A few days ago, the Kansas University football program addressed the present by adding fifth-year senior linebacker Anthony McDonald from Notre Dame.

Monday, the Jayhawks again began to look to the future when Kellen Ash, a 6-foot-3, 194-pound linebacker from Parkway South High in Ballwin, Mo., outside of St. Louis, orally committed to Kansas.

As a junior, Ash finished with 87 tackles, including 20 for loss, and was named all-conference, all-metro and all-state.

2013 KU football commitment, Kellen Ash, of Parkway South High near St. Louis, Mo.

KU linebackers coach DeMontie Cross played a big role in landing Ash, who also drew interest from Ball State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kansas State and Missouri. Head coach Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Dave Campo helped seal the deal a couple of weeks ago when Ash and his family made an unofficial visit. Ash told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com that the early attention he received from KU made the Jayhawks the favorite from the beginning.

“They were the first to offer so I paid a lot of attention to them,” Ash told Kirby. “I like how they take care of their players. I feel like they can help me improve. I feel like all my hard work has paid off. I’m not going to slow down now. I have to keep getting better for the next level.”

Ash becomes the third member of the Class of 2013 to commit to KU, joining Basehor-Linwood tight end Ben Johnson and Bishop Miege quarterback Montell Cozart.