photo by: Journal-World illustration

University of Kansas football recruiting

A pair of veteran transfers announced their plans to join the Kansas football program for the 2023 season on Sunday night.

Offensive lineman Spencer Lovell, who played in 29 games at both Arizona State and started three games at Cal last season, and linebacker JB Brown, of Bowling Green, both said picking KU as their next stops was easy.

Credit for that goes to the KU coaching staff, the current players and the family vibe that has become a big part of the Kansas football culture in the past couple of seasons.

“I just felt like they all were very welcoming,” Brown told JayhawkSlant.com’s Jon Kirby of his visit, which included host Cole Mondi and time with safety Kenny Logan Jr. and the KU coaches. “It felt like home, for real. I could just trust them.”

A junior at Bowling Green in 2022, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Brown recorded 53 total tackles, 4.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks while playing in all 13 games. In 2021, as a sophomore, he played in 11 games and finished with 21 tackles.

According to JayhawkSlant, Brown, who originally hails from Springdale, Arkansas, also talked with coaches from Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas State and North Texas before committing to Kansas.

KU linebackers coach Chris Simpson played a huge role in Brown’s recruitment, and the newest Kansas linebacker shared what Simpson saw in him throughout the process.

“He told me that I run pretty well and he likes my speed,” Brown told JayhawkSlant. “He likes how I always get home when it’s a blitz, and overall, he just really liked the way I play and how I can be physical.”

Lovell, who has played both tackle and guard but projects as a guard at KU, was injured early in the 2022 season and is still recovering from the lower-body ailment that knocked him out for most of the season. He told JayhawkSlant.com that getting stronger and back in shape along with finding the right fit as a program were key parts of this round of his recruitment.

“You could tell that everything was very consistent when I got there,” Lovell said of Lance Leipold’s program. “The trainers, the football coaches and the strength staff, they all work very closely together. They’re one team and they’re very consistent. That was a big part for me, and it was a no-brainer.”

Lovell, who hails from Fort Collins, Colorado, actually considered Kansas last year when he entered the transfer portal after four seasons at Arizona State. It was that connection with KU O-Line coach Scott Fuchs that helped make this round quick and easy.

“It’s my third stop, so I really knew what I wanted in a program,” Lovell told Kirby. “Just somewhere that has a good O-line coach, really good offensive coordinator and the strength program’s huge.”

“Last time I was in the portal, actually I got to sit down, and we had a few Zoom chats,” Lovell added of talking to Fuchs. “I got to talk to him about technique and scheme and whatnot. The technique was good and pretty up to date for all the stuff I’m used to, and I really thought he had some good stuff.”

Both players visited KU last week and both committed to KU shortly after their visits concluded.

They’re the latest pick-ups in a transfer class that features defensive ends Austin Booker and Gage Keys, of Minnesota, and Devin Phillips, of Colorado State, as well Texas State kicker Seth Keller and Nebraska kicker Charlie Weinrich and Wisconsin offensive lineman Logan Brown.

Spencer Lovell

JB Brown