KU football lands commitment from second linebacker in 2017 class

By Matt Tait     Jun 3, 2016

Kansas University football recruiting

Late Friday night, in the moments following its first Friday Night Lights camp of the summer, the Kansas University football program picked up an oral commitment from a linebacker from Arlington, Texas.

Kyron Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound standout from Arlington’s Lamar High attended KU’s camp, ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and followed it up by accepting KU’s scholarship offer, which came prior to Friday’s camp.

“It was awesome,” Johnson told JayhawkSlant.com’s Jon Kirby. “Being able to commit and choose a college is something I have always prayed about. I have no words to describe how blessed I am. Everyone came up and welcomed me. It blew my mind.”

Johnson also ran a 4.41 40 at a combine earlier this year.

His commitment continues the trend that the KU coaching staff has pursued from the day it landed in Lawrence — the search for speed, speed and more speed.

According to the Rivals.com data base, Johnson chose Kansas over interest from SMU, and KU defensive backs coach Kenny Perry was the lead recruiter who landed him.

“He has been great,” Johnson said of Perry. “He’s got a great sense of humor. He talks a lot of smack and I talk it right back with him. He has been recruiting me for a while.”

Johnson becomes the seventh player in KU’s 2017 recruiting class to pledge his services to the Jayhawks, including Free State High linebacker Jay Dineen, younger brother of KU junior Joe Dineen.

PREV POST

KU says parents of student alleging rape lack standing to sue under consumer protection act

NEXT POST

48999KU football lands commitment from second linebacker in 2017 class

Author Photo

Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.