KU football lands commitment from 3-star safety Omar Burroughs

photo by: Journal-World illustration

University of Kansas football recruiting

The Kansas football program picked up a commitment from 3-star safety Omar Burroughs on Friday afternoon.

Burroughs, of Savannah, Ga., is headed to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., to finish his high school career.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back announced his commitment on Twitter at 1 p.m. and told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that he had made up his mind “a while back” and told the KU coaches of his decision a couple of weeks ago.

KU first offered Burroughs a scholarship on March 11. The KU coaching staff, led by first-year safeties coach Jordan Peterson and head coach Les Miles, made him a priority from there.

“I have been talking to them every day since they offered,” Burroughs told Simmons on Friday. “I have gotten the virtual tour, I have spent time with the coaches and I really like the people there.”

Burroughs told Simmons that he appreciated KU’s approach and how the coaches were upfront with him throughout the process. He also likes KU’s plans for him.

“(Peterson) thinks I can play all over the secondary,” Burroughs told Simmons. “We have talked about me playing in the middle of the field at safety, the field side at corner and the boundary corner position. He likes my versatility and I cannot wait to play for coach Peterson.”

Known as a ball-hawking defensive back with good read-and-react ability, Burroughs is currently ranked as the 57th-best safety in the nation by Rivals. He was previously ranked as high as No. 25 last December.

Burroughs said it was always his plan to commit before his senior season. He picked KU over Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, Georgia State and Coastal Carolina.

He becomes the first defensive back to commit to KU in the 2021 class and KU’s 12th overall commitment in the class.

Three other defensive players in the class of 2021 have committed to Kansas: three-star linebacker Trey Staley, of Snellville, Ga.; Little Rock, Ark., defensive end Deldrick Withers; and three-star linebacker Andrew Simpson, from St. John Bosco High in California.

On offense, KU’s 2021 class includes Lawrence High running back Devin Neal; Brownsburg (Ind.) High quarterback Ben Easters; Mena, Ark., tight end Mason Brotherton; and Jaddai Henry, Majik Rector and Kelan Robinson, who are all wide receivers from Texas.