Kansas University hired former Oklahoma State aide Murphy Grant to be head football trainer last week.

Grant will replace Carol Jarosky, who will move into a role in KU’s new Aquatic Rehabilitation Center.

While at Oklahoma State, Grant was a strength coach and trainer of the Cowboys’ men’s basketball team.

“My goal has always been to be a head athletic trainer, and this is an opportunity for me to get to that point,” Grant told the Tulsa World. “I’m excited, yet I’m saddened because I spent so many wonderful years of my life in Stillwater, so it’s tough getting out of here.”

Jarosky spent four years in charge of the football team before switching positions.

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Ballard update: Free State High tight end Christian Ballard, a highly recruited prospect, still insists he’s committed to Kansas. He does admit, though, that he might research two other schools before anything is set in stone.

Ballard has interest in finding out more about Georgia and Oklahoma, two national powers who have offered Ballard, before closing his recruitment for good.

Though he can’t sign a letter of intent with any school until February, Ballard said he “hoped to have something solidified” by the start of football season.

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Heating up: Blake Lawrence, a Shawnee Mission West senior-to-be, is continuing to receive heavy recruiting interest.

The brother of incoming KU freshman Tyler Lawrence, Blake has received scholarship offers from half of the Big 12 schools and schools like Arizona State and Michigan State from other BCS conferences.

Lawrence, who likely projects as a linebacker, told rivals.com that Nebraska and Kansas were at the top of his list at this point, and added “I just see myself playing in the Big 12 Conference.”

He gave no timetable for a decision, but added “it could happen at any moment.”