Although March tends to be all and only about basketball around these parts, there is some decent-sized football news from Allen Fieldhouse today.

I just learned that Gardner-Edgerton running back Traevohn Wrench is in the building today and has orally committed to the Jayhawks.

Wrench, a junior and four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, was one of the top backs in the state of Kansas last season.

During a four-game stretch late in the 2012 season the 6-foot, 191-pound bruiser ran for 1,277 yards and 17 touchdowns, sometimes logging as many as 40 or 50 carries in a single game.

Here's the story our prep writer Benton Smith did on Wrench in advance of GEHS's meeting with Lawrence High in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs last fall.

LHS football wary of scary RB by Benton Smith LJWorld.com

We'll have more on the commitment in the near future. This is a big pick-up for the Jayhawks, as Wrench would come in at a time when the Jayhawks would be losing James Sims and Taylor Cox to graduation.

All right, now that the signing day dust has settled and the most recent recruiting class has become an official part of Kansas football, let's take a quick look at what this all means for the Jayhawks in 2013.

I'll have plenty more reaction and analysis of this class and signing day itself throughout the day and in the coming days — including a probable podcast later this afternoon — but I wanted to get it all started with a fun and informal look at what I think this class can bring to KU.

So let's break it down into a handful of three-player categories and follow it up with a quick and crude look at what I think the first first-string might look this fall.

Here goes:

Three biggest impact players:
1. Marquel Combs, DT
2. Marcus Jenkins-Moore, LB
3. Isaiah Johnson, S

Three most needed players:
1. Andrew Bolton, DE
2. Chris Martin, DE
3. Cassius Sendish, CB

Three most electric players:
1. Ishmael Hyman, WR
2. Colin Spencer, RB
3. Kevin Short, DB

Three biggest dark horse contributors:
1. Mike Smithburg, OL
2. Dexter McDonald, DB
3. Ngalu Fusimalohi, OL

Three guys who need time:
1. Jordan Darling, QB
2. Montell Cozart, QB
3. Ben Johnson, TE

Three hardest hitters:
1. Samson Faifili, LB
2. Andrew Bolton, DE
3. Chris Martin, DE

Three fastest fliers:
1. Ishmael Hyman, WR
2. Rod Coleman, WR
3. Kellen Ash, LB

Three guys I liked more after Weis' presser
1. Mark Thomas, WR
2. Zach Fondal, OL
3. Tedarian Johnson, DL

Where this class ranks nationally:
25th – The Sporting News
45th – Rivals.com (7th in the Big 12)
50th – 24/7 Sports.com (8th in the Big 12)
55th – ESPN.com

My way-too-early look at 2013 first-stringers:

OFFENSE:
QB – Jake Heaps
RB – James Sims
RB – Tony Pierson
WR – Justin McCay
WR – Rod Coleman
TE – Jimmay Mundine
LT – Zach Fondal
LG – Damon Martin
C – Mike Smithburg
RG – Ngalu Fusimalohi
RT – Aslam Sterling

DEFENSE:
DE – Andrew Bolton
DT – Ty McKinney
DT – Marquel Combs
DE – Chris Martin
LB – Marcus Jenkins-Moore
LB – Ben Heeney
LB – Samson Faifili
CB – Cassius Sendish
CB – JaCorey Shepherd
SS – Isaiah Johnson
FS – Kevin Short

Stay tuned for much, much more throughout the day and the rest of the week and check back a little later for a podcast with our impressions and reactions from signing day.

New KU linebacker Marcus Jenkins-Moore (seated) was joined by Pierce C.C. teammate and future KU teammate Marquel Combs at today's signing in California. by Matt Tait

3:34 p.m. Update:

Hey folks, just got back from KU coach Charlie Weis' signing day news conference and have posted Weis' full audio.

A lot of insightful stuff in there, so check it out if you haven't.

http://www2.kusports.com/podcasts/press_conferences_postgame_interviews/2013/feb/06/ku-football-coach-charlie-weis-sizes-class-2013/

Here are my first reactions from what Weis said. I posted most of these to Twitter so please bear with me. Trying to get audio posted and stories written so you can have more analysis. So hopefully this will work for now.

Here goes:

• Weis definitely believes he has a good class coming in and it sounds like a lot of these guys are gonna play right away...

• After listening to Weis talk about the signees, I feel much better about being bold in predicting so many starters. Especially on D

• It should be noted that RB Marquis Jackson is done playing (health reasons) and newcomer Colin Spencer will move to RB

• Really got the sense that Weis (new to juco recruiting) is a big fan of bringing juco guys in. Likes maturity, age, toughness, etc.

• Weis said Marquel Combs & Zach Fondal are not here yet but he didn't sound worried. Could be June, could be sooner. Probably June.

• Weis said today that he laid out a three-year recruiting plan for every position with his staff recently. Guy's a builder.

• Weis also said one benefit of easy day & getting letters so early (most in by 10 am) was that staff could watch film on 2014 class.

Finally, one more signing day photo, this one courtesy of Chad Rader of 810 WHB.

Basehor-Linwood High tight end Ben Johnson at today's signing day ceremony. by Matt Tait

11:31 a.m. Update:

It looks like Colton Goeas has signed and faxed his letter from Hawaii. That rounds out the list of expected signees, as all 14 guys who were supposed to sign today did in fact sign.

That's always good news for any program but certainly good news for KU's coaches, who like this class and feel good about the potential of the players they're bringing in.

From this point on, any news regarding KU pick-ups would certainly qualify as a surprise.

We'll have plenty more reaction and analysis throughout the day, including audio and reaction from KU coach Charlie Weis' 1 p.m. news conference.

For now, here's a quick look at Goeas and then I'm off to grab some lunch and get ready for the presser. Thanks for checking out the blog throughout the morning and be sure to check back this afternoon for much, much more.

• COLTON GOEAS, LB

Bio: 6-2, 245-pound linebacker from St. Louis High in Honolulu,. High school teammate of former KU target Reeve Koehler (offensive lineman who chose Arkansas) who packs a punch and plays a physical style. Chose Kansas over offers from Hawaii, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington State.

Most resembles: Joe Mortensen. Goeas is a physical player who lacks great foot speed but makes up for it with effort and ferocious energy. He might not come with the meanstreak and crazy look that Jo-Mo possessed, but it's not because of a lack of trying.

Potential impact: Think about guys like Ben Heeney and Jake Love. Both found their way onto the field and into key roles because of the way they sacrificed their bodies and played at one speed and without regard for their bodies. If Goeas can work himself into that kind of player and improve his speed, he'll have a chance to surprise in a year or two.

Prediction: Red-shirt.

10:46 a.m. Update:

Just got a text from linebacker Marcus Jenkins-Moore, who said he was about to fax his letter to KU.

MJM sent a follow-up text that simply read, "All smiles, man. All smiles." The guy has been looking forward to this day and this point in his life for a long time.

As soon as Jenkins-Moore becomes official, that will leave just Honolulu's Colton Goeas as the only committed member of the Class of 2013 still left to sign. With the time difference, Goeas should be coming up a little later, but I'm sure it'll be well before 1:00 p.m. because that's when KU coach Charlie Weis has scheduled his signing day press conference and I wouldn't think he would've set it for then if he thought he might not be able to talk about one of his signees.

Sit tight and we'll let you know as soon as Goeas' letter arrives.

Until then, here's more on Jenkins-Moore, my pick for the guy most likely to become a fast fan favorite in this group.

• MARCUS JENKINS-MOORE, LB

Bio: 6-3, 210-pound linebacker from Pierce C.C. in Woodland Hills, Calif., who describes his game as “relentless” and chose KU over offers from a dozen other BCS-conference schools including K-State, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

Most resembles: No one. There have been a lot of good linebackers come through KU during the past 5-10 years, but none of them have the skill set that MJM brings to the table. He's a tenacious and physical presence who can play in space and run as well as any running back KU's had lately.

Potential impact: Huge. Has the look of an immediate starter and should significantly upgrade KU's speed and physicality at linebacker.

Prediction: Starter.

10:04 a.m. Update:

Linebacker Samson Faifili's letter of intent has been received by KU.

Faifili was definitely one of the more excited guys to sign that I talked to. Here's what he had to say a couple of days ago when asked about the anticipation of his big day.

"I am too excited. This is a big moment of my life and my career. I've been waiting for this exact moment for six years. The biggest and most important thing for me is that I can tell my mom and dad that they don't have to pay for school anymore. I cannot wait to have my name on the back of my jersey. And I can't wait to get things started at KU!"

Here's more on Faifili:

New KU linebacker Samson Faifili. by Matt Tait

• SAMSON FAIFILI, LB

Bio: 5-11, 240-pound linebacker from American River C.C. in Sacramento, Calif., committed to Kansas in mid-November, choosing KU over Hawaii, Iowa State, Nevada and Oregon State.

Most resembles: Steven Johnson. Faifili's one of those big boppers who plays with unparalleled passion and energy. Johnson, though not necessarily always known as a big hitter, could lay the wood and led the Jayhawks in tackles as a junior and senior merely off of effort alone.

Potential impact: Huge. Faifili is the type of linebacker who plays downhill and likes to hit. There's always room for a player like that. He should contribute immediately and could be a huge part of KU's defense as soon as 2013.

Prediction: Starter.

Faifili highlights:

http://video.app.msn.com/watch/video/jcspotlight-lb-samson-faifili/124jdjjx?cpkey=97a66467-d0a8-d9f2-1ef3-64c583126e02%257c%257c%257c%257c

9:53 a.m. Update:

Should be about 10 minutes out from Marcus Jenkins-Moore making it official, but I thought I'd pass along word that I just received about Spencer.

He will not be signing a letter of intent today but not because he has changed his mind or anything like that. It's merely a situation where, since he graduated early and enrolled at a four-year school, he's not allowed to sign a national letter of intent because he's no longer considered a prospect. He did, however, sign a financial aid agreement in December and, of course, is a member of the team and is already on campus.

Just more of a clarification than anything else. I didn't want people (like myself) sitting around waiting for Spencer to sign all day when he won't. Early graduates actually never end up singing letters of intent. It's just one of those weird and quirk rules but it does nothing to his chances of being on the team or playing.

Just for the heck of it (and because I already did it), here's a quick look at Spencer:

• COLIN SPENCER, ATHLETE

Bio: 5-10, 179-pound athlete from Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas. Played cornerback, wide receiver and quarterback in high school. May graduate early and enroll at KU in time for spring football.

Most resembles: Jake Sharp. Has great speed, is one of the strongest dudes his size in his class and has the ability and versatility to play a number of different positions. Also a very confident football player.

Potential impact: Serious. Spencer's just a true freshman but he already is on campus and will go through spring ball, which typically increases the chances for immediate playing time tremendously for freshmen. Rumor has it that KU's coaches would like to see Spencer on offense more than defense and that could mean slot receiver and/or running back.

Prediction: Solid offensive contributor.

Back to waiting...

9:36 a.m. Update:

Cross two more off the list or add them to it if that's how you roll.

Jon Kirby reporting that he confirmed fax sendings with juco wide receivers Rodriguez Coleman and Mark Thomas.

Here's a quick look at both guys, as well as the updated list:

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman
• Isaiah Johnson
• Kellen Ash
• Jordan Darling
• Andrew Bolton
• Montell Cozart
• Kevin Short
• Rodriguez Coleman
• Mark Thomas

Of the players who were previously committed to KU, we're now down to Marcus Jenkins-Moore, Colton Goeas, Samson Faifili and Colin Spencer. And I can't see any of those four hitting a snag along the way.

• RODRIGUEZ COLEMAN, WR

Bio: 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver from Garden City C.C., who chose KU over Cincinnati and led the Jayhawk Conference with 64 receptions and 973 yards last season.

Most resembles: Dezmon Briscoe. Now, don't take that to mean that Coleman is going to be an all-Big 12 performer and an automatic NFL draft pick. He could be. But that's an awfully high ceiling. This comparison is merely based on their style of play. Coleman's a very fluid receiver who can make plays down the field and also has similar size to Briscoe.

Potential impact: Huge. It's hard to imagine him not having a role somewhere. He led the Jayhawk Conference in yards and receptions last season and that experience and his proven ability to make plays should give him a leg up on a lot of KU's receivers.

Prediction: Second or third WR.

• MARK THOMAS, WR

Bio: 6-2, 210-pound wide receiver from Nassau C.C. in New York. Solid, physical wideout chose KU over UConn and Marshall.

Most resembles: Johnathan Wilson. There's nothing that flashy about Thomas but when surrounded by good talent he fits in, much the way Wilson did as the third receiver on the teams with Briscoe and Kerry Meier.

Potential impact: Given KU's need for quality bodies at the position, Thomas could work his way into a decent role quickly. Not getting to campus until June won't help his cause, but the opportunity to slide in as a rotation receiver this fall certainly figures to be there.

Prediction: Battling for a spot in the regular rotation.

9:17 a.m. Update:

And with that comes a big sigh of relief... Fort Scott Community College defensive back Kevin Short, who created a bit of a scare on Tuesday by flirting with New Mexico late, has signed and faxed his letter of intent and is now, officially, a member of the KU football program.

Short was definitely the biggest question mark heading into today, so getting this one locked up early is great news for the Jayhawks.

Here's a quick look at Short:

• KEVIN SHORT, DB

Bio: 6-2, 185-pound cornerback from Fort Scott C.C. Earned first-team NJCAA All-American honors last season and chose Kansas over multiple offers from BCS programs. Tuesday flirtations with New Mexico appeared to be much ado about nothing.

Most resembles: Bradley McDougald. Athletic, good ball skills and a ton of confidence. Short can play corner, safety and return kicks. He'll have to go to work in the weight room to become as productive as McDougald, but the potential certainly is there.

Potential impact: Solid. Again, there are all kinds of openings in that KU secondary and Short should be a guy who competes for regular playing time somewhere back there.

Prediction: On the field a lot, with KU playing nickel and dime coverages.

Short highlights:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/68579/highlights/21683403

9:09 a.m. Update:

Cozart's letter is in, which brings the total to eight. May hit a little lull here for the next hour as we wait on those guys out west to join the party.

Marcus Jenkins-Moore should be next. Told me he was signing at 8 a.m. Cali. time, which would be 10 a.m. here.

Here's the updated list:

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman
• Isaiah Johnson
• Kellen Ash
• Jordan Darling
• Andrew Bolton
• Montell Cozart

8:57 a.m. Update:

Gotta figure we're getting close for Bishop Miege QB Montell Cozart. He told me the other day that he would have a signing party around 3 p.m. today but also said that he would be faxing his letter well before that.

I'm checking on his status right now.

Here's a quick look at Cozart, another local kid with tremendous talent and potential.

Local signees Jordan Darling, Montell Cozart and Ben Johnson at last year's season opener. by Matt Tait

• MONTELL COZART, QB

Bio: 6-2, 180-pound quarterback from Bishop Miege High in Kansas City. Played high school football under current KU offensive line coach Tim Grunhard.

Most resembles: Mark Williams. Like Williams, who was the man for KU's 10-2 team in 1995, Cozart is tall, lean, athletic and a true quarterback. He does a little bit of everything really well.

Potential impact: Many people have speculated that Cozart is a position change waiting to happen, but it sure seems like he'll get every opportunity to show he can play quarterback first. Most of his reps early in his career figure to be with the scout team, but any reps are better than no reps and a year or two of working with Scott Holsopple could do wonders for Cozart's chances.

Prediction: Red-shirt, unless he can beat out Darling for that third-string spot, which is certainly within the realm of possibility.

8:39 a.m. Update:

This may have made its way around already, but I'm also seeing reports that John Wirtel, one of the nation's top long snappers, will join Whitfield in becoming a preferred walk-on at KU.

Wirtel, who stands 6-3, 207, has performed well at many of those specialists camps and appears to be a very solid pick up.

Still waiting for more letters...

8:21 a.m. Update:

Looks like monster defensive end Andrew Bolton can be added to the official list. This never seemed in doubt, but getting it done is huge for KU. I've heard nothing but great things about this guy and many I've talked to have described him as an absolute beast.

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman
• Isaiah Johnson
• Kellen Ash
• Jordan Darling
• Andrew Bolton

• ANDREW BOLTON, DE

Bio: 6-3, 280-pound defensive end from Hinds C.C. in Raymond, Miss. Clocked at 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Bolton also had offers from Iowa, LSU and Mississippi State.

Most resembles: No one. Not Jake Laptad, not Josh Williams, not Toben Opurum, not even Charlton Keith. Bolton plays at a speed and with a physical passion that few recent KU players have had.

Potential impact: Huge. Bolton has the look of an immediate starter and should significantly upgrade KU's ability to rush the quarterback. Even if he's not a starter, he'll play early and often.

Prediction: Starting strongside defensive end.

8:05 a.m. Update:

Jon Kirby over at JayhawkSlant.com is reporting that SM East QB Jordan Darling also has faxed in his letter, bringing this morning's total to six.

Never had much luck getting ahold of Darling.

Here's a quick look at the big, athletic Sunflower League QB.

• JORDAN DARLING, QB

Bio: 6-4, 226-pound quarterback from Shawnee Mission East High in Kansas City. Dominated summer camps and picked the Jayhawks over Kansas State.

Most resembles: Adam Barmann. Like Barmann when he arrived, Darling brings good size and great athleticism. His senior season at SM East left a little to be desired, but don't let that fool you. This kid has prototypical size, a big arm and huge upside.

Potential impact: It took both Michael Cummings and Turner Baty a while to get Weis' offense down last season, and those were two guys who already had been through the college football grind for a season. Darling's future is bright, but his impact seems to be a couple years out.

Prediction: Third-string QB who, like Turner Baty last year, will red-shirt if no one in front of him gets injured.

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman
• Isaiah Johnson
• Kellen Ash
• Jordan Darling

7:57 a.m. Update:

--- SURPRISE ALERT ---

Each year on signing day people ask about possible surprises. Naturally, fan bases at all schools would love to see one of those Top 10 guys who are still undecided pick their school and make it feel like they hit the jackpot.

At Kansas, the ceiling for such surprises is obviously a little lower, but the Jayhawks may have landed a guy who qualifies as a very pleasant surprised.

Michael Whitfield, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound “athlete” out of Marian High in Mishawaka, Ind., has Tweeted out the following message: “Next year. Lawrence.”

I haven't heard too much about Whitfield until today, but a little digging revealed that he went to the same school as KU long snapper Reilly Jeffers and he may be in line to join the program as a preferred walk-on.

The guy has good size, is regarded as a great athlete and earned all-conference honors as a running back as a senior.

Here's what his coach had to say about him before the start of the season:

"He's fast and he's very elusive," Marian coach Reggie Glon said. "Michael has put on some weight where he was minus a little bit on the inside run game, he's developed that. He's a dual threat running and catching the football."

Again, I realize this isn't the home run pick-up that all fans dream up, but this kid has some upside and, as we've seen, the coaching staff is simply doing all it can to add athletes, guys who can run and play in space. Whitfield appears to be one of those guys. It'll be interesting to see if he makes it here and, if he does, how he develops.

Here are some highlights:

7:41 a.m. Update:

Also hearing that LB Kellen Ash has faxed in, bringing the official total (so far) to five:

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman
• Isaiah Johnson
• Kellen Ash

Here's a quick look at Ash:

• KELLEN ASH, LB

Bio: 6-3, 194-pound linebacker from Parkway South High in Missouri. A three-star prospect, who committed to KU last April.

Most resembles: Courtney Arnick. I know we haven't seen Arnick play a down at KU yet, but we have seen film. And, like Arnick, Ash is one of those undersized linebackers who can fly.

Potential impact: KU defensive coordinator Dave Campo often talks about adding guys who can run and play in space. That, Campo says, is what it takes to compete in the Big 12. Ash certainly has the chance to be one of those guys, but he's also probably a year or two away.

Prediction: Red-shirt.

7:32 a.m. Update:

Just got a text from Iowa Western DB Isaiah Johnson, who said he's getting ready to sign. Here's a look at Johnson, who I think has a chance to be one of the bigger impact guys in this class.

Iowa Western DB Isaiah Johnson after making his commitment to KU official this morning. by Matt Tait

• ISAIAH JOHNSON, DB

Bio: 6-1, 210-pound safety from Iowa Western C.C. Helped lead IWCC to a juco national title while leading the team with eight interceptions. Was named an NJCAA honorable mention All-American.

Most resembles: Justin Thornton. Thornton was a great athlete who had a natural ability to make plays when the ball was in the air. Johnson's the same type of player and, to KU's benefit, plays a little bigger than Thornton, who made it to the final cut with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent and had one of the more underrated KU careers in recent memory.

Potential impact: Enormous. Not only does Johnson have big-time ability and solid experience, but he also comes in at a time when jobs in the KU secondary are up for grabs.

Prediction: Starter.

Isaiah Johnson with KU coach Charlie Weis. by Matt Tait

7:27 a.m. Update:

New Jersey prep star Ishmael Hyman, a 6-foot, 169-pound wideout who played in the International Bowl in Austin, Texas, last night is the latest to send his letter in.

Hyman signed and faxed from Austin, where he and several others who played in last night's all-star game were treated to a signing day breakfast by the International Bowl folks.

Here's a look at Hyman, who brings the total number of letters in to three:

Signed, sealed and delivered:
• Joey Bloomfield
• Ben Johnson
• Ishmael Hyman

• ISHMAEL HYMAN, WR

Bio: 6-foot, 169-pound wide receiver from St. Vianney High in Holmdel, N.J. Lightning quick playmaker who earned MVP honors at the Chesapeake Bowl in December chose KU over offers from Boston College, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and others.

Most resembles: Charles Gordon/Daymond Patterson.

Potential impact: With the departure of Patterson and D.J. Beshears, there certainly seems to be an opening for a playmaker in the slot. Hyman has great wheels and is explosive. The only question will be if the guys who are here before him (think Tre' Parmalee, Colin Spencer) put enough distance between themselves and the dynmaic wideout before he gets to town.

Prediction: Seems like a good red-shirt candidate. But then again, so did Tre' Parmalee last year.

7:17 a.m. Update:

Ben Johnson video from YouTube.

7:08 a.m. Update:

Just for fun, as we wait for some of these central time zone guys to get started, here's what my signing day war room set up looked like not so bright but oh so early this morning.

Nothing fancy, but room to work. Thanks for checking out the blog!

Signing Day Central for Matt Tait in 2013. by Matt Tait

Here's new KU tight end Ben Johnson, of Basehor-Linwood High, in the Jayhawks' locker room during a recent visit. by Matt Tait

7:01 a.m. Update:

Up next, I'm expecting to see something from local prospect Ben Johnson, a tight end from Basehor-Linwood High.

Johnson was the first in the class to commit to KU, way back in the February of 2012.

With that in mind, signing day has taken longer to arrive for Johnson than most. That's why he's so pumped about it finally being here.

"I will be signing as early as i can on Wednesday," Johnson told me recently. "I'm really excited to finally sign the paper and get this thing started. I committed over a year ago and I've been waiting for what feels like forever.. I just thank god for the opportunity he has put in front of me and am glad I get to play for the Jayhawks!

"

Here's a quick look at Johnson:

• BEN JOHNSON, TE

Bio: 6-5, 230-pound tight end from Basehor-Linwood High near Kansas City, Kan., was one of the first players in the class to commit.

Most resembles: Jordan Smith. Physically, Johnson, like Smith a season ago, looks ready to compete. He's big, athletic and can run and catch.

Potential impact: With a lot of experience ahead of him, Johnson faces and uphill battle to get immediate reps, but he provides KU with good depth and a pleasant future at the position.

Prediction: Red-shirt.

Your newest Kansas Jayhawk, offensive lineman Joey Bloomfield. by Matt Tait

6:46 a.m. Update:

Just got the above photo from Bloomfield. Looks sharp in that suit and cap. On to the next one, which should come in around 7 a.m.

The fun's just beginning!

6:16 a.m. Update:

Bloomfield, like many of these other guys, will be hosting a signing ceremony at his school around 3:15 p.m. this afternoon in the Fine Arts Center at his high school. But the official part should be over with any minute now.

Here's a nice YouTube feature from last summer on Bloomfield with a few highlights.

Original post, 6:01 a.m.

Good morning KU football fans. I hope you've got your coffee handy, maybe a nice pastry and are ready to hammer away at that refresh button. We're certainly going to keep you busy this morning.

It's hard to believe that another signing day already is upon us. It seems like not that long ago that we were sitting in Mrkonic Auditorium listening to KU coach Charlie Weis talk about the “new guys” he was bringing in and now we're already on to a second — perhaps even third, depending on your perspective — set of “new guys.”

This year's class figures to be one of the most entertaining to follow in recent memory. Who knows how many of these guys will pan out or become big-time players for KU, but the hype is certainly there and, it's safe to say that the group as a whole certainly does not lack confidence.

This morning, we'll be tracking the letters of intent of 15 KU commitments. Ten others already signed in December and many of them are on campus, taking classes and preparing for spring ball, which, by the way, is now less than a month out. Crazy!

As for the 15 guys who we're tracking this morning, it seems like things should be pretty straight forward for nearly all of them (famous last words, right?).

We already experienced a bit of a wildcard on Tuesday, when Fort Scott C.C. defensive back Kevin Short took to Twitter to announced he was switching his commitment, only to rethink it and stick with KU in the long run. If that's the only so-called “wrinkle” the Jayhawks experience during this year's signing day madness, that's not bad.

There, of course, is always something wild and crazy that pops up, be it a late commitment, a totally new name out of the blue or something unforeseen altogether. So, as we try to keep tabs on the guys we know are signing, I'll also be keeping an eye, ear and nose out for any other potential goings on.

With it just now hitting 7:00 a.m. on the east coast, some of the first letters could be on their way to the fax machines any minute. So, let's get after it.

By my calculations, Louisville, Kent., offensive lineman Joey Bloomfield, of Ballard High, should be one of the first members of the Class of 2013 to send his letter in to the football office.

Here's a quick look at Bloomfield. We'll have similar capsules on all of the signees throughout the morning, as well as quotes, photos and reaction from their big days. In addition, Weis is hosting a press conference at 1:00 p.m. CST.

Here we go!

Class of 2013 offensive lineman Joey Bloomfield is expected to be among the first KU commitments to fax his letter of intent to the KU football offices. by Matt Tait

• JOEY BLOOMFIELD, OL

Bio: 6-6, 305-pound offensive tackle from Ballard High in Louisville, Ky., who chose KU over offers from Air Force, Colorado, Houston, Kansas State, San Diego State and Wyoming.

Most resembles: Riley Spencer. KU has not brought to campus too many high school lineman with the kind of size and athleticism that Bloomfield possesses. Spencer, who could be one of KU's starting tackles this fall, came in at 6-6, 270, and Bloomfield has 35 pounds on him.

Potential impact: It's rare for a true freshman offensive lineman to contribute right away, but with all kinds of openings on KU's offensive line, at both first- and second-string spots, there's a chance that Bloomfield, with a killer camp, could make his way into the mix. He's most likely a very promising piece for 2014 and beyond.

Prediction: Red-shirt.

Fort Scott C.C. cornerback Kevin Short. by Matt Tait

4:12 p.m. Update:

Just heard back from Kevin Short, who informed me — in all caps — that he was "GOING TO KU FOR SURE."

Short said he simply felt uneasy about what he was being brought in to do and wanted to talk with Charlie Weis and Clint Bowen about his role.

No harm, no foul, I guess.

I'd like to thank Kevin for getting me sharp before tomorrow's big day. I'm ready.

See you all in the morning.

3:38 p.m. Update:

In light of the whole Manti Te'o fiasco, it's certainly worth noting that it's hard to trust anything that doesn't come from the horse's mouth, so that's why it seems like a smart move to say that KU may still have a shot at Short.

The latest post to his Twitter account backed that thought:

just got off the Phone with the head man Weis we talked about the situation 2marr i will make it known #RockChalk shawty

That's all we know for today. I'm still trying to reach Kevin, but, either way, it's all about tomorrow and the letter and the fax. We'll know then.

I don't think KU's out of this yet.

Stay tuned...

Original post:

On the eve of national signing day, the Kansas University football program learned that Fort Scott Community College cornerback Kevin Short, a first-team All-American last season, has switched his commitment to New Mexico.

At around 2 p.m. today, Short posted on Twitter the following message: "I will be signing my NLI to the University of NewMexico i appreciate the long hard support from everybody but I have to do what I have t ..."

There is very little information out there at this point about why Short changed his mind but the possibilities seem to range from everything to academic concerns to a simple change of heart.

As of last Friday, the 6-2, 185-pound cornerback told me that he had been under a lot of pressure but that he was still planning to sign with KU.

I checked in with defensive tackle Marquel Combs, the unofficial leader of KU's "Dream Team 2013" movement to see if he had heard anything from Short today and Combs told me that Short had not been texting him back.

Efforts to reach Short myself, so far, have also proven unsuccessful.

We'll see how this whole thing develops, but it looks, for now, like KU has lost a pretty solid target and that the number of players expected to sign tomorrow has dropped from 15 to 14. If that holds, KU would have three spots remaining in the Class of 2013, should it choose to fill them.

Stay in touch with KUSports.com today for more on Short if anything becomes available and, as always, wake up with us bright and early tomorrow for my annual signing day blog that tracks the progress of KU's commitments all morning.

This is what college football coaches across the country will be anxiously awaiting Wednesday morning as the Class of 2013 prepares to make it official. by Matt Tait

With national signing day now less than 24 hours away, all kinds of stories about signing days past make their way to the forefront of people's minds.

From famous tales about fax machine fiascos to power classes and last-minute shockers, the stories are always a favorite of mine, even if I've heard many of them before.

Although most (maybe all) of them had nothing to do with KU, they're still interesting reads for die-hard football fans who can't get enough gridiron action in the offseason.

With that in mind, here are a few quick links to some of the more entertaining flashbacks as well as a couple of interesting stories about the cost of recruiting and how rankings tend to pan out.

Enjoy, and make sure you're back here bright and early Wednesday for this year's edition of our live signing day blog. I'll be up and at 'em with the earliest signees and will be tracking the fun all morning as I wait to head up to KU coach Charlie Weis' signing day press conference at 1 p.m.

KU's current class, which includes 25 commitments — 10 of which already have signed — figures to be pretty straight forward. I've talked to most of the guys and they all seem to be planning to sign as early as possible on Wednesday. The coaching staff still has two spots remaining so there's always a chance that an additional name or two could pop up tomorrow, but I'm not expecting that.

I think they'll be smart and hang on to those spots in case something surprising pops up elsewhere in the next couple of weeks. Always a good idea. And a smart bet, considering Weis said when he first got here that he would not sign guys just for the sake of adding bodies.

Here we go...

• National Signing Day's craziest stories from Athlon Sports:
http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/recruiting-signing-days-craziest-stories

• Alabama, which has a fan base that follows signing day like storm chasers follow the weather, actually put a live camera on its fax machine and, at times, has even tossed in a little spice, super model style:
http://nesn.com/2011/02/university-of-alabama-football-fans-want-to-watch-the-tide-roll-on-the-fax-machine/

• Top 10 recruiting battles of all-time from ESPN Insider:
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/8901133/recruitingnation-ranks-top-10-recruiting-battles-football-feb-1

• Here's another good read from SI.com, regarding the predictability of determining a team's success based on recruiting rankings:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130204/recruiting-rankings-predictive-accuracy/?eref=sircrc

• This is also pretty cool from ESPN, a look at how much each Div. I program spent on recruiting during the past two years. Kansas, which, according to the report, spent about $80,000 more on recruiting in 2011 than 2010 also was toward the top of the list nationally in terms of how much it spent:
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/8041461/the-cost-recruiting

Class of 2013 linebacker Marcus Jenkins-Moore poses with KU linebackers coach Clint Bowen during a recent visit in California. by Matt Tait

Kansas University commitment Marcus Jenkins-Moore caused quite a stir late Wednesday afternoon, when he posted on both his Facebook page and his Twitter account that he had plans to take an official visit to Louisville.

Jenkins-Moore, one of the biggest KU supporters in the current recruiting class, hails from Louisville and the news spread quickly. Fans took to message boards and Twitter in search of answers, some going as far as to say their hearts dropped or that their days were ruined.

In the end, it all turned out to be much ado about nothing.

When reached by phone by the Journal-World, Jenkins-Moore said he was just “bored” and simply was “playin' around.”

Later, on the social media sites, he said he simply floated the fake message out there to see if KU fans would notice.

They did. And so did he.

Later, he returned to the popular sites to post the following soothing statements:

“I was just playin,” he wrote on Facebook. “It's Rock Chalk til the death of me!”

As for Twitter, the Pierce Community College linebacker was busy responding to numerous KU fans but also fit in the following: “Just playin around a lil bit! No worries ‪#Kansas ! There's only gonna be one hat present in 7 days! Cracked a joke on my ‪#KU family! Forgive me.”

Jenkins-Moore more is one of 15 players expected to sign national letters of intent next Wednesday, the first day of the regular football signing period.

Jenkins-Moore said he could not wait to make it official and that he had started a countdown for his arrival on campus.

As for his partner in crime, Pierce defensive tackle Marquel Combs, who was not believed to be in on the Twitter/Facebook prank, Jenkins-Moore said he thought Combs would be returning to Pierce for the spring semester to finish up classes that did not transfer and the two of them would report to Lawrence in June.

That was just his read on the situation, though, and by no means is official. Combs signed with KU in December and had planned to arrive on campus in time for the start of the spring semester but has not yet reported.

We'll keep an eye on that situation as well as Twitter, but don't expect any more jokes from Jenkins-Moore before next Wednesday.

ku_fbc_rice_nk_04.jpg

With the second national signing day of the Charlie Weis era at Kansas University now just two weeks away, it seems like a good time to quickly go over some of the main things we've learned about Weis' recruiting strategy.

We all know that the second-year coach can walk in to any recruit's house, flash his Super Bowl rings and immediately wow everyone in the room. You might be surprised to learn, however, that he doesn't do that very often.

Weis' recruiting strategy is simple and it falls right in line with the way he runs his football program: Hit them with substance and style.

Based upon my conversations with several KU recruits and a few words from Weis himself, it sounds as if the KU coach is as brutally honest on the recruiting trail as he is with his Jayhawk players and he does not make empty promises just to entice prospects to sign with Kansas. During in-home visits he shows up in his best suits and allows the players and their families to ask him anything and everything they can think of.

It's not a strategy that works for everybody and it does not appeal to every player Weis targets. But, as we can see from a recruiting class that's ranked 37th nationally by Rivals.com and the continued and rising interest in the program, it seems to be working for KU.

Of course, there are several other factors at play here, though. And they are, in no particular order:

• The presence of Dave Campo as his defensive coordinator. During the chase for players in the Class of 2013 alone KU picked up some big-time prospects who passed on some pretty big schools, including a couple who call the SEC home. Campo was a big reason for that. And as long as he's in town, KU will continue to draw serious interest from some of the top defensive prospects they target.

• Forget about a hotbed for recruiting. Weis has proven that he and his coaching staff will go anywhere to get their guy. That's obvious from the multiple trips many of them took to Hawaii during the past couple of months. It may not have landed them the big kahuna they were looking for — offensive lineman Reeve Koehler, who chose Arkansas last weekend — but they were able to pick up a pretty nice, under-the-radar linebacker in Colton Goeas and also made some nice connections that can only help in the future.

• Speaking of the staff, most of the guys on Weis' crew have what it takes to bring in talent, but few of them have been as impressive early on as tight ends coach Jeff Blasko. Blasko (one of the guys who traveled to Hawaii) played a huge role in landing some big-time juco guys this offseason, including top-rated overall juco prospect Marquel Combs as well as offensive lineman Ngalu Fusimalohi, linebackers Marcus Jenkins-Moore, Samson Faifili and Colton Goeas and defensive back Cassius Sendish. All of those guys could — and probably should — be in KU's two-deep depth chart to open the 2013 season. Blasko's presence on the staff (along with Weis' quick decision to move Clint Bowen to linebackers coach) helped keep things calm when news broke that DeMontie Cross was leaving for TCU.

• Weis is not afraid to work. And travel. And miss out on sleep. And use whatever means available to recruit including modern-era tools such as Facebook and Twitter. With the recent rule changes (look for a story on that soon) opening up the door for unlimited contact between coaches and recruits, it bodes extremely well for KU's future classes that Weis is already comfortable going full speed ahead. Some coaches will have a tougher time with the adjustment.

• When all is said and done and the Jayhawks will have nearly 20 junior-college players in the 2013 class. That's a lot for any class and certainly as many as KU has had in a single haul, but it's not necessarily a sign of things to come. Although Weis has said that he would be more than willing to take junior-college transfers every year, he also said his ideal classes would include a blend of high school and juco talent, with the number of juco transfers tapering off each year as the program begins to develop younger talent more and more each year.

• While most of the aforementioned facts represent good news for KU, there remains one question surrounding Weis' recruiting that figures to take some time to answer but also is one that could go a long way toward determining how successful he will be at Kansas — How long until Weis and company are bringing in more four- and five-star players? Such players have never flocked to KU with much regularity, but with Weis and Campo being big-time draws, the number of big-time recruits could be on the rise if KU can return to its winning ways. This year's class features two four-star prospects (juco transfers Marquel Combs and Chris Martin), 20 three-star players and three two-star guys.

• Finally, Weis was asked toward the end of the 2012 season if he was concerned about the team's record hurting recruiting. As we all know by now, KU's current class is ranked in the Top 40 nationally and Weis' answer to the question illustrates why. “The best year I ever had recruiting in the past was after the worst season,” he said. “Because more guys see an opportunity to play earlier. They all want to play. Yeah, they all want to play.” A closer look at the rest of the Top 40, however, reveals that nearly all of the programs in that group are what many would consider traditional powers and certainly programs that have been mainstays in the Top 25 during the past several seasons. There are only a few programs in the Top 40 — KU (37th), Illinois (33rd), Rutgers (40th) and maybe one or two others — that many would consider to be “outsiders” on that list. KU's presence certainly speaks to the impact of Weis and Campo and the name recognition that both coaches bring to KU's recruiting efforts.

By now, many of you surely have realized that St. Louis High offensive lineman Reeve Koehler, of Honolulu, did not actually announce his college decision at last weekend’s U.S. Army All-Star Game.

He still hasn’t, in fact, and there are a couple of reasons why.

First, he’s still taking and scheduling visits. What once looked like a lock for Tennessee, quickly became wide open when the Volunteers fired coach Derek Dooley after the season and that created a situation where Koehler, who has more than a dozen BCS offers, had to "begin" the recruiting process a little later than most.

Tennessee remains in the mix for Koehler, whose size varies depending upon which web site you’re looking at (Rivals.com lists him at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds and ESPN lists him at 6-4, 320), but the Vols appear to be a longshot at this point. Several recruiting services have reported that Koehler’s finalists are Arkansas and Kansas.

Koehler is expected to take an official visit to Arkansas on Jan. 18, when he will meet with new Hogs head coach Brett Bielema. The four-star offensive guard visited Kansas in November.

During the time that Koehler pushed back his decision, St. Louis teammate, Colton Goeas, a linebacker, orally committed to the Jayhawks. It was believed by many throughout the recruiting process that Goeas and Koehler were a packaged deal. Both seemed headed to Tennessee before Dooley’s departure. Now, the possibility exists that the two will go their separate ways. But that's not for a lack of Goeas trying.

Shortly after committing to KU, Goeas talked about trying to get Koehler on board.

“I already started recruiting him after I made the call to (KU) coach (Charlie) Weis,” Goeas told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “I’m going to try and convince him to go with me.”

Many believe that the Razorbacks will be tough to beat for Koehler’s services, but the talented lineman has said all along that KU had done a wonderful job of recruiting him and that the Jayhawks were very legit contenders.

The bottom line at this point appears to be this: If Koehler makes a decision before Jan. 18, the Jayhawks would be in great shape. If he waits until after his Arkansas visit, the whole thing is wide open.

KU has just a couple of spots open — and only four weeks remaining — to fill the 2013 recruiting class. National signing day is set for Feb. 6.

Stay tuned...

Defensive tackle, Marquel Combs, the No. 1 junior college prospect in the nation according to ESPN, has signed his letter and is expected to fax it off after a signing day ceremony at Pierce C.C. later today. by Matt Tait

7:16 p.m. Update:

Four-star offensive lineman Josiah St. John, the No. 6 junior college player in the country according to ESPN, announced via Twitter just a few moments ago that he had picked Oklahoma over Kansas.

Here's the Tweet:

"I made my decision I'm deciding to take my talents to Oklahoma Univeristy #BoomerSooner"

The Jayhawks, no doubt, were hoping that St. John, 6-6, 305, of Trinity Valley C.C., would be the cherry on top of their already sweet Wednesday haul on the recruiting trail, but late interest from Oklahoma won out.

5:05 p.m. Update:

Here's a nice video/interview from today's Marquel Combs signing.

3:39 p.m. Update:

Dexter McDonald's story is pretty unique and probably is one many of you have heard by now.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound cornerback from Rockhurst High played at Kansas during the 2010 and 2011 seasons but left the program because of poor grades shortly after Charlie Weis was hired.

He was not gone long, as he spent the fall playing corner at Butler County C.C. and picking his grades back up. Now, with his grades in good shape and his body more prepared than ever for Div. I football, McDonald is ready for his return and said signing day 2012 was far different than what he experienced at signing day 2010.

“I would definitely say it was a different feeling," McDonald said shortly after officially rejoining the Jayhawks. "Today was just a weight lifted off of my back. Just because, once you leave from being at D-I and go to juco, it’s a very humbling experience and you never know if you’re gonna make it back there.”

Because of that, McDonald said he experienced a range of feelings during the moments surrounding his morning signing.

“It was emotional and happy," he said. "I realized I’m blessed because it could’ve gone a lot of different ways. Me still having KU and being able to play for some of the best coaches in the nation, I just feel so fortunate that it worked out the way it did. “I’m happy, my family’s happy and I’m ready to start school and start football.”

McDonald committed to KU back in October, so today was a day he was looking forward to for a while.

“I talk to the coaches as much as I can," he said. "They probably get tired of me calling.”

He said the KU program today is far different than the one he left and he's looking forward to getting back into it and playing for Weis and defensive coordinator Dave Campo.

“I want to give everything I have of myself to the Kansas football program," McDonald said. "I’m ready to come in and play right away and contribute right away, however I can, to get Kansas where we should be, which is on top.”

St. John Update

One other note, it looks like the word on Josiah St. John is that he will make his decision at 7 p.m. and will choose between KU and Oklahoma.

The Sooners don't have many offensive linemen committed in their current class, so it's possible that the opening wooed St. John enough to make him pick OU. However, if the Jayhawks win this battle, I think this class will make a serious jump in the rankings and would be considered by many as even more of a power class than it already is.

Stay tuned...

1:47 p.m. Update:

Just got calls back from three guys so bear with me as I try to sift through them for the next couple of updates.

Quickly, though, here's what KU's newest punter/kickoff specialist, Trevor Pardula, had to say about his big day:

"It felt great just to finally have it be official. I feel like the coaches are putting together a great group of guys. And just like so many of the other guys who have signed today I just can't wait to get to work."

Stay tuned for updates from Dexter McDonald and Mike Smithburg. Still hoping to get Chris Martin, too.

Oh, and just to show you a little more of how the process works (what we talked about in the original post this morning) only five of the 10 guys who have signed and faxed their letters in have been officially verified by KU as of this post.

That's not reason to panic -- not at all. It just shows you what all goes into this thing and how many eyes and hands have to get the letters before everything is sealed.

Like I said, no reason to panic. All 10 should be good to go in the next couple of hours.

Check back for more...

1:04 p.m. Update:

Looks like the Chris Martin letter is on its way, too. Jon Kirby at JayhawkSlant is reporting that the four-star defensive end has signed and faxed his letter to KU, capping off (we think) what has been a huge day for the Jayhawks.

All of these commitments certainly seemed like they would stick, but I've heard way too many stories from way too many coaches and former coaches about signing day horror stories to think it was 100 percent sure. Now that they've signed, KU fans can officially celebrate.

In all, KU picked up 10 players today, with two of them (Marquel Combs and Chris Martin) being four-star prospects and the others averaging out to be three-star guys.

I've still got plenty of calls out and am trying to track down the rest of the group so I'll be updating some more this afternoon. So be sure to check back often and remember to keep one eye on that Josiah St. John decision.

Complete List of Today's Signees:
• Cassius Sendish, CB
• Mike Smithburg, OL
• Ty McKinney, DT
• Dexter McDonald, DB
• Trevor Pardula, P
• Marquel Combs, DT
• Ngalu Fusimalohi, OL
• Zach Fondal, OL
• Tedarian Johnson, DL
• Chris Martin, DE

For a more complete look at all of these guys, as well as the rest of the class, which is expected to sign Feb. 6, visit our recruiting page here:

http://www2.kusports.com/news/football/recruiting/2013/

12:42 p.m. Update:

JayhawkSlant is reporting that OL Zach Fondal and DL Tedarian Johnson also have signed and sent their letters to KU. One other report that came a while ago said that OL Ngalu Fusimalohi also had signed but had not yet sent the letter. I'm sure the delay is not a cause for concern.

Still trying to get in touch with all of these guys, but wanted to make sure you knew that they were still signing.

Here's the updated list:

• Cassius Sendish, CB
• Mike Smithburg, OL
• Ty McKinney, DT
• Dexter McDonald, DB
• Trevor Pardula, P
• Marquel Combs, DT
• Ngalu Fusimalohi, OL
• Zach Fondal, OL
• Tedarian Johnson, DL

Of the guys expected to sign today, that just leaves defensive end Chris Martin left to make it official. One KU source told me that KU could get as many as 12 today. It's looking more like it will be 10, but that's just something to keep an eye on.

It's also still worth keeping an eye on the Josiah St. John decision, which may come today.

Stay tuned...

12:21 p.m. Update:

Combs just Tweeted the photo of his signing — already rocking the jersey...

Here's the photo of Marquel Combs, big No. 92, officially signing his letter of intent with the KU football program. by Matt Tait

12:02 p.m. Update:

Just spoke with Marquel Combs, who confirmed that he has signed and faxed his letter of intent to the KU football offices.

Today's been a big day for Combs, who not only made his commitment official but also got sized for his bowl ring. Asked where the day ranked in terms of the best moments of his life, Combs had this to say:

"Other than the day I was born, this was the biggest day of my life."

Combs said the feelings he experienced after slapping his signature on the piece of paper and sending out his letter were both emotional and excitement.

"I got to sign with a few of my teammates that I've been doing this with for a long time,' he said. "And I was just like, 'I made it.' It's a dream come true going to play Div. I football and I get the opportunity to do it."

Combs said he would Tweet out a photo from his signing a little later today and that he would spend the rest of his day hanging out with his teammates and packing up his things for his trip home before he comes out to Kansas in late January.

He said he had not talked to Josiah St. John today but that he had been in touch with him in the past and was hopeful KU would get him, too.

Here's the updated list of official commitments:

• Cassius Sendish, CB
• Mike Smithburg, OL
• Ty McKinney, DT
• Dexter McDonald, DB
• Trevor Pardula, P
• Marquel Combs, DT

Stay tuned...

11:46 a.m. Update:

A couple of guys slipped their signings in under the radar in the last hour or so, so here's a look at the update list of players who have signed and faxed their letters of intent to KU:

• Cassius Sendish, CB
• Mike Smithburg, OL
• Ty McKinney, DT
• Dexter McDonald, DB
• Trevor Pardula, P

Punter/Kickoff specialist Trevor Pardula has become one of the latest to sign his national letter of intent to join the Jayhawks. by Matt Tait

Combs is expected to send his letter at any time now and we're also tracking the signings of four other commitments along with the decision from Trinity Valley C.C. offensive lineman Josiah St. John, who said on Twitter this morning that he would announce today.

Stay tuned...

11:23 a.m. Update:

Here's a quick photo of OL Mike Smithburg flying the KU colors at today's signing.

Iowa Western offensive lineman Mike Smithburg made his commitment to KU official this morning. by Matt Tait

11:12 a.m. Update:

JayhawkSlant.com is reporting that punter/kickoff specialist Trevor Pardula has signed and sent his letter of intent, as well. Still trying to get confirmation, but I'd say that's pretty good info.

One other piece of news that just popped up comes from juco offensive lineman Josiah St. John, who Tweeted that he will be committing today. He did not say where yet.

Stay tuned...

10:31 a.m. Update:

Just trying something a little different this time around... Trying to get the reaction of all of these guys from the moment the pen stopped writing their signature. Just heard back from cornerback Cassius Sendish and here were his thoughts:

"It was a relief, just to know that all of my hard work to this point has paid off and it is truly a blessing. I am excited to be a part of the Lawrence community and to now, officially, be a Kansas Jayhawk."

Arizona Western cornerback Cassius Sendish became one of the newest Jayhawks after officially signing his letter of intent today. by Matt Tait

Sendish is a big-time talent who has a shot to play immediately. He's a physical corner who can play in space and in press coverage and uses his frame — 6-2, 185 — to make plays. I think you guys are gonna like this dude a lot.

More to come. Stay tuned...

Original Post:

It’s national signinng day Part I for the Kansas University football team, which is expected to receive up to 12 national letters of intent from midyear junior college transfers throughout the day today.

We’ll do our best to track the signings as they come in just as we do every February with national signing day.

With so many of these guys sitting on the West Coast, the process may be a little delayed, but I can confirm that cornerback Cassius Sendish, offensive lineman Mike Smithburg and defensive tackle Ty McKinney have signed their letters of intent and sent them on to KU.

Because of NCAA rules, KU will not be able to release any information until it has all been verified. Here’s a quick look at how the process works:

First, the letter is faxed from the player to the football offices. From there, football officials send the letter to the financial aid department in student services to be recorded. From there, the letter is sent to compliance, where it must be verified. Verification includes everything from a proper time stamp to a proper parent signature and many things in between.

After that, assuming the verification process goes off without a hitch, football receives the green light to release the news.

Fortunately for those of us in the media, we don’t have to wait for all of that mess. We can simply confirm that the letter has been signed and sent by talking to the players themselves.

So while we wait for more to join Sendish, McKinney and Smithburg, here’s a quick look at the bios of those players expected to officially become Jayhawks today:

Stay tuned throughout the day for updates.

• Marquel Combs: 6-5, 305-pound defensive tackle from Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, Calif. This four-star impact player had 50 offers and chose Kansas over Kansas State late Tuesday night.

• Zach Fondal: 6-5, 295-pound offensive tackle from Navarro Junior College in California. Canceled trips to Arkansas and Texas Tech and committed to KU.

• Ngalu Fusimalohi: 6-3, 300-pound offensive guard from City College of San Francisco. Known as a mauler, Fusimalohi’s offer list closely resembled Faifili’s.

• Tedarian Johnson: 6-3, 285-pound defensive tackle and juco teammate of Bolton. Chose Kansas over offers from Iowa State, Memphis, Mississippi State and Texas Tech.

• Chris Martin: 6-5, 260-pound defensive end. Originally committed to Notre Dame out of high school, played a season at Florida in 2011 and joins KU from a one-year stint at City College of San Francisco. Chose KU over offers from Houston, Nebraska and Washington State.

• Dexter McDonald: 6-2, 203-pound cornerback and former KU player who recommitted to the Jayhawks this fall after spending the year at Butler County C.C.

• Ty McKinney: 6-4, 310-pound defensive tackle from Trinity Valley C.C. who committed to KU last February, was expected to arrive in time for the 2012 season but ran into academic snags and was forced to stay away.

• Trevor Pardula: 6-5, 210-pound punter and kickoff specialist who picked the Jayhawks over hometown San Jose State.

• Cassius Sendish: 6-2, 185-pound cornerback from Arizona Western C.C. A natural leader and hard hitter who chose KU over Big 12 schools Iowa State and K-State, among others.

• Mike Smithburg: 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman from Iowa Western C.C. who chose KU over Illinois. Versatile lineman who can play both guard and center teamed with fellow-KU commitment Isaiah Johnson (a DB who will sign in February) to win a juco national championship this season.

Here's the photo of Marquel Combs, big No. 92, officially signing his letter of intent with the KU football program. by Matt Tait

By now, I’m sure at least a few of you have checked the connection on your computers and stared down Twitter to make sure you didn’t miss another Kansas University football commitment.

You didn’t. It just may feel that way.

Beginning with an oral commitment from kicker Trevor Pardula on Sunday, Dec. 9, and ending with huge news of a pledge from four-star defensive end Chris Martin at tipoff of the KU men’s basketball game on Dec. 15, the KU program enjoyed one of the wildest and most successful recruiting weeks in recent memory.

In all, 10 players made oral commitments to the Jayhawks in the seven-day span, with nine of them coming from the junior college ranks and two coming from four-star prospects. Not counting the kicker, the haul included five defensive prospects and four offensive talents.

It’s early still, and it’s certainly a stretch to suggest that all of these junior college prospects (16 of 23 currently committed) will pan out, but it seems fair to say that anywhere from 5-10 members of the current class could become starters as soon as next season, with serious voids and inexperience in place at all four secondary spots and along the offensive and defensive lines.

If that’s true, then this haul, as is, would have to be deemed a success.

So who’s left for KU to target? Well, with 23 spots already spoken for and a maximum of four spots available — 24 and 3 if defensive tackle Ty McKinney is included as expected — the group is small and appears to have a very select list of names.

Here’s a quick look at a few of them:

• Devonte Danzey, 6-3, 285, OL, Hutchinson C.C.
Danzey, who seems to have narrowed his list down to Kansas, West Virginia, Auburn and Baylor is expected to pick a school by Christmas. Auburn has turned up the heat in the past couple of weeks and the Tampa native’s recent visit to Auburn blew him away.

• Matt Finnin, 6-8, 330, OL, College of DuPage.
Finnin is a monster of a man who has drawn serious interest from some big-time programs in recent weeks including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Marshall and Maryland. Finnin started his career at Western Michigan and since has been to three other schools while helping his father through a health issue. KU may be in good shape here, but after initially saying he would decide Friday, Finnin now appears to be headed toward waiting until January, when he'll take a couple of more visits and make a decision then.

• Hunter Jarmon, 6-0, 190, WR, Midway High (Waco, Texas).
The Jayhawks aren’t the clear-cut leader for Jarmon or anything like that, but he’s a name worth mentioning, particularly because of KU’s need at his position. He’s a two-sport star who also is interested in playing college baseball and has taken official visits to KU, Minnesota and Oregon State, which may be his leader. Texas Tech and Washington State also may be in the mix.

• Reeve Koehler, 6-3, 280, OL, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Koehler is another four-star prospect who would add serious clout to an already solid recruiting class. The high school standout who is ranked as the eighth best guard in the nation has an offer list that includes Arkansas, Arizona State, Cal, Georgia and Tennessee.

• Josiah St. John, 6-6, 305, OL, Trinity Valley C.C.
St. John is another big-time target who has offers from 13 BCS-conference schools, including five Big 12 programs. St. John, a three-star tackle who visited KU Dec. 7, is one of the most highly recruited juco linemen in the country.

Stay tuned... And try not to panic if too many days pass between commitments. Last week certainly was rare.

While you wait, here's a quick look at the ESPN Juco 100 list, which was released today and features KU commitment Marquel Combs in the No. 1 slot.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/8743658/espn-junior-college-100