This is such an overblown thought. Yes, the best KU football team of the last 30 years had Rivera, Meier, Sharp, Stuckey, McAnderson, Hartley, Mayes, and Haselhorst.
None of those kids were high profile kids and yet multiple were/are NFL kids.
They were good size or athletes or just smart football kids. None of those traits are exclusive to Kansas high school athletes.
Hartley and Mayes were kids no one offered out of high school so look at a ramped up walk on program that has multiple OL kids from locally doing well in the program to calm those concerns.
Meier (qb) and McAnderson (LB) were high IQ football kids that didn't work out at their original positions. Tornedon reminds me of McAnderson in the fact physically no BCS schools liked him but he is a hell of a football player. I see no one from the state of Kansas similar over the last few years to Meier. Not sure there is someone KU has found that can come close to replicating his career but do think Booker will be putting his name eventually in the conversation for all time catches at KU.
Rivera was a tough dude and a leader and physically able to play from day 1. I fail to see a single kid at the LB spot from KS over the last 3 years that reminds me of Rivera. I do find a similarity to one kid but feel the kid is noticeably more athletic and probably ok leadership skills...Maciah Long.
Stuckey was KCK kid that KU identified and took his great worth ethic and physical skills to a tremendously high level. Tyrone Miller will be an NFL player. No idea if he will be as good as Stuckey but he will get his chance on Sundays b/c he will be a very good player at KU assuming he stays healthy.
Sharp was a hell of a high school player setting tons of records and I see no kid KU should have landed or in this class that is similar to him. With that said, does anything think he had a career that was so successful at KU he will be a guy that Dom Williams won't possibly be able to match (or pass) in production and leadership?
Haselhorst was a tough tough kid and I wish he would have finished his eligibility. The big glaring gap in Beaty's recruiting to date has been high school DTs. I think a kid like Armstrong or Bean will have a more memorable legacy though as a DL at KU.
Kids of character come from a lot of places but those that are so hell bent on kids being from Kansas are too deep in the world of KSU is god mentality. Well, how many of you were pissed off that KU didn't sign any of the kids below? Lots of kids ranked high in the state (higher than many guys I listed above) that did nothing. Find kids with character, some tools, and have a consistent system. That will prove to be more impactful than simply kids being from Kansas.
Josh Barbo
Rashad Norwood
Xzavie Jackson
Nick Patton
Matt Boss
Kenny Wilson
Lance Brandenburgh
Caleb Handy
Gerard Spexarth
Nick Stringer
Scott Krehbiel
Blake Lawrence
None of those kids were high profile kids and yet multiple were/are NFL kids.
They were good size or athletes or just smart football kids. None of those traits are exclusive to Kansas high school athletes.
Hartley and Mayes were kids no one offered out of high school so look at a ramped up walk on program that has multiple OL kids from locally doing well in the program to calm those concerns.
Meier (qb) and McAnderson (LB) were high IQ football kids that didn't work out at their original positions. Tornedon reminds me of McAnderson in the fact physically no BCS schools liked him but he is a hell of a football player. I see no one from the state of Kansas similar over the last few years to Meier. Not sure there is someone KU has found that can come close to replicating his career but do think Booker will be putting his name eventually in the conversation for all time catches at KU.
Rivera was a tough dude and a leader and physically able to play from day 1. I fail to see a single kid at the LB spot from KS over the last 3 years that reminds me of Rivera. I do find a similarity to one kid but feel the kid is noticeably more athletic and probably ok leadership skills...Maciah Long.
Stuckey was KCK kid that KU identified and took his great worth ethic and physical skills to a tremendously high level. Tyrone Miller will be an NFL player. No idea if he will be as good as Stuckey but he will get his chance on Sundays b/c he will be a very good player at KU assuming he stays healthy.
Sharp was a hell of a high school player setting tons of records and I see no kid KU should have landed or in this class that is similar to him. With that said, does anything think he had a career that was so successful at KU he will be a guy that Dom Williams won't possibly be able to match (or pass) in production and leadership?
Haselhorst was a tough tough kid and I wish he would have finished his eligibility. The big glaring gap in Beaty's recruiting to date has been high school DTs. I think a kid like Armstrong or Bean will have a more memorable legacy though as a DL at KU.
Kids of character come from a lot of places but those that are so hell bent on kids being from Kansas are too deep in the world of KSU is god mentality. Well, how many of you were pissed off that KU didn't sign any of the kids below? Lots of kids ranked high in the state (higher than many guys I listed above) that did nothing. Find kids with character, some tools, and have a consistent system. That will prove to be more impactful than simply kids being from Kansas.
Josh Barbo
Rashad Norwood
Xzavie Jackson
Nick Patton
Matt Boss
Kenny Wilson
Lance Brandenburgh
Caleb Handy
Gerard Spexarth
Nick Stringer
Scott Krehbiel
Blake Lawrence
