KU football lands two oral commitments

Top-rated center, SM West D-back pick Jayhawks

The Kansas football team picked up a pair of oral commitments Wednesday night.

Jacob Bragg, the No. 8 rated center in the Class of 2014 according to Rivals.com, became the fourth member in the class to pledge his services to KU, joining Kansas prospects Traevohn Wrench (Gardner-Edgerton running back) and Joe Dineen (Free State safety) and East St. Louis, Ill., linebacker Kyron Watson.

A few hours later, Shawnee Mission West defensive back Andre Maloney announced via Twitter that he was becoming a Jayhawk.

“I’m taking my talents to the U of Kansas,” Maloney said as part of a tweet.

Maloney — listed at 6 foot 2, 180 pounds — also had offers from Kansas State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma State, according to Rivals. The Overland Park product is a three-star Rivals recruit and is listed as the fifth-best senior-to-be in the state of Kansas.

Bragg, 6-4, 308 pounds, is a three-star prospect out of Nacogdoches (Texas) High who told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com that the KU campus and the presence of Tim Grunhard on KU’s coaching staff played key roles in his decision.

“I couldn’t pass up the chance to be coached by someone like coach Grunhard,” Bragg told Kirby. “He played center in the NFL and it is tough to find any other opportunity like that. I think he will be a great coach to play for. I’ve built a strong relationship with him.”

Bragg visited several other Big 12 schools during his recruitment but told Kirby he was relieved to be done with the process.