The multi-week speculation surrounding whether Notre Dame linebacker Anthony McDonald would transfer to Kansas University turned official Friday.

McDonald, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound middle linebacker becomes the latest graduate to pledge his services to the Jayhawks, joining former Notre Dame teammates Dayne Crist and Mike Ragone and former Nebraska defensive lineman Josh Williams.

On signing day, back in February, KU coach Charlie Weis said he expected more fifth-year transfers to join his team. He also discussed why he was so keen on adding them.

“I’m going to be open to that every year and I’m going to tell you why,” Weis said. “For every one of these fifth-years I bring in, they’re also going out. So they don’t cost me a potential recruit because you have a guy who has some experience coming to play without affecting your numbers in recruiting at all.”

McDonald, who was a high school teammate of Crist’s in California, will graduate from Notre Dame in May and will join Weis’ new program in June.

During his four years at Notre Dame, McDonald played in 28 games, including all 12 games in 2009 and 11 more during 2010.

The addition of McDonald brings the total number of commitments in KU’s most recent recruiting class to 25. The Jayhawks have added five Div. I transfers, nine junior college transfers and 11 prep players.

McDonald is the third linebacker in the class, joining Schyler Miles, of Berkley Prep in Tampa, Fla., and Courtney Arnick, of Carter High in Dallas.