Recent Kansas University football commitment Ke’aun Kinner, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back from Navarro College, was named a first-team NJCAA All-American on Tuesday.
Kinner, who also was named 2014 offensive MVP by the Southwest Junior College Football Conference’s coaches, rushed for 1,696 and 22 touchdowns on 253 carries and also caught 17 passes for 109 yards and another touchdown. Kinner also led the SWJCFC in rushing yars per game (170) and averaged 181 all-purpose yards per game while helping lead Navarro to a 7-3 season.
Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Kinner is one of two running backs added by the Jayhawks in the current recruiting class.
He is expected to sign with the Jayhawks on Wednesday, on the mid-year transfer signing day, and plans to report to campus in time for the spring semester and spring practices.
New KU coach David Beaty and running backs coach Reggie Mitchell were the lead recruiters for Kinner.
Murray out, Rhodes in
One-time KU commitment DeLonte’ Murray, a versatile offensive lineman from Lackawanna Community College who committed to the Jayhawks in June, has changed his mind and is expected to sign with Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Murray, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle, reopened his recruiting after KU made a coaching change and wound up going with what he called his “gut feeling” on the matter. His departure opened the door for Beaty to pursue juco offensive lineman Jayson Rhodes, who appears to be waiting to hear from KU about his grades before signing with Kansas.
Rhodes is a 6-3, 290-pound guard from Blinn College, who has three years of eligibility remaining, according to JayhawkSlant.com.
