This morning, thousands of high school seniors from coast to coast will sign their autographs on the bottom of fine-print paperwork, putting their commitments to play college football into a contractual agreement.

At least 15 players are expected to fax letters of intent to Kansas University today. KU already had signed six in December as midyear junior-college transfers, and today, 14 known high school commitments, as well as Rodney Allen, a touted juco lineman from Garden City Community College, are expected to accept scholarships and fill up a majority of KU’s 2005 class.

In addition, a few more likely will join KU as preferred walk-ons, including Lawrence High senior Ian Handshy, an athletic linebacker who turned heads at several Big 12 Conference camps last summer.

As it goes every year, KU coach Mark Mangino probably has a signee or two who slipped through the cracks of recruiting networks like rivals.com, a service that scours the country piecing together Division One signing classes. Last year, it was juco defensive end Charlton Keith, who came in and solidified KU’s defensive line in 2004.

Signing day has turned festive — a day for high school athletes to celebrate, college coaches to take a quick breather and recruiting analysts to flop in a chair and take a long, well-deserved nap.

Most schools will have ceremonies, like South Garland High in Texas, where wide receiver Raimond Pendleton will sign with KU this morning.

“We’ve got six kids signing with Division One schools,” South Garland coach Mickey Moss said. “We’re going to have a table set up in the front foyer, and all the families and most of the student body will be here. After the ceremony, we’ll have a breakfast with all the families.”

Pendleton still is “100 percent solid” on KU, according to Moss, despite his buddy Jacob Lacey switching commitments from KU to Oklahoma State last month.

KU’s 2005 expected signees Stuckey sticks to his word 6Sports video: Lion expected to sign with KU

Pendleton and Butler County’s Brian Murph are the only wide receivers known to be signing with the Jayhawks, though Kansas City Washington’s Darrell Stuckey could play receiver if he’s not in the defensive secondary.

KU’s coaching staff appeared to have focused on the defensive line in this class, snagging commitments from seven who play in the defensive trenches. The one with local flavor is Caleb Blakesley of Ottawa High. A 6-5, 280-pounder, Blakesley will have a short-and-sweet ceremony at 9:30 this morning in the OHS library.

Having been solidly committed for six months, Blakesley’s signing wouldn’t appear to be too newsworthy. But don’t be fooled, signing day is a national holiday for college football junkies.

“I know Caleb’s excited,” Ottawa coach Pat Boeh said. “He can’t wait to sign the dotted line.”