Former Kansas football recruits move on

By Ryan Wood     Jan 19, 2007

With the crazy uncertainty that plagues college football recruiting these days, every program has one-time commitments playing elsewhere. Often, players line up against schools they once declared they were going to attend.

High school kids often commit somewhere, receive a more appealing offer, then flip-flop. It’s a growing trend in football recruiting, and every program in America has seen examples of it – Kansas University included.

So what has come of some of those players? KU, remarkably, had no players in its 2006 recruiting class change their mind to go somewhere else, so a trip back to 2005 and earlier is necessary. By this point, many of those defections have seen the fields at their schools.

Here’s a look at some former KU oral commitments who, before signing day, chose to go elsewhere to play football.

Aaron Brown, RB: Originally committed to Kansas, but then went to TCU. That domino indirectly led to Angus Quigley’s last-minute signing with the Jayhawks in February of 2005. Brown played as a true freshman at TCU in ’05 and was named the Mountain West Conference’s Freshman of the Year after rushing for 758 yards. As a sophomore in 2006, he had 154 carries for 801 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 34 catches for 455 yards receiving and returned five kicks.

Val Taylor, WR – Committed to three different schools during his recruitment – UTEP, Kansas and eventually Kansas State. After red-shirting for K-State in 2005 and running track for the Wildcats, Taylor left this summer for academic reasons and enrolled at Division I-AA Sam Houston State. He’s on both the football and track rosters there.

Rashaad Norwood, TE – A highly publicized in-state recruiting war after Norwood committed to Kansas ended with the Kansas City, Kan., product switching his pledge to Kansas State in 2003. Norwood red-shirted in ’03 and caught one pass in ’04 before breaking out with a 13-catch, 160-yard season in 2005. He was K-State’s second-leading receiver this season with 36 catches fror 358 yards.

Terrel Nemons, DT – He was long one of KU’s top commits in 2005 before he changed his mind and signed with Tulsa. Played extensively at nose guard and started six games as a true freshman in 2005, totaling eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Had 31 tackles in 2006, his sophomore season.

Jacob Lacey, CB – A brief KU commitment who changed his mind and went to Oklahoma State in 2005. Played immediately for the Cowboys in ’05, and earned a starting cornerback job in time for the ’06 season. Had 48 tackles, a forced fumble and five passes defended this season for the 7-6 Cowboys.

Brouce Mompremier, LB – Committed to Kansas in 2004 before flip-flopping to South Florida late in the recruiting process. Actually left USF during the 2004 season but returned in 2005 as a part-time player. Had just five tackles in 11 games for the 2006 Bulls, which lost to KU in Lawrence on Sept. 23.

Jarrell Yates, WR – Commited to Colorado and switched to Kansas briefly before deciding to stay close to home and once again committing to Colorado. A knee injury forced a red-shirt in 2005, and Yates was considered a backup receiver in 2006. He had two receptions for 43 yards this season, including a 14-yard catch against Kansas on Oct. 28.

E.J. Biggers, CB – Committed to Kansas before opting to instead go to Western Michigan. Played as a true freshman in 2005, recording 27 tackles and four passes defended. Had 31 tackles and four interceptions this season for the Broncos and threw a 76-yard trick-play touchdown pass in the International Bowl last week.

Dustin Fortson, LB – Took back his Kansas commitment and signed with Mississippi out of high school. Left the Ole Miss program soon after showing up and enrolled at Florida Atlantic. His transfer forced him to red-shirt in 2005, and he followed it up with six tackles and a forced fumble in 11 games at FAU this season.

Jonathan Throneberry, OL-DL – Signed with Kansas and showed up in the summer of 2005 before getting homesick and heading back to Oklahoma. Resurfaced on the 2005 roster of Southeastern Oklahoma State, a Division-II school near his hometown of Lone Grove. He no longer is listed as a member of that team, though.

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