In all, Kansas inked 12 members of the Class of 2023 to official letters of intent — three wide receivers, three defensive linemen, two defensive backs and one linebacker, offensive lineman, tight end and running back.

All 12 signees were 3-star prospects according to Rivals.com, and Leipold praised his assistant coaches and recruiting staff for their tireless efforts to bring in the right type of talent and fit for the rising KU program.

“You’re always looking to fill needs and build for the future,” he said. “We’ll always recruit for competition and keep building.”

Two of Wednesday’s more notable signees played their high school football just miles from KU’s campus. Offensive tackle Calvin Clements was a standout at Free State High and tight end Jaden Hamm enjoyed a strong career at Eudora High.

Both had been committed elsewhere — Clements at Baylor and Hamm at Arkansas — before changing their minds and signing with Kansas.

Leipold said he “could not be more excited” about adding both players, noting that their talent and potential was just as promising as what them picking KU might do for the rest of the prospects in the state in future classes.

Although Leipold and his staff maintained a connection with both players throughout their recruitment, he said Wednesday that there was no heavy pressure put on either player after they committed to their previous schools. And he called their changes of heart “natural” and the product of the season the Jayhawks had.

“Being that close (to KU’s campus) probably helped with the seeing and feeling the culture change,” he said. “Hopefully in the future, local recruits are going to take notice of their decisions.”

Kansas had been aware of both players for a long time and Leipold said talking to Clements and Hamm more recently, after they opened their recruitments back up, was akin to “having conversations with adults.”

“I told both of them and their families, it was amazing the see the transformation of maturity from the first time they sat in my office,” Leipold said.

The fact that Kansas is bowl bound now and drew national attention in the form of cracking back into the Top 25 for a while and bringing ESPN’s College GameDay to town significantly aided the final stretch of KU’s recruiting efforts in the 2023 class. And Leipold said the school’s administration and the Kansas fans, who showed up for three consecutive sellouts and were responsible for the third best attendance jump (95.57%) in Division I during 2022, played a huge role in helping many of these players decide that KU was the right place for them to be.

“(It) was tough,” Leipold said of being patient while these prospects and others watched KU’s 2022 season play out. “You heard people saying, “I see you getting better, but… The improvement of this program closed some gaps. And they started seeing some of the same things they were seeing at other places.”

Other notable nuggets from Wednesday’s signing day included:

• As of Wednesday afternoon, KU’s 2023 class was ranked No. 77 nationally by Rivals.com. That put the Jayhawks last in the Big 12, but it’s worth noting that KU also had by far the smallest number of 2023 players signed among all Big 12 schools.

• Leipold acknowledging that KU’s signing of defensive tackles Marcus Calvin and Blake Herold was part of a continued evolution toward a four-man defensive front.

• The KU coach said he liked the athleticism of defensive backs Jameel Croft, a cornerback, and Taylor Davis, a safety. Croft is the latest KU player to come from Detroit, which was the hometown of several KU newcomers heading into the 2022 season, thanks in large part to linebackers coach Chris Simpson’s connections there.

• Perhaps the highest compliment Leipold paid to any single player during Wednesday’s press conference was tossed in the direction of linebacker Logan Brantley, a 6-foot-2, 211-pound prospect from Cherry Creek High in Denver. “He’s the type of guy that’ll be a captain of this football team someday, I believe,” Leipold said. “Just because of the position he plays, the confidence he plays (with), how he goes about it. He’ll get respect in the room.”

• Leipold said that conversations about KU’s stadium and facility upgrades and name, image and likeness opportunities were a huge part of this recruiting cycle and would continue to be so moving forward. He felt good, though, about the fact that KU has plans in place for both aspects. “Now you have something more to talk about,” he said. “I think they all are pieces that (continue) to stack on top (of each other). NIL is huge. We need to continue to get better in that and we are. It’s not something you that you (hope doesn’t) come up in conversation. You can’t. You have to start talking about opportunities and plans and things like that.”

• Former KU commitment Kasen Weisman, a quarterback from Douglasville, Georgia, announced Wednesday afternoon that he was de-committing from the program. He did not reveal which school he planned to sign with, but the 3-star prospect recently received an offer from new Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

• Not included in KU’s signing day festivities on Wednesday were the transfer portal players who have committed to KU. Their position on the roster will not become official until they arrive on campus and attend a class, and they will sign grant in aid agreements rather than letters of intent. KU picked up another commitment from a transfer on Wednesday morning, when Colorado State defensive lineman Devin Phillips announced his plans to come to KU. Phillips’ commitment came one day after KU landed a pledge from Minnesota defensive lineman Gage Keys and less than a week after Texas State kicker Seth Keller committed to the Jayhawks. Wisconsin offensive lineman Logan Brown also has committed to KU out of the transfer portal.

2023 Kansas Football early signees

LB Logan Brantley, 6-2, 211, Cherry Creek High, Denver, Colo.

WR Surahz Buncom, 6-3, 170, Mater Dei Catholic, San Diego, Calif.

DT Marcus Calvin, 6-2, 302, Gibbs High, St. Petersburg, Fla.

OL Calvin Clements, 6-7, 290, Free State High, Lawrence, Kan.

CB Jameel Croft, 6-0, 177, Martin Luther King High, Detroit, Mich.

S Taylor Davis, 6-0, 180, Ridge Point High, Missouri City, Texas

TE Jaden Hamm, 6-5, 225, Eudora High, Eudora, Kan.

DT Blake Herold, 6-3, 255, Shenandoah High, Shenandoah, Iowa

WR Keaton Kubecka, 6-2, 198, Westlake High, Austin, Texas

WR Jarred Sample, 5-10, 175, Cypress Ranch High, Cypress, Texas

DE Tony Terry Jr., 6-3, 240, Jackson Senior High, Bufordville, Mo.

RB Johnny Thompson Jr., 5-11, 186, Oaks Christian High, Canoga Park, Calif.