Mark Simmons looked like a sure bet for Kansas University’s red-shirt list last August.

Not only did the 5-foot-11, 175-pound wide receiver show for preseason football camp with normal freshman jitters, but an ankle the size of an apple.

Simmons severely twisted an ankle in June while practicing routes with some receivers from Texas Christian University back home in DeSoto, Texas.

Not being 100 percent healthy isn’t a great way to start at college, where most freshmen are rubber stamped onto the red-shirt list as standard operating procedure.

“I went to camp saying, ‘I want to start. I’ve got to prove to them I can start,'” Simmons said of KU’s coaches, who promised him a long look.

“I knew I wouldn’t start, but I had to have that mentality so I’d be able to play. I didn’t want to sit out. I didn’t go less because I thought I’d red-shirt. I did what I needed to do to play.”

Despite wearing an ankle brace that slowed him a bit, Simmons showed enough speed, mobility and hands to land a spot on the active roster.

He hasn’t disappointed.

Kansas freshman Mark Simmons, center, is chased by a group of Nevada-Las Vegas defenders. The Jayhawks' wide receiver has overcome an early injury to become KU's third-leading receiver.

Simmons is third on KU’s receiving chart with 10 catches for 79 yards, trailing only senior receiver Marcellus Jones (12 catches) and red-shirt freshman running back Clark Green (11).

“It’s off to a decent start,” Simmons said of his career. “It’s not my goals what I planned to be as far as my stats. I’m learning and hopefully as I learn and put everything together, everything else should pick up and come along.”

As far as the ankle: “It’s getting better every day,” he said. “It still bothers me some.”

Simmons arrived at KU with great credentials. He had 40 catches for 688 yards and eight TDs his senior year, helping DeSoto High to the conference championship. He committed to Oklahoma State last October, but ultimately changed his mind after KU made a coaching change and brought him to campus for a winter visit.

Simmons committed to KU in late January, a couple weeks before signing day.

“I came here to see how it was and ended up liking it,” Simmons said. “I was still going to go there (OSU), but I kept thinking about Kansas. It stuck in the back of my mind. I thought it’d be something new. They have new coaches and are rebuilding. I could come here and help change things.”

He said the OSU coaches “were frustrated” with his change of heart. As it turned out, after signing date, OSU receivers coach Darrell Wyatt left to join Oklahoma’s staff.

“There are only two receivers coaches I like the one I have now (Tyrone Dixon) and coach Wyatt,” he said of the OU aide, who worked at OSU last year after a three-year stint at Kansas. “I like our offense and the players we have here.”

Bowling Green's Michael Malone breaks up a pass to Mark Simmons in the second half of Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium.

As far as his future, Simmons said one goal would be to grab 50 to 60 catches a year, good for 800 to 900 yards.

“I think any of our receivers has a chance to do that with this system,” Simmons said. “With eight games to go, get 100 yards a game. The thing you’ve got to do is when you catch the ball, make the first man miss.”

Simmons has “progressed very well,” KU coach Mark Mangino stated. “He’ll get more and more opportunities as we go. He’s wise beyond his years in terms of football knowledge. It’s just a matter of him getting experience.”

Added Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore: “He’s got good speed and hands. He’s a freshman. He just needs to continue to learn the system. He’s done a good job.”

Simmons might excel in more than one sport. Simmons, who ran track in high school, is a speedster.

“My high school coach said, ‘You need to run college track,'” said Simmons, an accomplished 4×100 meter runner who said he has a split time of 9.6 seconds. “I don’t know, maybe when my ankle is completely healthy. I can wear an ankle brace in football. I can’t wear one running track.”