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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Arkansas wide receiver gives verbal commitment to KU

Neal Barlow ranked No. 71 wideout in class of 2009

By J-W Staff Reports

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Kansas University's football team received its 14th commitment in the Class of 2009 when Neal Barlow, a 6-foot-6 receiver out of Little Rock, Ark., passed up LSU and Missouri to become a Jayhawk.

"I talked to my family about the decision, and I just felt that Kansas was the best place for me," Barlow told Rivals.com. "It was a gut feeling, and I just knew that Kansas is where I wanted to be."

A three-star recruit and the nation's No. 71-ranked receiver according to Rivals, Barlow caught 81 passes for 1,164 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior last season.

He also saw time at safety, according to Pulaski Academy coach Kevin Kelley.

Barlow, the first receiver to commit to Kansas in the '09 class, called first-year Jayhawks receivers coach David Beaty a major factor in his decision.

"I've gotten to know coach Beaty, and I've spent a lot of time with him," Barlow said. "I just love coach Beaty, and he is a great guy. He is a big reason why I committed to Kansas."

Oral commitments are nonbinding until the spring letter-of-intent signing period.

Comments

jhawkjdub (anonymous) says...

We'll take him for sure! Welcome to KU! Its always good to hear we got a recruit that was considering schools like Mizzou and LSU! Good stuff!

August 13, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lance1jhawk (anonymous) says...

6'7" 190lbs? I wonder if he can hoop also.
This next recruiting class is the one where we should start seeing some of the benifits of a BCS victory and Coach of the year awards.
Anyway... welcome to the Jayhawk Nation Mr. Barlow.

August 13, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Hopefully, he will grow a few more inches before arriving on campus ;) Seriously, how does a 5'11" or 6' cornerback cover a guy like this?? If he has speed too, he will be a major force to deal with!

August 13, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkblock (anonymous) says...

This kid reminds me of Todd Blythe

August 13, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalk_dpu (anonymous) says...

I just watched the videos of him on Rivals.com, he can flat out play. Some of the catches he made and moves through the defenses were incredible. I can't wait to throw a few more pounds of muscle on him and let him loose on the Big 12. Great pick up by the coaching staff.

RCJ

August 13, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

Rivals says he runs a 4.55, but watching his videos he didn't look quite that fast. But he'll get faster and stronger. This kid is going be to be an easy target for us. Whoever the next KU quarterback is this guy is going to make that QB look great. Briscoe has great hands and he'll be a great receiver, but most defenses are gonna have all kinds of trouble trying to cover a guy who's 6'7 and fast

August 13, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

He usually uses his height to body up and get open, so he doesn't have to run full speed to outrun his defender. He just keeps himself bodied up and gets to a hole in the defense so his man will have to handle him one on one. Sort of the way a big center will box out to get open in basketball.

He's a lot like Marcus Henry in the open field, once he gets to full stride nobody is going to run him down. The Todd Blythe comparisons are right on target, very similar players.

I've been excited about this guy for a while, I'm really glad we were able to land him.

August 13, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

How on earth is a guy with his size and skills only rated as a three-star prospect?

August 13, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MitchumMan (anonymous) says...

6'7"?? Can you imagine the possibilities with this kid? I can't help but smile right now. Good choice on schools! LSU who?

August 13, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

afilmer (anonymous) says...

nice grab coach mangino.

August 13, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stevemize (anonymous) says...

He will be a great target in the endzone inside the red zone. Looking forward to seeing him in Crimson and Blue.

August 13, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

At 6'7" and 190 pounds, he's got a little beefing up to do.

A great recruiting coup for our coaches.

August 13, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk4life1976 (anonymous) says...

Great pick-up here! This guy will be a nice target for Reesing, Pick and Webb. Plus, they snatched him away from his home state Arkansas Razorbacks and, more importantly, the Misery Tiggers.

Quick reminder: If you haven't purchased tickets for the Border War you need to do so now! Meth-zou fans are apparently snatching them up off of kuathletics.com.

August 13, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

agraves (anonymous) says...

chalk another one for coach mangino. 6 foot 7 wide receiver? he should catch quite a few balls in the big 12!!! hopefully a lot of them will come against mizzou...LOL...

August 13, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Mr_Sandman (anonymous) says...

KU is really putting together an impressive class for next year. The two Euless Trinity kids are studs and this kid seems like a great future receiving TE or slot WR. Also a couple of good looking QB's and OL too.

August 13, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kataboom (anonymous) says...

w00t! hes welcome with open arms. rock chalk!

August 13, 2008 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

crooner (anonymous) says...

Welcome, Barlow. You'll love it here.

August 13, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

This guy was my number one favorite target all summer. I watched his videos a long time ago and he looks unstoppable. I'm not sure how he is rated so low, but it looks like Mangino pulled out another diamond from the rough. I can't wait to see Todd throw a fade route to this guy in the corner of the end zone.

August 13, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

arkhawk (anonymous) says...

Neal stated on local TV in Little Rock a couple of weeks ago that he was especially impressed with the new faculities at Kansas. He was recruited very heavily by Arkansas. When you see him play in person you will be impressed. Welcome Neal to Kansas!

August 13, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stravinsky (anonymous) says...

It's very VERY nice to see KU steal recruits from well respected programs such as Arkansas (slightly arguable...) and LSU and from offensive powerhouses such as Mizzou. He'll be fun to watch.

August 13, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scramjay (anonymous) says...

Woooooooooo, Pig, Foooooooiiiiiiiii !!! As an arKansas Jayhawk, it's great to see Neal going to Mt. Oread. Make us all proud young man. RCJ!!!!

August 13, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Wow

August 13, 2008 at 11:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

TheTruth08 (anonymous) says...

LSU didn't want him that much...haha. If so, he would have been a Tiger. Players in the south don't turn down LSU for Kansas. Let's be realistic. By the way, he'll be a tight end when he steps on campus. Kansas needs a few more good seasons to get stud players. A three-star player, unless he blossoms and everybody missed the boat, is nothing to get excited about. He's solid. That's about it. But a good pick up. Kansas will arrive when they start receiving commitments from Top-100 players. They're aren't there yet. And getting there is a difficult task.

August 14, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawker85 (anonymous) says...

Seems like a win for Barlow and win for Kansas. If only we could pull a cornerback with his height...

TheTruth08 is a rogue KSU fan who isn't happy that Josh Freeman can't translate athletic ability and talent to production on the field. The difference here is KU has two quarterbacks better than Freeman and if this kid doesn't pan out right away, the 'Hawks have junior Dezmon Briscoe and first-team HS all-Texas star receiver Daymond Patterson. Oh, and yea, that Meier guy will be good too...

Face it TheTruth08, Ron Prince isn't the new Bill Snyder, Mark Mangino is, and he is coaching for your rival. Mangino could pull talent from anywhere. He doesn't need Rivals.com to rank what players want to go to LSU. Look at Perrilloux at LSU. Where is he now? That's right kicked off the team. Same for that guy down at OU... If you want to base Kansas football off of Rivals.com rankings and stars, reference these big shots and Nebraska football... Rivals.com rankings didn't work so well for Bill Callahan, did they?

TheTruth08=Jealous Homer

August 14, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

trojanhawk (anonymous) says...

LSU didn't want him that much, yet they decided to offer him a scholarship for the heck of it.

A player from the south DID just turn down LSU to play for KU. Get over yourself.

Who needs top 100 players when you can make it to Orange Bowls with two and three-star players?

August 14, 2008 at 2:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

derringer29 (anonymous) says...

if coach M can WIN the ORANGE BOWL with 2 and 3 star guys, just think what he is going to do with 4 star players-the problem with the 5 star guys sometimes is they arnt willing to work there a$$es off like the over achieving 2 and 3 star kids are, like they say if its not broken dont fix it-u keep taking the left overs coach M and out coach the whole BIG 12- BY THE WAY WHO WAS THE RECRUITING CORDANATOR FOR THOSE GOOD K-SUCK TEAMS ?????? THATS RIGHT IT WAS ARE GUY....WHO WAS THE BETTER HIRE BILL OR MANGINO ? PROBLEY COACH M THE BASKETBALL COULD PROBLEY RUN ITS SELF-THIS IS THE BEST TIME EVER TO BE A JAYHAWK FAN THANKS LEW FOR MAKING EVERYONE HAPPY- WHAT A STUD!!!!!!!

August 14, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I'm certainly happy to get the kid, and MM doesn't do anything for no reason, but nothing really stood out that much to me on the highlight tape, and lets be honest, he has a long way to go physically before he'll be a factor on a top-25 division one team. He seems to have good hands, but just average speed for a receiver. Obviously the height is there, but without above average speed or a little bulk to go with that height, I can't see him being a contributor on this level. Hopefully, he'll either make me eat my words, or get faster and stronger.

August 14, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jaminrawk (anonymous) says...

Barlow was one of the guys I had my eye on in recruiting. 6'7" is a Plaxico Burress-type receiver. Can you imagine red zone situations with a guy like that? Jump ball! He probably will end up being a Tight end because apparently his speed isn't that elite at receiver, but 4.55 at tight end is pretty fast. Put on some weight Neal and get ready to shred that Tiger secondary!

August 14, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

thiknthinhawk (anonymous) says...

Lets face it - anyone LSU is recruiting is the type of athlete that will make a major contribution here at KU. Apparantly LSU thought his speed was good enough for them. Sounds like a hoss to me!

August 14, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

trojanhawk (anonymous) says...

"if coach M can WIN the ORANGE BOWL with 2 and 3 star guys, just think what he is going to do with 4 star players"

Nearly ever four-star player of the Mark Mangino was a bust, either because of grades or because they couldn't live up to expectations. Coincidence maybe, but I'll go with the players the staff thinks fit into the system. They can have one-star for all I care, as long as they win.

Barlow has unique size and hands. For those saying he doesn't have elite speed - none of our receivers have elite speed. Kerry Meier, our backup QB, is faster than most of our receivers. A walk-on has the fastest forty time among the WR. Our two top WR (Briscoe and Fields) are not known for their speed. You don't need to have a bunch of deep threats in a spread offense. You need players that can run great routes and catch the ball. Barlow should be able to handle those things.

If he can't cut it at WR, then he can develop into a TE.

August 14, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Damn derringer29! My ears are ringing and your dixunairy is broke.

Glad to see another border victory. Any news on Webb?

August 14, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

And what's with the comparison to Blythe at ISU? There we go again, comparing white guys to white guys.

Besides, he reminds me much more of Chris Collinsworth. heh. ;)

August 14, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

Three things:

First) Blythe at ISU was very tall, very thin, and bodied up to catch passes against shorter competition. Also, neither one of them has rythym, neither can perform a stylish dunk, and they both say Golly Gee a lot. What's not to compare?

Second) This kid is not making a switch to tight end. With his natural build he'll never bulk up enough. Further, there's no need to switch him to tight end, he's an excellent receiver.

Third) He'll never bulk up enough to play tight end, but he's about twenty pounds away from being listed as a five star recruit. Since we won't need him to skip a redshirt, he'll easily have time to bulk up before he gets on the field.

It always cracks me up when people open their big mouths and rip on people they obviously know nothing about. Everbody talking crap right now is going to look incredibly stupid when this kid comes here and has an amazing career. It's probably the same people that were calling for Mangino's head before last year. Haters that just love the taste of their foot in their mouths.

August 15, 2008 at 4:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )