LAWRENCE, Kan. – Eighteen players from nine different states, including eight high school standouts from the state of Texas, make up the first Jayhawk recruiting class for new Kansas Head Football Coach Turner Gill.
Gill’s class includes 17 high school players and one junior college transfer. Ten of the signees are projected to play on the offensive side of the ball with the other eight on defense.
Offensively the Jayhawks loaded up on wide receivers with four signees. Defensively KU signed four linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs.
“Our staff did an outstanding job of putting together a recruiting class which will have our team competing for championships in the present and in the future of our football program,” Gill said. “This recruiting class has excellent length, speed and playmakers.”
Among the players are three from the Kansas City metro area. Gill and his staff didn’t have to look far to find defensive end Pat Lewandowski from Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kan., defensive back Dexter McDonald from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo. and wide receiver Keeston Terry from Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Mo.
Already in the fold is junior college quarterback Quinn Mecham, who signed in December and is enrolled at KU this spring.
Texas was the main recruiting area for Kansas, with eight Lone Star state products, including two sets of teammates in Ray Mitchell and James Sims from MacArthur High School in Irving and JaQwaylin Arps and Jimmay Mundine from Dennison High School in Dennison.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Previous Schools)Keba Agostinho DE 6-3 253 Fr. Katy, Texas (James Taylor HS)
JaQwaylin Arps DE 6-3 235 Fr. Denison, Texas (Denison HS)
Brandon Bourbon RB 6-1 208 Fr. Potosi, Mo. (Potosi HS)
Jeremiah Edwards DT 6-1 308 Fr. Garland, Texas (Garland HS)
Jake Farley LB 6-3 215 Fr. Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls HS)
Ed Fink LB 6-3 221 Fr. Belleville, Ill. (Althoff HS)
Ricki Herod, Jr. WR 6-2 183 Fr. Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite HS)
Chad Kolumber OL 6-8 296 Fr. Woodberry Forest, Va. (Woodberry Forest HS)
Pat Lewandowski DE 6-6 248 Fr. Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS)
Brian Maura WR 6-4 190 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Felix Varela HS)
Dexter McDonald DB 6-1 194 Fr. Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS)
*Quinn Mecham QB 6-3 205 Jr. Provo, Utah (Timpview HS/Snow [Utah] JC)
Ray Mitchell DB 6-1 183 Fr. Irving, Texas (MacArthur HS)
Jimmay Mundine TE 6-2 226 Fr. Denison, Texas (Denison HS)
James Sims RB 6-0 206 Fr. Irving, Texas (MacArthur HS)
Trent Smiley TE 6-4 232 Fr. Frisco, Texas (Wakeland HS)
Keeston Terry WR 6-2 185 Fr. Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Andrew Turzilli WR 6-4 185 Fr. Butler, N.J. (Butler HS)
