David Beaty’s already hyped 2018 recruiting class for Kansas football now has a five-star prospect in its midst.
The Jayhawks haven’t snagged another commitment from a coveted rising high school senior. The boost, instead, comes courtesy of one of the young men who ignited the so-called “Louisianimal” frenzy in the first place. [A four-star wide receiver when he first announced in February][1] his intentions to sign with KU, New Orleans’ Devonta Jason has since impressed enough within the recruiting world for Rivals to bump him up to five-star status.
[The latest Rivals 100 rankings for 2018,][2] unveiled Tuesday, list Jason, a 6-foot-3 wideout from Landry-Walker High, as the No. 22 senior in the country, with an extra star next to his name. Jon Kirby of Jayhawk Slant said this makes Jason the first five-star prospect ever to commit to KU.
When Jason visited Kansas nearly four months ago and — along with prep teammate Corione Harris, a four-star cornerback — committed to Beaty, Louisiana native Tony Hull and the Jayhawks, Rivals rated the talented receiver as the 35th-best player in the country.
So what has changed since then, considering Jason’s senior year at Landry-Walker is still months away?
> “The Kansas commit spent the spring
> making highlight reel catches at camps
> and 7-on-7 tournaments across the
> country, proving that he belongs in
> the five-star class,” Rivals’ [Woody
> Wommack explained][3]. “Jason has
> everything from measurables to
> on-field and camp production on his
> résumé, and his size and catch radius
> makes him one of the nation’s best.
> Kansas has never signed a five-star
> prospect in the Rivals.com era, but
> now has a chance to do so.”
Only three Class of 2018 receivers in the country are currently ranked ahead of Jason in the Rivals 100.
> “His ability at his size to go up and
> get the ball and really outplay
> defenders has been really impressive,”
> Wommack detailed in a Rivals video
> highlight package of Jason. “You know,
> he’s not the quickest wide receiver in
> the world, and that’s what some people
> are concerned about, but we feel like
> he can get enough separation,
> especially when he needs to be. And
> he’s a guy that may not light it up on
> the clock, but when the lights come on
> in a game situation, he’s
> super-productive. We’ve seen it on
> film, we’ve seen it in person and now
> we’ve seen it at several elite camps.”
Jason and many of the country’s other top high school seniors will soon converge to compete and prove themselves at the Rivals 100 Five-Star Challenge, June 9 and 10, in Indianapolis.
[KU’s 2018 recruiting class][4], highlighted by Jason and Harris, currently ranks 21st nationally, according to Rivals.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2017/feb/04/two-top-60-prep-juniors-nation-commit-ku-football/
[2]: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals100/2018
[3]: https://n.rivals.com/news/updated-2018-rivals100-three-five-stars-join-the-mix-lawrence-stays-no-1
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/football/recruiting/2018/
