Kansas University’s football team received a big commitment Wednesday when Justin Thornton called Kansas’ coaches and told them he’d sign with the Jayhawks next month.

Thornton, a 6-foot-1 defensive back out of St. Joseph, Mo., picked Kansas over Missouri, Nebraska and Northwestern.

He canceled his upcoming visit to NU.

“(KU assistant) Brandon Blaney did a good job of recruiting me at Kansas,” Thornton told rivals.com. “Some of the KU players really made me feel at home and part of the team. That was important to me.”

Thornton is the 23rd player known to have committed to KU’s 2005 class.

Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Recruits won’t be locked to a school until signing letters of intent Feb. 2.