Today, new Kansas University football coach Turner Gill will introduce his first recruiting class as part of 2010 National Signing Day. Highlighted by four-star prospects Brandon Bourbon (running back) and Keeston Terry (wide receiver), the group is expected to include 18 players.
The following is a look at the Jayhawks’ projected newcomers:
Keba Agostinho
Position: Defensive end
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Last school: James E. Taylor High
Also considered: Baylor, Houston, Texas A&M
Notable: An all-District selection last fall, Agostinho finished his senior season with 70 tackles, nine sacks, seven tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.
Jaqwaylin Arps
Position: Defensive end
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds
Hometown: Denison, Texas
Last school: Denison High
Also considered: New Mexico, Southern Methodist, Texas Tech, UTEP
Notable: Originally committed to Texas Tech, Arps switched his commitment in August at least in part so he could play alongside fellow KU commit Jimmay Mundine. Not the biggest guy around, but speed and athleticism are a plus.
Brandon Bourbon
Position: Running back
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds
Hometown: Potosi, Mo.
Last school: Potosi High
Also considered: Stanford, Missouri, Notre Dame, BYU, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Harvard
Notable: One of two four-star players in the Jayhawks’ 2010 signing class, Bourbon was a late addition after de-commiting from Stanford earlier this week. Rushed for nearly 2,400 yards with 29 touchdowns as a junior and has been compared to Stanford Heisman Trophy finalist Toby Gerhart.
Jeremiah Edwards
Position: Defensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 270 pounds
Hometown: Garland, Texas
Last school: Garland High
Also considered: Arizona, Houston, Southern Methodist, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UTEP
Notable: Originally recruited by Mark Mangino’s staff, Edwards kept his commitment following Gill’s arrival. A bit undersized at defensive tackle, but has been described as a high-energy player with football smarts.
Jake Farley
Position: Defensive back
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Last school: Cedar Falls High
Also considered: Iowa State, Louisville
Notable: Listed as the No. 9 prospect in the state of Iowa, Farley is the son of former KU linebackers coach Mark Farley, who served on Terry Allen’s staff from 1997-2000.
Ed Fink
Position: Linebacker
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 221 pounds
Hometown: Belleville, Ill.
Last school: Althoff Catholic High
Also considered: Army, Cincinnati, Kansas State
Notable: Went highly unnoticed after missing most of his junior season with a broken leg, but caught the attention of recruiters by tallying 71 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior in ’09.
Ricki Herod Jr.
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 175 pounds
Hometown: Mesquite, Texas
Last school: North Mesquite High
Also considered: Texas Tech, UCLA, Kentucky
Notable: Ranked by Rivals as the No. 70 prospect in the state of Texas and the No. 56 receiver nationally. Averaged over 15 yards per catch and played at the same high school as current KU defensive back Daymond Patterson.
Chad Kolumber
Position: Offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-foot-8, 286 pounds
Hometown: Woodberry Forest, Va.
Last school: Woodberry Forest School
Also considered: Marshall, Buffalo, Rhode Island
Notable: Received his first offer from Buffalo while Gill was still there, but followed the coach to Lawrence.
Pat Lewandowski
Position: Defensive end
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 248 pounds
Hometown: Overland Park
Last school: Blue Valley West High
Also considered: Kansas State, Northwestern
Notable: Worked himself back from a torn ACL that forced him to miss his entire junior year. Listed as the No. 11 recruit in the state of Kansas and the No. 43 strongside defensive end nationally.
Brian Maura
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Last school: Felix Varela High
Also considered: Kentucky, Mississippi State, Wake Forest
Notable: Clocked at 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, Maura finished among the top 10 in talent-rich Dade County in receiving and touchdowns caught as a senior, according to Rivals. Also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns.
Dexter McDonald
Position: Defensive back
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Last school: Rockhurst High
Also considered: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa State
Notable: Ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the state of Missouri and the No. 77 receiver in the nation. Committed to Illinois and Missouri before deciding on Kansas last week.
Position: Quarterback
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
Hometown: Ephraim, Utah
Last school: Snow College (Utah)
Also considered: Utah State, Virginia
Notable: Completed 202 of 323 passes last season for 3,091 yards, 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a sophomore at Snow College last season and could battle Kale Pick for the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback spot next fall.
Ray Mitchell
Position: Safety
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Last school: MacArthur High
Also considered: Colorado State, Iowa State, New Mexico, Tulsa, UNLV, Wyoming
Notable: Earned first-team all-district honors as a free safety last fall after finishing with 51 tackles.
Jimmay Mundine
Position: Outside linebacker
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds
Hometown: Denison, Texas
Last school: Denison High
Also considered: Baylor, Oklahoma State, Southern Methodist
Notable: Tabbed as the nation’s No. 79 outside linebacker, Mundine played both receiver (1,037 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior) and linebacker (27 tackles, five sacks) for Denison High.
James Sims
Position: Running back
Height/weight: 6-foot, 205 pounds
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Last school: MacArthur High
Also considered: Arkansas, Iowa State, North Texas, Purdue, Utah, UTEP
Notable: One of two running back prospects in the Class of 2010. Rushed for 1,762 yards and 20 touchdowns with a 6.8 yards-per-carry average. Also caught 12 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown en route to earning co-district MVP honors.
Trent Smiley
Position: Tight end
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Last school: Wakeland High
Also considered: Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Rice, Wake Forest
Notable: Caught 36 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Has size and speed (clocked at a 4.6 40-yard dash) and is ranked as the nation’s 17th-best tight end prospect.
Keeston Terry
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 179 pounds
Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.
Last school: Blue Springs High
Also considered: Illinois, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Stanford, Wisconsin
Notable: Terry, a four-star recruit and the son of former KU defensive back Doug Terry, headlines what figures to be a strong group of receivers in the Class of 2010.
Andrew Turzilli
Position: Wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 185 pounds
Hometown: Butler, N.J.
Last school: Butler High
Also considered: Tulsa, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Notable: A three-star recruit with great upside, Turzilli is ranked as New Jersey’s No. 29 recruit and is coming off a senior prep season in which he caught 48 passes for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns.
