Although the Kansas football team suffered its ninth consecutive loss on the field Saturday at Memorial Stadium, head coach David Beaty and his staff received some positive news Sunday when recruiting target Zach McKinney verbally committed to the program.
As reported by JayhawkSlant.com, McKinney, rated a three-star defensive tackle by Rivals, delivered the news in person to Beaty and recruiting coordinator Kenny Perry during an unofficial visit to Lawrence.
A 6-foot-5 high school lineman (Class of 2017) from Weatherford, Texas, McKinney watched KU’s 31-24 loss to Iowa State in person, but wasn’t deterred by the outcome.
“You can’t just look at wins and losses,” McKinney, long recruited by KU, told Jayhawk Slant. “Sometimes you have to look past that and where a program is at. Winning doesn’t always show everything. I see the Kansas program is going in the right direction. Just like yesterday against Iowa State, if they make a play or eliminate a mistake they would have won that game.”
Listed at 280 pounds, McKinney also received offers from Houston, Oklahoma State, SMU and other programs.
“It felt like home,” McKinney said of KU. “That’s the main thing when I was there it felt like home. I liked all of the coaches and I see the steps they are making. I think the program is going in the right direction and they will start to win.”
McKinney joins what projects as KU’s strongest unit for 2017, the defensive line, which will feature key returning Jayhawks Dorance Armstrong Jr., Daniel Wise, DeeIsaac Davis and Isaiah Bean.
First-year Kansas defensive line coach Michael Slater, Perry and Beaty all contributed to recruiting the newest addition to the D-line.
Rivals ranks McKinney as the 40th-best defensive tackle in the nation.
