Kansas University athletic officials said Friday the Jayhawks were not recruiting high school All-American running back Cornell Johnson of Desert Pines High in Las Vegas.
Desert Pines coach Leon Evans told the Journal-World in Friday’s edition that Johnson had not signed a letter of intent with any school, contradicting a report on rivals.com that linked his running back to Kansas and Kansas State.
Johnson recently told rivals.com he had signed a letter of intent with Kansas State, but his mother told the Web site her son had signed with Kansas.
Evans and Desert Pines athletic director Gertha Robinson disputed both claims in phone interviews with the Journal-World and Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.
Johnson led Nevada preps with 2,105 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns last season, leading Desert Pines to the state championship. He earned all-state and All-American honors, but many schools have backed away from the recruit because of his academic woes.
Johnson earned a qualifying test score after the Feb. 5 signing day, but that score was red-flagged by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
A Desert Pines teacher told rivals.com that Johnson — who could not be reached for comment — was making plans to attend junior college.
