PH'15: Season 8 Recruiting

In case you haven't heard, Kansas currently has the #1 recruiting class in the nation. This is largely due to the eight players that visited, and committed, during the Week 10 victory over TCU. Let's meet those eight now.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd9nsibyw.png WR :4star:
#71 #14WR
:espnu150: Mark Nash is another possession receiver with above average height and receiving skills coming to Lawrence. After five receivers were brought to Lawrence next season, there wasn't a huge need for the position this year, but Nash's talent was too good to pass up. Nash was one of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Nash has plenty of skilled players in front of him, so he will sit for a year to learn the playbook. He chose KU over San Jose State.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdk1scy3s.png QB :4star:
#74 #2QB
:espnu150: Brandon Barbour is the second-best QB in this year's class, but he spent the early part of the recruiting cycle getting no attention. Three schools started recruiting Barbour at the same time, and the Jayhawks came out on top. Barour will come in throwing one of the most accurate balls in all of college football, but his skills on the run will be paramout to his success in Lawrence. Barbour was the second of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Barbour will redshirt next season, then compete for the backup job in 2021. He chose KU over Houston and San Jose State.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pslhu5ski0.png P
K :3star:
#603 #4K Robert Burley has one of the better combinations of strong and accurate leg in this year's class, which will come in handy as he slides to the punter position at the next level. Burley was the third of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

With a senior punter in front of him, Burley will sit out next season and adjust to his new position. He chose KU over San Jose State.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psak6mnq1c.png DT :4star:
#168 #12DT Mark Williams may not have the imposing stature of a prototypical defensive lineman, but he will be an immovable object at nose for the Jayhawks D. Williams was the fourth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Williams will redshirt next season and take advantage of the Jayhawks strength program. He chose KU over San Jose State.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psmszeanur.png G :3star:
#541 #27G The scouting report for Micah Barnes reads almost exactly like current KU starter Mike Castillo. Unfortunately for Barnes, his pass blocking skills may not be as needed as the Jayhawks incorporate more running into their offense. Barnes was the fifth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Barnes will redshirt next season. He chose KU over Penn State and Northwestern.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssvaou2xl.png T
G :4star:
#99 #1T
:espnu150: Lee young is the top rated tackle in this year's class, and has the frame to prove it. With a bigger need next season at the guard position, Young may move inside. Young was the sixth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Young will hope to redshirt next season, especially if he needs to adjust to his new position. He chose KU over Nebraska and Mizzou.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrnj8qehp.png OLB :3star:
#593 #42OLB Jordan King is a highly underrated 3-star prospect that has film that rivals some of the best outside linebackers in this class. He possesses sideline-to-sideline speed, generally takes the best angle to the ball carrier, and can even play zone coverage with the DBs. King was the seventh of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

King will enroll early, and may redshirt next season, depending on his performance in spring practice. He chose KU over Miami of Ohio.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psqjaw1gye.png TE
OL :4star:
#310 #45ATH After the Jayhawks seemed to recruit nothing but athletes last season, Erik Harwell is the only ATH-designated recruit in this year's class. Harwell normally plays offensive line for his overmatched high school, but has dabled as an eligible receiver, especially in goalline sets. He is expected to be coached with the tight ends at the next level. Nash was the last of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU.

Harwell will take next season off to adjust to the higher level of competition. He chose KU over Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Name Pos (Orig) Caliber OVR Committed

Robert Burley P (K) :3star:
84 Week 10

Brandon Barbour QB :4star:
81 Week 10

Mark Williams DT :4star:
81 Week 10

Mark Nash WR :4star:
80 Week 10

Ben Babcock MLB
:3star:
JUNIOR
79 Week 6

Eric Overstreet CB
:4star:
78 Week 6

Travis Kearney CB
:4star:
78 Week 6

Steve Drew SS
:4star:
77 Week 6

Rodney Jackson MLB (SS)
:4star:
77 Week 6

Lee Young T :4star:
77 Week 10

Micah Barnes G :3star:
77 Week 10

Jordan King OLB :3star:
77 Week 10

Erik Harwell TE (ATH) :4star:
69 (ATH) Week 10

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssrfkppzi.png	MLB	:3star: #1455 #62MLB	A former 5-star high school prospect who has spent the last two years in the California JUCO system, Ben Babcock was the first to sign with the Jayhawks this season. Babcock will fill a needed role, after the Jayhawks misssed out on an MLB signee last season. Babcock may be needed on special teams as early as next season. He chose KU over Stanford and Cal.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psiutkg1t3.png	MLB	:4star: #213 #10SS	While Rodney Jackson is nominally a strong safety for his high school, because of his speed and in-the-box tackling skills, his coaches deploy him in much the same way that Jabrill Peppers was deployed for Michigan by Don Brown. Jackson will be moved to MLB in order to continue his development playing in the box. Jackson will redshirt next season in order to adjust to his new position. He chose KU over Western Kentcuky, Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati and Kentucky.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pspu7ojzmk.png	CB	:4star: #176 #4CB	For a couple of seasons now, Kansas coaches and fans have lamented the lack of speed in the defensive backfield, primarily at the cornerback position. Kearney's recruitment was primarily an effort to change that trend, as he brings a combination of speed and coverage skills not seen in Lawrence since star JUCO transfer Pat Chambers joined the team in Coach Brawner's first season. Kearney will come in expecting to challenge for playing time at the nickelback and dimeback positions. He chose KU over Minnesota.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psokakdqoz.png	SS	:4star: #81 #1SS :espnu150:	The #1 Strong Safety in this year's class, Steve Drew will come to Lawrence as the embodiment of what Jayhawk coaches consider the prototypical out-of-the-box safety. Drew will not be likely to be featured in the 4-2-5 scheme that the Jayhawks are relying on this season, but could see playing time in a future typical 3-4 deployment. Drew will be behind incumbent starters Mark Higgins and Lance Quinn, so he will redshirt next season. He chose KU over Northwestern, USF and UCF.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszcewflra.png	POS	:4star: #88 #2FS :espnu150:	Eric Overstreet is another top defensive back prospect who was targeted to add speed to the defensive backfield. Overstreet is in the mold of previous free safety starter Donte Harrison, but he comes to Lawrence with a better initial grasp of the position. With JR Malone entrenched as the incumbent starter, Overstreet doesn't have the simplest path to playing time. Barring some surprise transfers, Overstreet will redshirt next season. He chose KU over West Virginia, Ohio State, Alabama and Minnesota.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd9nsibyw.png	WR	:4star: #71 #14WR :espnu150:	Mark Nash is another possession receiver with above average height and receiving skills coming to Lawrence. After five receivers were brought to Lawrence next season, there wasn't a huge need for the position this year, but Nash's talent was too good to pass up. Nash was one of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Nash has plenty of skilled players in front of him, so he will sit for a year to learn the playbook. He chose KU over San Jose State.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdk1scy3s.png	QB	:4star: #74 #2QB :espnu150:	Brandon Barbour is the second-best QB in this year's class, but he spent the early part of the recruiting cycle getting no attention. Three schools started recruiting Barbour at the same time, and the Jayhawks came out on top. Barour will come in throwing one of the most accurate balls in all of college football, but his skills on the run will be paramout to his success in Lawrence. Barbour was the second of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Barbour will redshirt next season, then compete for the backup job in 2021. He chose KU over Houston and San Jose State.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pslhu5ski0.png	P K	:3star: #603 #4K	Robert Burley has one of the better combinations of strong and accurate leg in this year's class, which will come in handy as he slides to the punter position at the next level. Burley was the third of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. With a senior punter in front of him, Burley will sit out next season and adjust to his new position. He chose KU over San Jose State.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psak6mnq1c.png	DT	:4star: #168 #12DT	Mark Williams may not have the imposing stature of a prototypical defensive lineman, but he will be an immovable object at nose for the Jayhawks D. Williams was the fourth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Williams will redshirt next season and take advantage of the Jayhawks strength program. He chose KU over San Jose State.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psmszeanur.png	G	:3star: #541 #27G	The scouting report for Micah Barnes reads almost exactly like current KU starter Mike Castillo. Unfortunately for Barnes, his pass blocking skills may not be as needed as the Jayhawks incorporate more running into their offense. Barnes was the fifth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Barnes will redshirt next season. He chose KU over Penn State and Northwestern.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssvaou2xl.png	T G	:4star: #99 #1T :espnu150:	Lee young is the top rated tackle in this year's class, and has the frame to prove it. With a bigger need next season at the guard position, Young may move inside. Young was the sixth of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Young will hope to redshirt next season, especially if he needs to adjust to his new position. He chose KU over Nebraska and Mizzou.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrnj8qehp.png	OLB	:3star: #593 #42OLB	Jordan King is a highly underrated 3-star prospect that has film that rivals some of the best outside linebackers in this class. He possesses sideline-to-sideline speed, generally takes the best angle to the ball carrier, and can even play zone coverage with the DBs. King was the seventh of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. King will enroll early, and may redshirt next season, depending on his performance in spring practice. He chose KU over Miami of Ohio.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...psqjaw1gye.png	TE OL	:4star: #310 #45ATH	After the Jayhawks seemed to recruit nothing but athletes last season, Erik Harwell is the only ATH-designated recruit in this year's class. Harwell normally plays offensive line for his overmatched high school, but has dabled as an eligible receiver, especially in goalline sets. He is expected to be coached with the tight ends at the next level. Nash was the last of eight Jayhawks to commit after the victory over TCU. Harwell will take next season off to adjust to the higher level of competition. He chose KU over Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Name	Pos (Orig)	Caliber	OVR	Committed
Ben Babcock	MLB	:3star: JUNIOR	79	Week 6
Eric Overstreet	CB	:4star:	78	Week 6
Travis Kearney	CB	:4star:	78	Week 6
Steve Drew	SS	:4star:	77	Week 6
Rodney Jackson	MLB (SS)	:4star:	77	Week 6