Recapping the 2023 Recruiting Class - 94 Days Until Kansas Football

Let's take a look at the 14 high school and junior college players that will be joining the Jayhawks for the 2023-24 season.

© Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, we talked about how the recruiting rankings have two major flaws, especially if the only thing you looked for when evaluating recruiting was the rankings. And those criticisms haven't changed, with the huge incentive for large classes over quality classes.

Contents

1. Jaden Hamm, TE
2. Calvin Clements, OT
3. Surahz Buncom, WR
4. Tony Terry, DE
5. Akili Hubbard, S
6. Jameel Croft, CB
7. Jacoby Davis, CB
8. Jarred Sample, WR
9. Johnny Thompson, RB
10. Keaton Kubecka, WR
11. Taylor Davis, S
12. Marcus Calvin, DL
13. Logan Brantley, LB
14. Blake Herold, DL
15. Summary

The Kansas Jayhawks have five more recruits in their signing class, and they jumped up more than 40 spots in the rankings, coming in at 73 in the 247Sports Composite ranking. 

The overall recruiting ranking stayed the same, with the gains in high school signings counteracted by a dip in the transfer class rankings.

We'll take a look at that transfer class in tomorrow's entry into the countdown. Today, we start by recapping the players committed as part of the 2023 recruiting class. We'll look at each player individually and then wrap up with overall thoughts on the class.

Jaden Hamm, TE

The 6'4" 225lb tight end out of Eudora High School in Eudora, KS was originally committed to Arkansas, but flipped to the Jayhawks after his position coach with the Razorbacks left the program. He was an early enrollee and got some work with the team during spring practice.

Hamm is a 3-star recruit, ranked 10th overall in Kansas and 46th nationally at the TE position. He has the ability to contribute immediately, as Andy Kotelnicki has shown a desire to incorporate multiple tight ends in multiple roles, something that plays into his strengths. However, as a freshman in a position with depth, there is a good chance he could redshirt his first year.

He picked the Jayhawks over offers from Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Kansas State and others.

Calvin Clements, OT

The hometown 6'7", 295lb lineman out of Lawrence Free State flipped his commitment from Baylor to the Jayhawks in early December, and enrolled for the spring semester. His high school coach called him "the best lineman in the state", and getting him on campus early could do a lot towards getting him ready for a potential role this season. 

Rated a 3-star recruit, he ranked 9th overall in the state and 63rd nationally as an OL in the 247Sports Composite rankings. He picked the Jayhawks over offers from Nebraska, Minnesota and a slew of Big 12 schools, including Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Surahz Buncom, WR

A 6'4" 175lb wide receiver out of Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista, CA, Buncom was the top target for the Jayhawks this recruiting season. He committed to the Jayhawks over Oregon, Oregon State, Buffalo and Duke.

He is a consensus 3-star recruit that comes from a football family, and his speed is expected to be a big asset for this team. He's listed at the athlete position, but projects to be a wide receiver in Lawrence.

Tony Terry, DE

The 6'5" 245lb freshman out of Jackson HS in Jackson, MO is projected to provide depth on the defensive line, but his early enrollment will give him a headstart on some of the backup minutes. He was the first defensive lineman to commit to the recruiting class, and he is on campus this spring.

Terry is the 27th ranked athlete in Missouri, and picked the Jayhawks over offers from Kansas State, Utah State, Central Michigan and New Mexico State.

Akili Hubbard, S

A 6'2" 205lb safety out of Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA, Hubbard is expected to add depth at a position that lost a lot in the offseason. Coming from the same school as former signee Alex Raich, Hubbard had also received interest from schools like UCLA and Oregon State, while receiving offers from Louisiana Tech and UTEP.

He is a three-star recruit in the JUCO rankings, listed on the 247Sports Composite ranking as the second best safety and fourth best player in the state.

Jameel Croft, CB

A 6'1" 185lb cornerback out of Martin Luther King HS in Detroit, MI, Dilworth picked the Jayhawks over more than 20 other offers, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Purdue, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Regarded as a starting-caliber player at the Power 5 level, Croft has experience playing safety and cornerback on defense, plus as a wide receiver on the offensive end. Expect him to see some significant playing time this season.

Jacoby Davis, CB

A 5'9" 170lb cornerback out of North Shore HS in Houston, TX, Davis picked up a good collection of offers before selecting the Jayhawks. There was significant recruiting efforts by Arkansas and Houston, but he also held offers from schools like Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas A&M. 

Rated a consensus 3-star recruit, he credited the bonding experience of his official visit with helping him make his decision. He is expected to contribute immediately.

Jarred Sample, WR

A 5'10" 170lb receiver out of Cy Ranch HS in Cypress, TX, Sample adds to the stable of possible receivers for the Jayhawks this season. A consensus 3-star recruit, he is a speedy receiver who also ran track in high school. 

He averaged 22.5 yards per catch in his senior season on 26 receptions with 5 touchdowns. And given the large number of players who rotated through the position last year, I fully expect him to see some significant time this year. He committed to the Jayhawks over offers from Army, Houston, Memphis, Tulane and more.

Johnny Thompson, RB

A 5'10", 190lb running back out of Oaks Christian HS in Westlake Village, CA, Thompson was a high priority for this Kansas staff. They made a big push in late 2022 to secure his commitment, and he picked the Jayhawks over USC, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Washington and more.

A consensus three-star, Thompson joins a pretty full running back room. But he provides another option for this team at a position that had to deal with multiple injuries last season.

Keaton Kubecka, WR

A 6'2", 195lb wide receiver out of Westlake HS in Austin, TX, Kubecka was first offered by Emmett Jones, and the staff change did nothing to cool Kansas on him as a prospect. His junior season saw him help his team to an undefeated season and a state championship, as he finished with 42 catches for 714 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Taylor Davis, S

A 6'0", 185lb safety out of Ridge Point HS in Missouri City, TX, Davis committed to the Jayhawks over Arizona, Army, Colorado and others.

He was a prolific tackler with an eye for the ball in his time in high school, and he comes in at a position of need, as the Jayhawks look to figure out how to pull together a defensive backfield with a lot of youth. 

Marcus Calvin, DL

A 6'2", 290lb defensive lineman out of Gibbs HS in Saint Petersburg, FL, Calvin also played basketball in high school, averaging double figures in his sophomore and junior years. He also spent some time at right guard in high school, and at the very least is expected to be quality depth.

Calvin has a fairly limited background in football, only starting to play in his sophomore year of high school. But he quickly built himself into a leader, and the Jayhawks will look to continue to develop his talents as a Big-12 caliber defensive lineman. He committed to Kansas before his recruiting really picked up, so the offer list isn't as impressive as you might expect. 

Logan Brantley, LB

A 6'1", 205lb defensive end out of Cherry Creek HS in Englewood, CO, Brantley committed early to the Jayhawks. Going into his senior season, he has already decided to come to Lawrence, canceling visits to both Missouri and Colorado.

Brantley was also recruited by Arizona and Washington State among others, but he joins a talented group that is looking for a few more bodies to use in rotations throughout the season. Expect him to make some appearances throughout the year.

Blake Herold, DL

A 6'4", 245lb defensive lineman out of Shenandoah HS in Shenandoah, IA, Herold was a late addition to the Kansas recruiting scene. He is the 18th-rated player in Iowa, and a consensus three-star recruit.

Kansas is looking to build depth at the position, but given the rest of the offer list, it's hard to tell if Kansas found a hidden gem or if he will need to develop for a bit first.

Summary

Overall, this is a deep class with a lot of intriguing options. There are multiple players that could develop into Big 12-caliber starters, and plenty of opportunities for those guys to contribute early and often. However, don't be surprised if 10 or more of these guys play four games or less and redshirt this season.

Tomorrow we will take a look at the transfer portal and how it has affected the Jayhawks.

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