Kansas football recruiting

The Kansas football team has added its second commitment in the class of 2027, securing a promising prospect within its home region.

Wide receiver Deng Tong, from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, announced his commitment to the Jayhawks on Thursday afternoon.

“After a lot of thought and visits, I’m proud to announce I’m committing to the University of Kansas!” Tong wrote in a post on X. “Thankful for everyone who’s supported me on this journey.”

Tong is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound wideout who received his first offer from KU back in June. A three-star prospect as assessed by Rivals, his recruitment heated up in February, including with a second power-conference offer from the new staff at Iowa State, but he ended up opting for the Jayhawks as his collegiate destination. He had visited KU for a junior day event on Saturday.

“KU felt like the best place for me,” he told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “The relationship with the coaching staff, the opportunity they’re giving me, and the way they believe in my potential really stood out.”

During his junior season with the Northmen, Tong recorded 37 catches for 691 yards, 23 carries for 354 yards and 10 total touchdowns, according to his X account. His profile touts a 4.31-second time in the 40-yard dash, and indeed speed is one of Tong’s most appealing traits. On3 analyst Allen Trieu wrote that Tong “has gamebreaking speed but needs to continue to add more to his tool belt.”

“Most effective on short crossing and drag routes at the high school level,” Trieu wrote in part in his report on Tong on Tuesday. “Not afraid of traffic and will cross the middle. Outruns defenders on those routes and then after the catch. Gets a lot of YAC in high school. Also very effective on jet sweeps. Shows fluidity and ability to stop-start as a route-runner.”

Tong joins lineman three-star offensive Derek Gonzalez, of La Puente, California, in the Jayhawks’ 2027 class. KU has three senior wideouts on its 2026 roster in transfers Nahzae Cox and Nik McMillan and returning standout Cam Pickett, so the staff may not be done at this position for 2027.