The recruiting haul for the Kansas University football program in the Class of 2012 officially is in motion.
Jon Kirby, of Rivals.com, reported Wednesday that Daniel Gray, a 6-foot, 165-pound cornerback from Boyd Anderson High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., orally committed to the Jayhawks Wednesday evening via a telephone call to head coach Turner Gill.
Gray, a senior-to-be, has been timed as fast as 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash and consistently runs in the 4.4 range. He chose KU over offers from Texas Tech and Florida International. Nearby programs Miami and Florida State also showed serious interest in the physical defensive back.
At the end of the day, KU’s early interest, kicked off by Florida guru and KU safeties coach, Robert Wimberly, paid off. The Jayhawks’ persistence didn’t hurt either.
“I always felt that Kansas was loyal to me,” Gray told Rivals. “Coach Gill was really cool … I really like coach Wimberly. He’s very honest and I liked how he was trustworthy. I hope to go up to Kansas and start a new tradition.”
The addition of Gray marks the second straight year the Jayhawks have landed a cornerback from the Sunshine State. Chris Robinson, 5-9, 170, of Lake Mary, Fla., was one of 27 members of KU’s 2011 class. Robinson will report to campus in June.
This year, KU has about half as many scholarships available to give (13), which has encouraged the coaching staff to alter its approach on the recruiting trail.
“When you don’t have as many scholarships available, you have to be really selective with the pool of players that you’re going after,” said KU recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Reggie Mitchell. “This year, we’re going to be a little more selective with the positions that we’re going to take.”
One position that KU continues to deem important is cornerback. And there’s a specific reason for that.
“We’re going after speed,” Mitchell said.
