Wednesday, February 4, 2009
At least 23 recruits are expected to sign letters of intent today when Mark Mangino unveils what is being regarded as his best class at Kansas.
At a press conference expected to begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Mrkonic Auditorium in the Anderson Family Football Complex, Mangino will roll out a class heavy on the defensive side of the ball. Nearly half a dozen defensive backs have committed to Kansas, and five defensive ends are expected to join the competition to contribute speed to the defensive line right away.
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Rivals.com’s Big 12 analyst Jon Kirby sees Kansas’ biggest strength at safety.
“This is one of the top safety classes in the nation,” Kirby said. “Kansas will have a very athletic group of defensive backs.”
Heading that class is Prinz Kande of Euless, Texas. Kande is ranked as the No. 16 safety in the nation and the No. 36 overall player in the state of Texas. He’ll join 10 other Texans expected to sign with the team as the recruiting trail for Mangino and staff continues to trek heavily into the Lone Star State.
In fact, Kansas landed three of the DallasNews.com Top 20 prospects — the only other teams with that distinction are Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech.
So far, three four-star prospects are set to sign today, including Kande, fullback Toben Opurum of Plano, Texas, and defensive end Quintin Woods from Bakersfield, Calif. Kirby said four-star safety/wide receiver Bradley McDougald of Dublin, Ohio, was also likely to sign with the team.
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Kansas Class of 2009 Overview
Rivals.com National Ranking (as of Feb. 3): 31st Big 12 Ranking: 6th Total Commitments: 23 Five-star recruits: 0 Four-star recruits: 3 Three-star recruits: 18 Two-star recruits: 2
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1. Prinz Kande ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Safety 5-11, 182 pounds Euless (Texas) Trinity
A hard hitter who can stop a play in the backfield, Kande comprises one of the nation’s finest safety classes. Kande is the No. 16-ranked safety in the country and started as a true freshman at tradition-rich Trinity High School. Strong coverage skills will be a must in dealing with the spread offenses of the Big 12. Kande turned down offers from Wisconsin and New Mexico and has played against fellow Kansas recruits quarterbacks Christian Mathews and Dexter Linton of Arlington (Texas) Bowie, and wide receiver Chris Omigie of Arlington (Texas) Martin.
2. Toben Opurum ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Fullback 6-2, 229 pounds Plano East (Texas)
Consider him the antithesis to Jake Sharp. This big back is a prime candidate to contribute right away and could prove to be the thunder to Sharp’s lightning. Ranked as the nation’s No. 3 fullback, Opurum also exhibited nice footwork and pass-catching ability in high school. “He has the body and the ability to take shots and continue,” said Jon Kirby of Rivals.com. Opurum selected Kansas over Notre Dame, Florida, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Purdue.
3. Quintin Woods ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Defensive End 6-6, 245 pounds Bakersfield (Calif.) JUCO
Woods signed with Michigan out of high school. Size and strength coupled with two years of juco experience could make him another contender for immediate playing time. He turned down offers from Kansas State, Washington State, UTEP and Boise State. Woods was newly hired defensive line coach Kerry Locklin’s first visit as a member of the Jayhawk staff. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen told Woods he needed to get ready so he could come in right away and help out, “He told me he likes the way I rush the passer and get back in coverage,” Woods told Rivals.com.
Opurum is recognized as the nation’s third-best fullback and, at 6-feet-2-inches tall and 229 pounds, could contribute right away. Woods comes to Kansas out of junior college and will also bring considerable size to his position. Woods, a 6-foot-6 speed rusher, initially received an offer from Michigan out of high school.
Previous Mangino classes were molded into a program that put together three bowl wins under his watch. Add to that the July 2008 completion of the Anderson Family Football Complex and Kansas a leg up recruiting against other teams.
“They’re still recruiting the same type of player,” Kirby said. “But now they are recruiting higher caliber players and beating out perennial recruiting powerhouses.”
Kansas lists Florida, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Michigan and Louisville among the teams recruits passed over before signing with Kansas.
Anything can happen in the hours preceding signing day, but the 23 current commitments will comprise the bulk of this year’s class. McDougald and three-star linebacker Shane Gordon of Weston, Fla., could be last minute signings.
Gordon initially committed to Pittsburgh but visited campus last Saturday, taking in a men’s basketball game and the football awards ceremony that night.
— — Edited by Grant Treaster
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