Former Nebraska football player Michael Keenan has expressed a desire to play for Kansas University, according to a source close to him.
Keenan, a freshman, left the Nebraska football team midseason after seeing time on special teams. Keenan, who attended Oak Park High in Kansas City, Mo., hasn’t spoken publicly about his reasons for leaving NU or his future. Calls to his Lincoln, Neb., residence were not returned.
However, at least one person says Keenan’s agenda includes transferring next month to a Kansas City-area junior college.
“He has told me that his plan is to go to juco at Johnson County, and then when he earns his associate’s, go to KU,” said Ken Clemens, an assistant coach at Oak Park High. “I know that’s what he wants to do. Whether he’s approached anybody (at KU) about that or not, I don’t know.”
Keenan wouldn’t be eligible to play in the fall of 2005, consistent with NCAA transfer rules. But if he earns his associate’s degree quickly, he could be eligible to join KU in time for spring practices in 2006 -provided the Jayhawks are interested.
A similar road was taken by current KU linebacker Gabriel Toomey, who played his first year at Oklahoma, transferred to Iowa Central Community College, then signed with KU prior to the 2003 season.
A year ago, the Jayhawks offered Keenan a scholarship out of Oak Park. The running back/linebacker eventually chose Nebraska and enrolled at NU after a stellar high school career during which he won the Simone Award, given annually to the top football player in the Kansas City area.
| High school seniors who have made oral commitments to play football for Kansas University in 2005:Caleb Blakesley, 6-5, 270, DL, OttawaRussell Brorsen, 6-4, 235, DL, Stillwater, Okla.Bobby Johnson, 6-3, 270, DL, Kansas City (Mo.) WestportJose Rodriguez, 6-6, 255, OL, La Puente, Calif.Jake Schermer, 6-2, 200, LB-S, Ozark, Mo.Darrell Stuckey, 6-1, 180, DB, Kansas City WashingtonEric Washington, 6-2, 220, LB, Minnesota West CCAdam Welty, 6-6, 270, OL, NewtonWayne Wilder, 6-3, 295, DL, Garden City CC |
Rivals.com ranked Keenan as the 16th-best outside linebacker prospect in the country last year, though some think he has the skills to be a Division One running back, too.
If Keenan enrolls at Johnson County, any training he would do would be on his own — the school does not have a football program.
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Recruiting weekend upcoming: Roughly 10 recruits will travel this weekend to Lawrence for official visits to KU.
Jon Kirby of rivals.com said no prospect stood out above the rest but all were talented players who could help KU in the near future.
“It’s a bunch of solid recruits,” Kirby said.
“The way I look at it is, they’re early targets, and it’s still early. If they’re coming in right now, they’re obviously very high on (KU’s) recruiting list.”
The Jayhawks have nine known commitments for 2005. Signing day is Feb. 2.
