Chat with KU football four-star signee Toben Opurum

The four-star running back/fullback will join KUSports.com to talk about signing to play football with KU coach Mark Mangino and the Jayhawk football team. Opurum will be here Wednesday at 6 p.m. to take your questions.

trojanhawk

Would you be comfortable taking a redshirt as a freshman if you need more time to grow, learn the offense, get adjusted to college life, etc?

nebraska_jayhawk

Toben- How often to recruits get onto the message board of the school they signed with or the schools that are recruiting them? If they get on the message boards often, do they at all influence a recruit in going or not going to that school?

vighawk

Hi Toben,

Congrats on being a Jayhawk!!

My question is, what is the perception like about KU football down in Texas and can you see more high profile recruits from the Lone Star State joing you in the future?

ohioburg

How did you like the upgraded football facilities at Kansas. How much did they influence your decision to attend KU?

Tim23Kline

What player in the nfl do you play like?

jayhawk15

First off I like to say welcome to KU, and that I’m really excited to see you play next year! When did you become interested in playing at Kansas, and what was the thing that made KU stand out from all the others?

raulsalinapicazo

How do you think you can help this team?

Moderator

Hey, this is Jesse Newell, KUsports.com online editor. I’m happy to have KU four-star running back Toben Opurum with us today. Toben, thanks for joining us. What has the last day been like for you?

Toben Opurum

Man, today has been so exciting. Everyone has been in such a good mood. I’ve been waiting for a couple of weeks to do this. My recruiting process has been finalized for a while to me because I have never looked back on my decision, but to have things down on paper and being able to look ahead to my future is nice. I’m definitely excited to be a Jayhawk.

Moderator

Let’s get right to some fan questions.

bigjaybabyjay

What NFL RB, past or present, would you compare your style to?

Toben Opurum

Edited because of technical error.

Moderator

Minor technical difficulties. Expect to be rocking again in a minute. Thanks for your patience.

Toben Opurum

Hmm, thats a tough one. Probably Jim Brown. Don’t take that as me saying I plan on being the best NFL runningback ever, but I’ve seen how he played and how he never gave on a single play. We run with the same body tilt and same “never back down” attitude.

darnelljackson32

What is one thing that the average fan might be surprised to know about yourself?

Toben Opurum

With all of the attention thrown my way, publicity and media, many might take it the wrong way and not realize I am a very humble and grounded individual. It takes alot more than camera and shine to take my focus away.

CaramelMacchMan

What nick name do you want Kansas fans to call you?

Toben Opurum

Haha that’s up to the fans isn’t it? I’ve kept it simple and people have called me T.O. forever.

swishymcjayhawk

Glad to have you on board Toben. Have you had any discussion with coaches on what number you’ll wear at Kansas?

Toben Opurum

Thank you for the welcome. I’ve worn #35 football and basketball since I was in the 7th grade. If I can’t wear it next year I’ll go to #25 hopefully.

treidy

What led you to choose Kansas over Notre Dame? Was it that at KU you will have the opportunity to be a feature back and ball carrier rather than a blocking fullback?

Toben Opurum

Couple reasons. Coaching instability at Notre Dame. No disrespect to the program but I couldn’t do it with the runningback/Offensive Coordinator left to another school. That’s a big part of a program. I also wasn’t sure how much I could trust everything that was being told me. And when I took my visit, it just was not a good fit. I didn’t feel like I fit in well with the environment, the team, or even the student body.

Moderator

This one’s from hawk1420:

What aspirations do you have for yourself and the team in your first year as a hawk?

Toben Opurum

As for myself, I am really pushing for some early playing time and hopefully start before the year is over. Anyway I can contribute would be a positive right? As for team, I know the players and coaches are equally hungry for a Big 12 North Title. That and do some damage that OU and UT powerhouses down in the South.

James2080

If given a chance, are you willing to play other positions or special teams?

Toben Opurum

That’s tough to move out of position. I’m definitely more comfortable in my runningback position than anywhere else. Special teams, to me, is an option to any player. I think the only thing that would make me play another position would be if it were a neccesity on our team and the way the recruiting class has gone, I don’t see that happening in the near future.

Toben Opurum

That’s tough to move out of position. I’m definitely more comfortable in my runningback position than anywhere else. Special teams, to me, is an option to any player. I think the only thing that would make me play another position would be if it were a neccesity on our team and the way the recruiting class has gone, I don’t see that happening in the near future.

JBurtin

I’ve seen your videos on Rivals and you seem to have a great many strengths. Among them you have great hands, break tackles well, and you are quicker than most backs of your size.

From your perspective, what do you consider to be your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness.

Toben Opurum

Greatest strength to me is the fact I am not a one tool back. I do have many ways to get around a defender and I think that makes it tougher for a defense to stop. As for weaknesses, I always feel I can polish up my acceleration out of breaks and overall speed/quickness.

kranny

As earlier posters have submitted, beating Missouri and Kansas State and Nebraska are necessities. What do know about these rivalries? Yes, folks I put Nebraska in there!

Toben Opurum

Growing up in Texas, I’ve grown up seeing the rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas and it seems that the Kansas/Missouri rivalry is up there with it. I watched all of those games this season and seen the passion the guys played with against these teams. I’d love to learn more about the past history of these rivalries.

youowethehawks

Which do you enjoy more: a bruising 1 yard TD run, or laying out an unsuspecting linebacker on a block?

Toben Opurum

Definitely laying out a linebacker. It’s intimidation. It really takes them out of their game. In fact, I bet that bruising 1 yard TD run will be easier to make when you’ve got a linebacker scared to make a hit on you.

Moderator

OK, we’ve only got time for two more questions for Toben.

FreddyD

How does playing high school football in Texas and the pressure that comes with it prepare you mentally for making the jump to Division One College Football?

Toben Opurum

I’m very proud to let people know that I play football in Texas, arguably the best state in the country at football. I feel that playing at that level in high school will only help the transition from high school to D1 College football easier.

kingpin

Can you describe your passion for football? What drives you?

Toben Opurum

That’s really not something that should be able to be put in words. I can’t begin to explain what the game does for me or how serious I take this sport.

Moderator

Thanks again, Toben, for joining us for this chat, and thanks to all the KUsports.com readers for posting your questions. Sorry we couldn’t get to them all, as we had quite a response for this chat.

Toben, thanks again for joining us, and good luck next year as a Jayhawk.

Toben Opurum

Not a problem, wish I could stay longer. Definitely excited to be a Jayhawk though…fan support is unreal. Thanks again and hopefully we can do it again.

Rock Chalk!

Feels good to say that as an official member of this school…