the above players being courted by OSU would reconsider KU.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Well I am shocked we havent seen any KStupid trolls yet regarding a "juco player" visiting KStutter, standing on their sideline, then re-affirming his committment to KU! Look, for the sake of comparison: We know Bruce Weber cannot hope to even hold Self's jockstrap, but you cannot say the same regarding Weis vs. Snyder. Weis already beginning to beat Snyder with those hidden-gem juco guys. I will give 'em that Snyder is a good coach & they deserve to have their stadium named for the man...but we simply need the recruits to be able to compete (everybody in the nation knows that). We have concerns at almost every position regarding talent and depth (including RB after next season). Give Charlie time. Also never forget that Bill Snyder hates KU in the manner that Fambrough hated Mizzou, or Norm Stewart hated Kansas. Heard a story from a KU alum who literally got cussed out and F-bombed by Snyder personally just for being a "KU people". Ive also seen the behavior and comments (in person) of TOO many Purplepussies to let them skate free any longer. If they want a effin rivalry, they will get it. Now both KU turrets (bball and ftball) will turn from Mizzou towards Manlesshattan--time to blast em! Weber vs Self is a joke with a crimson&blue punchline: from Tyshawntagon-o-gloom to Elijahgon. And I cant wait to see Weis vs. Snyder as KU football fleshes out and comes up to speed. Those purplepansy fools better hope they dont get another Ron Prince--> the end is near for Snyder: I talked to a Snyder family friend who told me Snyder had a mild, brief mini-stroke the night before the KSuck loss. Pardon me for not sh!ttin' a tear for him.
HawkOverseas 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Wow, quite the post. I hate K-State as much as the next guy, but I have a hard time knocking Snyder. I don't believe the "heard a story form a KU alum who got cussed out by him" stuff. Even if that is true, it takes nothing away from his coaching abilities. The guy has resurrected K-State twice now.
Again, I hate K-State, the town of Manhattan, and their fans. But any KU fan who tells you he wouldn't take Snyder as our coach is lying.
shottybotch 5 months, 2 weeks ago
simply classless. please go and be a kstate fan
jaykan7 5 months, 2 weeks ago
ralster - Coming from a KU grad, you are an idiot. Drop the name calling and grow up. I hate K-State as much as the next guy, but come on. You are making descent respectable KU fans look bad. If Snyder had a mild stroke then show some kind of compassion, my god! If Pinkle or Quinn Snyder for that matter had some serious health issue I wouldn't be on here acting like you.
jackdavid 5 months, 2 weeks ago
HATE! SUCH A WONDERFUL WORD.
jaykan7 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Hate is a wonderful word. Maybe I should have said dislike.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
No apologies, folks--I've had it with the KStaters. Heard yet another comment by KStaters talking football (just yesterday) about how every BigXII team earned..., and then mentioned "well, except that 'other' team...oh, but they will be happy since basketball is starting up". SO, I simply have some emotional investment in seeing Weis succeed. The next step is calling out these people in a crafty manner to their face. Not just this kusports hobby of defending my team & school. Sometimes a good offensive-stink is the best defense. No worries, 1 way or another, that Purplegasm over in Snyder stadium will soon be over. Uh, and NO, I'm not lying to say that I would NOT take Snyder as coach--what a towel throw-in that would be! That's such a cop out, like saying Purple would take Self, if they could. I wont do it on principle. Haters gotta hate, simply because the Purple are reaping what they have sown. They hate us as much as Fambrough hated Mizzou. Think about that. Dont like the idea of in-state "brethren" stabbin' us in the back? Well, dont kid yourself--most of them would gladly twist the knife, too. I work 320+hrs/month at locations across this state x 14+yrs, and I've simply had enough encounters with thePussies far & wide almost every week. It gets intolerable during football season. They wont change their spots. SO, I shall keep the talons "out". Rock 'em & Chalk-outline 'em.
cusack118 5 months, 2 weeks ago
You don't have to apologize for having no class. Just don't expect people with any to empathize with you.
hawkinator 5 months, 2 weeks ago
If they're so classless, what are you trying to prove by lowering yourself to their level, sir?
NebraskaJayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Three things, Ralster:
So, until we start at least making a game out of it, the smack talk from KState fans will continue.
squawkhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Your jealousy of KSU's success is overwhelming. You sound like a KSU fan.
Brock 5 months, 2 weeks ago
KU can offer up a lot of immediate PT to a juco WR. Gotta find someone who can play.
Boouk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
We landed JUCO WR Mark Thomas after the ISU game. He's 6'2 210 pounds and runs a 4.4 40, according to jayhawkslant.com. If he can just catch he'll be really good.
jaykan7 5 months, 2 weeks ago
How crisp are his routes and can he CATCH?
Jayhawker28 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree, we need another JUCO WR and as I had posted before, Mangina took us to a bowl in his second year via JUCOs and he inherited D 1AA type talent.
With 5 super bowl rings between Campo and Weis, Heaps at QB, and exceptional facilities, I look for a strong class to come in.
Rock Chalk
mvjayhawk 5 months, 2 weeks ago
story on ESPN about Gundy staying at OSU...it would have taken a lot to get him to leave his alma mater...so we can forget that kicker. i'm sure there's another one out there. :)
let me just say, i agree and disagree with Raister's post...i think Weis will get us more competitive with KSU...that's why this first mini battle with them, i would love to win. two teammates in JUCO coveted by both schools, and they would both pick KU? man that would be awesome...it sounds like Jenkins-Moore is pretty set on coming here...i mean what's not to like?
as to another general post above about why kids would come to KU... they come here for the experience, playing time, and a chance to build something. every program MUST recruit....kids don't fall off the trees and land in your front yard. you have to work hard for everything...every year. just look at KSU...when Snyder left the first time, they finished last in the North, his last two years...LAST. that was after winning the league title.
Look at KU bball. Self has been getting hammered the last couple of years...why? he's lost it in recruiting...losing some top kids...blah blah blah. and then, voila...a top 2 recrutiing class. he has to work on it....just as hard as everyone else.
look, KU can win get in some real good football players, and beat KSU in a class (you don't think schools aren't negatively recruiting against KSU because Snyder is nearing his mid 70s? you dang right they are). HCCW knows that his continued rep and success as a head coach comes in the next couple of recruiting classes...they're going to set the stage for his final legacy. He and his assitants are hard after it.....they definitely get an A for effort....let's just get that quality difference, and then the football wins will come.
hawkdds 5 months, 2 weeks ago
ralster you're classless. K-State being successful is good for all Kansans and the Big12. I hope they beat Oregon to show both coasts the midwest is not a dumping ground and Kansas isn't a fly-over state which all the talking heads seem to believe. The SEC and PAC 12 get far too much adulation.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Classless on this issue. Not afraid to get in the mud with them. Beat em in the mud, in KC, in Lawrence, in Manhattan, even in Africa (to turn Beasley's infamous comment for my own use...).
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Sorry, hawk-dentist, but your statement "KSU being successful is good for all Kansans and the Big12" (while commendable, as most KU people are in this big-pix regard), is simply NOT echoed by the vast majority of the KState individuals I have met. They hate us like many KU people hated Mizzou, but obviously for their own different reasons. Quit facing east, turn around and face the real enemy to the west. They want this fight. And I want the W.
cusack118 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Everybody wants the win. You want to celebrate the coach having a stroke. Learn to be a KU fan and not an imbalanced miscreant. People like you are the reason schools' fans "hate" each other. It's juvenile an irrational.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Context is everything. I wasnt celebrating, stating I wont "shed" a tear was my picturesque way of being ambivalent about it: To clarify ambivalence--> not jumping for joy at the medical issue, but not shedding tears over it either. Neutral on the medical issue. It was a Kstater who told me about Snyder and was using it as the excuse for the loss. I guess we did about the same after that tough night for Thomas Robinson when his dear mother passed unexpectedly (and we lost in AFH to TX). The best scenario, obviously is to beat Snyder's team on the gridiron with him healthy on the sidelines. A good non-asterisk W. That day will arrive soon enough.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Ya, did you notice the BigXII got crapped on by the selection committee regarding KState? That's exactly what most all of the Purple people are saying the last few days regarding KSU. We could sympathize with them, as we (ku) gets snubbed in some fashion every year by the media, and occasionally by the selection committee as well...but I've heard too many KSUers say they root for whoever is playing against KU, even Missouri, OU, Nebr, or TX. Several said they were rooting for Kentucky in the ChampGame against Tyshawn and Thomas Robinson. Is that sentiment not painful to y'all? Its true.
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
And to think just last month, I ordered the "new" BigXII official long-sleeve T with the BigXII logo on chest, and all 10 (current) BigXII team logos in color on the back. So I do support the conference. I have said for years and years to people wearing purple or burnt orange or Sooner crimson: "Hey...fellow Big12..." and tried to be friendly. Oh, I will still do that, but not so much for Purple now. Let those fools say 1 thing, and I've got a list of crafty, seemingly innocuous logic-hooks to throw at 'em. Probably fly over their heads, though (like the 2nd stringers they are...). Lol!
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
But I shall tone down the "brimstone", as it isnt 1957, and I must be cognizant that there may be "soft" folks amongst KU nation...Just like Self has been lamenting "softness" in evidence on his squad at this point...so I'll try to be more considerate of fellow KU people, eh? Most people in life that I come across, I realize are simply not as competetive or driven as I am. Not only in sports, but in career & other endeavors as well. That's OK. We arent all the same. Not even amongst KU nation (obviously). Lesson for all of us.
hawkinator 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Congratulations, you've managed to earn the contempt of the entire Jayhawk nation!
rxdoc1973 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah and I don't echo you. Sure I wanna beat KSU. And sure I cheer for the Hawks everytime we play them. But I have way too many friends and family that attended KSU to hate them like Mizzou. Maybe that will change since Misery left but for now I'm still pulling for them against Oregon. Synder is a HOF coach IMO. He deserved to win out this year if anyone ever has as a head coach. He's meant more to the cats than any of their fans that I know realize. I'm old enough to remember the days when they held the nations longest losing streak. Hell my uncle played there back in the late 60's with Lynn Dickey. He was a starting OLineman. It's hard to cheer for a PAC-12 school against my uncles team for no other reason than because many of their fans suck. I'll take the high road here and cheer for them in their bowl game even if they don't return the favor. Someday soon we'll be competing with them on an even field with equal talent. Any fan that says they don't prefer this rivalry to be a good game every year isn't really a fan. Hopefully very soon we'll be competing. Rock Chalk
ralster 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Dont worry, hawkinator, I can handle ku people feeling contemptous towards the "messenger" (me) on this point. But exposing the FACT they hate us (for no real reason) is my whole point. In real life encounters, if they are cordial, I'll be cordial. If some purple begins with smack, I will give it back to him. I am simply a mirror to show everyone how they think. I never did anything to them directly. You dont like what I am reflecting, then consider the source of that reflection (KSU attacker-type fans).
hawkdds 5 months, 2 weeks ago
ralster, hate is to severe, half of my neighbors are K-State alumni and we enjoy poking fun at each other but we all band together on important things like being helpful in time of stress and several households are mixed KU-KS. I love it that the KS game has been moved to year end and hope the friendly rivalry thrives. Mizzou has pooped in their nest and deservedly so, I just wish we didn't play at Sprint Arena--Fambrough wouldn't spend a dime in Mo. and I don't like to either. Anyway my point is we are all Kansans and I'm tired of the Toto jokes. Several years ago two of the major accounting firms CEO's were KU graduates, our medical school is ranked in the top 10, we've produced astronauts, hollywood actors and various other philanthropic individuals--so has K-State. The sport teams shake hands after competition,after all its just a sport so cut our neighbors a little slack, we are in this together. RCJH
Stater
Rodney Stice 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm attending the fiesta bowl to support the kittens. I shall wear my best jayhawk shirt and jacket as I sit in a crowd of purple. By the way my cousin and his wife graduated from ksucks. He was even on the football team in the eighties after Dickie.
I do get so tired of hearing about good the sec and p12 are. I hope ksucks beats them up like osu did to Stanford last year.
RCJ!
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