Junior-college quarterback picks Jayhawks

San Francisco's Swanson commits to Jayhawks after weekend recruiting visit

Kansas University received visits from two high-profile quarterbacks when City College of San Francisco’s Jason Swanson and Winfield High’s Nick Patton attended the Jayhawks’ 36-7 victory Saturday over Iowa State.

It didn’t take long for Swanson to make up his mind. The sophomore made a verbal commitment Sunday to play football for KU coach Mark Mangino next season.

“I don’t plan on taking any other visits,” Swanson told rivals.com late Sunday night. “When I met with coach Mangino this morning I told him I wanted to be a Jayhawk. Their program is on the rise and turning around since coach Mangino got there. The players believe in his system.”

CCSF coach George Rush confirmed in an interview with Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 that Swanson was “100 percent committed to KU.”

Rush, who did not return a call to the Journal-World, told Channel 6 he expected the quarterback to graduate at semester and be available for spring drills.

Swanson, a San Francisco native, also had offers from Utah, Oregon State and West Virginia. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder completed 159 of 252 passes for 2,255 yards with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a freshman. This season, he has completed 62 of 104 passes for 1,187 yards with nine TDs and three interceptions in seven games while splitting time with all-conference freshman Joseph Ayoob, who has passed for 1,296 yards and 14 TDs in 10 games.

There’s been plenty of playing time for both quarterbacks because the Rams have outscored their opponents, 520-81. Top-ranked CCSF is 10-0 heading into a Dec. 6 matchup with Reedley College in the Hawaiian Punch Bowl at San Francisco.

Swanson is the second quarterback to join KU’s recruiting class. Marcus Herford (6-3, 205) of Cedar Hill, Texas, gave Kansas a verbal commitment earlier this month. Herford, who also was recruited by Houston and Iowa State, has played quarterback and receiver this season.

Patton, meanwhile, is the top-ranked high school player in Kansas, the sixth-ranked quarterback in the nation and the 81st-ranked prospect overall. The 6-3, 185-pounder has reportedly narrowed his choices to Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri.

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Fowler honored: KU sophomore safety Rodney Fowler and Oklahoma’s Brodney Pool shared Big 12 defensive player of the week honors. Fowler, playing in place of injured starter Jonathan Lamb, intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown against Iowa State. Pool had two interceptions and six tackles in Oklahoma’s 56-25 win over Texas Tech.

Kansas State’s Darren Sproles took offensive honors after rushing for 273 yards and two touchdowns as K-State beat Missouri 24-14 to clinch the Big 12 North Division title. Cole Farden of Oklahoma State earned special-team honors after punting three times for an average of 51.7 yards against Baylor.

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Time for a break: KU will practice again today before players take a four-day break for Thanksgiving. The Jayhawks (6-6 overall, 3-5) are waiting for a postseason invitation after becoming bowl eligible Saturday.

“Everybody here is very confident, and with all of the information I have received we are going to get a bowl bid,” Mangino said Monday. “You just don’t know about those things until they are in your hand, so there is a little bit of anxiety. I’m confident and the administration is as well. We feel like it’s going to happen. We are also excited to be practicing after the season and everybody is looking forward to the holidays. I told the kids there is nothing better than practicing during Christmas time and getting ready for a bowl game.”