It’s been another big week for the University of Kansas football program, which picked up a talented cornerback from the Houston area over the weekend.
Jacoby Davis, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound cornerback from Houston’s North Shore High, orally committed to KU to start off the week and he is expected to sign with the Jayhawks next Wednesday on national signing day.
A 3-star prospect in the Class of 2023, Davis drew early interest from some big Power 5 programs, including Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan, according to JayhawkSlant.com. But his visit to Kansas last weekend sealed the deal for the Jayhawks and inspired him to commit to Lance Leipold’s program.
Cornerbacks coach Jordan Peterson played a big role in getting Davis to Kansas. The two spent a lot of time together on his recent visit and Peterson and Leipold made a recent trip to Houston, as well.
“That was one of the things I was looking for and I felt like (we) bonded more and got closer,” Davis told JayhawkSlant’s Jon Kirby of his connection to the Kansas coaches.
During his visit, Davis also spent time with strength coach Matt Gildersleeve and was hosted by current KU cornerback Mello Dotson. He said it felt like the entire program rolled out the red carpet for his visit.
“I just feel special, man,” Davis told Kirby. “I just felt like I was their guy. I felt excited. I couldn’t take the smile off my face.”
In addition to Davis, Kansas picked up a non-scholarship commitment from Bishop Miege athlete Isaiah Coppage on Wednesday.
Coppage is expected to join the Jayhawks as a preferred walk-on and he will be one of several PWOs who decided to join the Kansas program for next season.
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver who finished the season with more than 1,300 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, Coppage also had interest or offers from Northwest Missouri State and South Dakota State, according to 247 Sports.
Earlier this week, KU announced the addition of 13 midseason transfers from the transfer portal, as well as four early enrollees from the Class of 2023, most of which already signed with KU during the early signing period in December.
Here’s a complete look at the latest KU football newcomers:
Class of 2023 prospects
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.
CB Jacoby Davis, 5-9, 160, North Shore High, Houston, Texas
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.
Transfer portal additions
OL Hunter Barlow – 6-foot-3, 330-pound Hutchinson CC lineman has four years of eligibility remaining.
DE Austin Booker – 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher transfer to KU from Minnesota with three years of eligibility remaining.
LB JB Brown – 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker from Bowling Green was one of the highest graded players on the BGU team last season per Pro Football Focus.
OT Logan Brown – 6-foot-6, 305-pound former five-star prospect comes to KU from Wisconsin. He committed to KU in October and he’ll have two years of eligibility left.
DE Patrick Joyner Jr. – 6-foot-3, 245-pound Utah State transfer is one of the few transfers with just one season left. Given the position he plays and KU’s need there, it could be a pretty important season.
PK Seth Keller – The former Texas State kicker known for his consistency and solid numbers on middle distance kicks was a former walk-on and could be in line to be the favorite to handle KU’s kicking duties in 2023.
DL Gage Keys – Another Minnesota transfer, the 6-foot-5, 275-pound interior lineman came to KU largely because of his previous relationship with D-Line coach Jim Panagos. Keys still has three years of eligibility left.
OL Spencer Lovell – You might remember him for the photo he posed for featuring him and KU OC Andy Kotelnicki standing shirtless. 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman has played snaps at both Cal and Arizona State.
RB Dylan McDuffie – One of KU’s newest pick-ups, McDuffie was with a lot of the KU coaching staff at Buffalo, where he played from 2018-21 before moving on to Georgia Tech last season and now KU for his final year of college football.
CB Damarius McGhee – 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback who can also play special teams as a kick return, McGhee comes to KU as a former four-star prospect who played two years at LSU and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
TE Max Muehlberger – Kansas City-area native is leaving Oklahoma State with four years of eligibility remaining to return closer to home. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound tight end did not play any snaps during his freshman season in Stillwater.
DL Devin Phillips – 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive lineman comes to KU after a solid career at Colorado State, where he started more than 40 games for the Rams.
PK Charlie Weinrich – Another expected walk-on, Weinrich is a Kansas City-area native who will have four years of eligibility remaining after leaving Nebraska, where he spent his freshman season but did not play.