KU fans questioned why the third-year coach signed only 18 players in February, but Mangino thought saving his scholarships made more sense than filling out his recruiting class with marginal players.

“I always try to hold on to one or two because you never know what you’re going to find late,” said Mangino. “Other places I’ve been we’ve found some really fine players — impact guys — late. You know, kids develop late. Kids are overlooked sometimes.”

Less than two weeks after the national signing day for letters of intent, Mangino signed Concord, Calif., linebacker Joe Mortensen, then he added San Diego offensive lineman Matt Darton in March.

Monday, Mangino announced he had added two more scholarship players.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M offensive lineman Matt Mann joined the program during the summer, and Lawton, Okla., receiver Marcus Henry became the newest Jayhawk after he caught eight passes for 156 yards and a touchdown July 30 in the Oklahoma All-State Game.

Henry (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) was overlooked after playing in a run-oriented offense at Lawton Eisenhower High. He had signed a letter of intent to play for NEO this fall.

“He had a great all-star game down there,” Mangino said of Henry, who many fans and reporters thought was sophomore Moderick Johnson (6-5, 190) during Monday’s workout. “He’s put on weight since the fall, and we’re really impressed with him. We made calls to our contacts down in Oklahoma, and they said the guy can flat play. We watched tape of him, and we liked him.”

Henry caught 22 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns last fall, but he was overshadowed by running back D.J. Wolfe, an Oklahoma recruit who rushed for 1,601 yards and 16 TDs.

Eisenhower High coach Bill Whiteley said Henry was a good student, and he was dumbfounded that no major colleges offered the all-district receiver a scholarship prior to his breakout performance in the all-star game.

“We’ve never had a receiver like him — in terms of size, speed, jumping ability and hands — in all my years,” said Whiteley, who’s spent the last 27 years at the Lawton school, including nine as head coach. “With his work ethic in the weight room, by the time he’s a senior he could be drafted. He’s big-time.”

Mangino first spotted Mann (6-2, 280) when he was an assistant coach at Oklahoma, and the offensive lineman was in high school in Norman, Okla. Mann played both guard and tackle for NEO — mostly in a backup role — last season as a red-shirt freshman. He was expected to be the Golden Norsemen’s starting center this fall.

“It hurt us, but we weren’t going to tell him he couldn’t go,” said NEO coach Steve Patterson, whose school also produced KU center Joe Vaughn. “He had a chance to go Division One, and that’s what we’re here for. We’re excited for him. He’s a good player.”

Mann was working with the second team Monday at left guard.

“He’s not as good an athlete as Joe Vaughn, but he’s a smart, intelligent player who uses his size well,” Patterson said. “He’ll do a good job for them.”