Kansas football recruiting

The Kansas football team didn’t have to look far to find its first wide receiver commitment of the 2026 recruiting class. Nate Sims, who is from Ottawa, announced that he will play college football for the Jayhawks.

Sims made his commitment at the Homefield sports complex in Olathe on Wednesday night.

“You know, I grew up around Kansas, just living 25 minutes away,” Sims told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “It has always just been in my blood. I mean, my family and friends have always supported Kansas. I went to their games growing up, had KU clothing and went to a basketball camp when I was younger.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound receiver, a three-star on Rivals and 247Sports, picked KU over Kansas State and Oklahoma State (after the Cowboys and former Lawrence High coach Clint Bowen issued him an 11th-hour offer on Monday).

“It’s a big relief to know that I finally accomplished my dreams and that I’m going to be playing college ball here,” Sims told Kirby. “During the recruiting process, I felt like I was underappreciated a lot, and underrated. KU gave me an opportunity and I didn’t get many opportunities.”

Sims recently visited KU for its weekend Junior Day event; he was also in Kansas City, Missouri, for the Jayhawks’ game against Colorado at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 23.

According to a post on Sims’ social media, during the 2024 season with Ottawa he caught 27 passes for 609 yards and seven touchdowns, while also scoring four additional touchdowns on the ground and two in the return game. He now becomes KU’s fifth overall commitment in the 2026 class, four of which — Sims, safety JJ Dunnigan, defensive end Hunter Higgins and quarterback Jaylen Mason — hail from the Sunflower State.

The Jayhawks aren’t done with in-state recruiting at this early stage of the cycle, either. Higgins recently posted a picture at KU with Dunnigan, Sims, Lawrence linebacker Josh Galbreath, Shawnee Heights wideout Tyren Parker (of Tecumseh), Great Bend tight end Ian Premer and Salina Central offensive lineman Kaden Snyder.

Sims will follow in the footsteps of a large class of 2025 wide receivers that includes Jackson Cook, Bryson Hayes, Tate Nagy and Jaden Nickens. Hayes and Nagy are also in-state recruits.