Jayhawks Ink Eight on First Day of Mid-Year Signing Period

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Just two weeks after taking over as Kansas football head coach, David Beaty announced Wednesday that eight student-athletes signed letters of intent Wednesday on the first day of the mid-year signing period.

The early signing class boasts three offensive linemen, three defensive backs a defensive lineman and a running back, with six hailing from The Lone Star State. The group also consists of two sophomores and six juniors.

“We are really pleased with all of the guys we’re able to have join our program today,” Beaty said. “I said when I came here that we want to build our program on high school players and that is certainly the long term vision. With these eight players signed today, we have addressed some of our immediate needs. Having the opportunity to get these guys on campus in January is crucial for our team moving forward.”

All eight signees are expected to report in January and enroll in classes full-time, while preparing for the spring football schedule. The octet is the first of a 2015 signing class that will be solidified in early February.

“Four of these guys were qualifiers out of high school who chose to go to the junior college route in order to better develop their skills,” Beaty said. “We are excited about how they have progressed during their time at junior college and believe we can continue to develop them into players who can move our program in the right direction.”

The first part of the 2015 signing class includes:

SIGNEE POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
D’Andre Banks OL 6-3 320 Jr. Killeen, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)
Bazie Bates IV DB 6-1 190 Jr. Allen, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)
Jacky Dezir DL 6-1 300 So. Chicago, Ill. (College of DuPage)
Ke’aun Kinner RB 5-9 185 Jr. Little Elm, Texas (Nacarro JC)
Michael Mathis DB 6-2 210 Jr. Crosby, Texas (Kilgore JC)
Jayson Rhodes OL 6-4 285 So. Deer Park, Texas (Blinn College)
Will Smith OL 6-3 315 Jr. Shawnee, Kan. (Butler CC)
Brandon Stewart DB 6-0 175 Jr. Cedar Hill, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)

 

D’ANDRE BANKS

OL, 6-3, 320, Jr., Killeen, Texas

Trinity Valley Community College (2012-14): Played two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College for head coach Brad Smiley… A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com… Saw action as an offensive guard on the 2014 team that went undefeated (12-0) in 2014… Helped lead the Cardinals to the SWJCFC championship, the Region XIV championship and the Heart of Texas Bowl title in both 2013 and 2014…Spent the 2012 season as a redshirt.

High School: Competed in both football and track and field at Harker Heights HS in Killeen, Texas.

Personal: Son of Andrew and Joan Banks… Father, played football at Purdue… Has a sister, Brittany, and a brother, Marcus… Undecided on a major.

Head coach David Beaty on Banks: “Very versatile offensive lineman who can play all five positions. He has a terrific work ethic and a maturity that should allow him to be able to come in and help us quickly.”

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BAZIE BATES IV

DB, 6-1, 190, Jr., Allen, Texas

Trinity Valley Community College (2013-14): Spent two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College suiting up for head coach Brad Smiley… A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and Scout.com… Played as a cornerback on the 2014 team that was a perfect 12-0 in 2014… Helped lead the Cardinals to the SWJCFC championship, the Region XIV championship and the Heart of Texas Bowl title in 2014… Recorded 26 total tackles, including 16 solo stops, as a sophomore in 2014… Led TVCC with four interceptions… Also had four pass breakups… Spent the 2013 season as a redshirt… Collected 11 tackles and one pass breakup for TVCC as a freshman in 2012.

High School: Earned four letters playing football under head coach Tom Westerberg at Allen HS… Named first team all-district in both 2010 and 2011… Helped lead Allen HS to an 11-1 mark and the second round of the playoffs as a senior in 2011… Credited with 43 tackles, 4.0 TFLs and one interception in 2011… As a junior helped guide AHS to a 10-2 mark and the second round of the playoffs.

Personal: Son of Karen and Bazie Bates III… Has one sister, Danielle… Undecided on a major… Bazie is pronounced Bazz-(like Jazz)-ee.

Head coach David Beaty on Bates IV: “Bazie possesses great size and length which was a need for us at the safety position. He is very aggressive in run fits and has terrific ball skills. He has a high degree of football intelligence and has great instincts on the field.”

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JACKY DEZIR

DL, 6-1, 300, So., Chicago, Ill.

College of DuPage (2013-14): Spent two seasons at the College of DuPage playing for head coach Matt Foster… Sat out the 2014 season as a redshirt… Played in 10 games for the Chaparrals, helping them earn a 7-4 record in 2013… Recorded two sacks in the 2013 Carrier Dome Bowl against ASA College… Recorded 24 total tackles during the 2013 season, including 13 solo tackles… Also credited with 3.0 TFLs.

High School: Attended Bowen High School in Chicago, Ill.… Recorded 40 solo tackles, including 2.0 TFLs, in eight games… Played under head coach Robert Cook.

Personal: Son of Venaise and Marc Dezir… Plans to major in computer sciences… Has four brothers: Clyde, Walter, Carl, Rodney… Has two sisters: Marcuse and Nancine… Jacky is pronounced Jack-ee… Dezir is pronounced Dez-ear.

Head coach David Beaty on Dezir: “Jacky is a high intensity player with a great motor. He plays with good gap control and leverage as a defensive lineman. He is a great citizen who we are happy to have join our program.”

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KE’AUN KINNER

RB, 5-9, 185, Jr., Little Elm, Texas

Navarro Junior College (2013-14): Suited up for two seasons at Navarro Junior College under head coach Brian Mayper… Earned a three-star ranking from Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and Scout.com… Finished his two-year career at NJC ranked third all-time in rushing yardage (1,918 yards) and ninth all-time in carries (277)… Ranked second in single-season carries and topped the single-season per game rushing average list in NJC history… Rushed for 1,696 yards and 22 touchdowns on 253 carries in 2014… Also caught 17 passes for 109 yards through the air… Earned First Team National Junior College Athletic Assocation (NJCAA) All-American honors in 2014… In his two-year career at Navarro he recorded 26 rushing touchdowns… Named the Southwest Junior College Football Conference’s Most Valuable Player in 2014.

High School: Attended Little Elm High School where in 2012 he rushed for 946 yards on 119 carries in just four games… Tied for fifth-most all-time in Texas high school history in single-game carries when he rushed for 332 yards on 55 carries, while also scoring four touchdowns in that game during the 2012 season… Named the Associated Press 4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, while also picking up Class 4A all-state honors.

Personal: Son of Tanneka Neal… Also raised by his uncle, Estebanon Barnes… Has two sisters, Jayeida Kinner and Lyric Glenn, and a brother, Xaiyre Glenn… Plans to major in criminal justice…. Ke’aun is pronounced Key-on.

Head coach David Beaty on Kinner: “Ke’aun is a highly productive running back out of Navarro Junior College. He has great speed and explosiveness. He finishes runs in the end zone and is blessed with great vision. He has been extremely productive on the field.”

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MICHAEL MATHIS

DB, 6-2, 210, Jr., Crosby, Texas

Kilgore Junior College (2012-14): Played two seasons of football at Kilgore Junior College under head coach J.J. Eckert… Rated a three-star prospect from Rivals.com and 247Sports.com… Redshirted the 2014 season… Recorded 37 tackles and two interceptions playing as a freshman for the Rangers in 2012… Tallied 43 tackles, four interceptions with one resulting in a touchdown and a forced fumble in 2013.

High School: Earned one letter in football at Crosby HS, playing for head coach Kevin Flanigan… Did not go out for football until his senior year… Finished with eight interceptions on the season, including three interceptions in a game against Bay City HS… Earned second-team all-district honors in football during his lone season of playing in 2011… A three-year member of the varsity basketball team… Earned all-conference honorable mention honors for basketball in 2009, second-team all-district in 2010 and first-team all-district and all-district MVP runner-up in 2011.

Personal: Son of Michael and LaDonna Mathis… Has three older brothers: Johnathan Mathis, Omar Montgomery and Rapheal Montgomery, and three older sisters: Maria Montgomery, Keisha Mathis-Montgomery and Twanna Mathis… Undecided on a major.

Head coach David Beaty on Mathis: “Michael has terrific size and also possesses great burst and acceleration. He is one of the more physical tacklers we have seen at the cornerback position.”

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JAYSON RHODES

OL, 6-4, 285, So., Deer Park, Texas

Blinn College (2014): Played one season at Blinn College under head coach Keith Thomas… Helped lead the Buccaneers to a 4-4 mark in 2014… Earned second team all-conference honors in 2014… Started the season on the defensive side of the ball, before moving to the offensive line… Sat out the 2013 season as a redshirt.

High School: Played for Chris Massey at Deer Park HS… Named first team all-district in 2012… Helped lead Deer Park to district titles in 2011 and 2012… Also helped guide DPHS to the first round of playoffs in 2011 and the third round in 2012… Earned letters in basketball and track.

Personal: Son of Teel Gibbs… Has one brother, T.J. and one sister, Myra … Future plans include owning his own business and coaching… Undecided on a major.

Head coach David Beaty on Rhodes: “Jayson is another versatile guy who can play all of the interior spots on the offensive line, but is also quick enough to line up at tackle and help us there.”

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WILL SMITH

OL, 6-3, 315, Jr., Shawnee, Kan.

Butler Community College (2013-14): Played two seasons on the offensive line for the nationally-ranked Grizzlies… Coached by Troy Morrell at BCC… Earned a three-star rating from Rivals.com and 247Sports.com… Saw action in 11 games for the Grizzlies, helping them earn an 8-3 overall record in 2014… Picked up all-conference and all-region honors in 2014… Helped lead the Grizzlies to the 2013 conference and region titles.

High School: Played for head coach Aaron Barnett at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School… Earned two letters in football at SMNWHS… Earned Sunflower League All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2010 as a defensive lineman.

Personal: Son of Chris and Carrie Harrison… Has a sister, Samantha, and two brothers, Charlie and Edward… Plans to major in business.

Head coach David Beaty on Smith: “Will is a big, strong interior lineman. He demonstrates great movement at the point of attack. He has great hands and feet and is a local product who we are thrilled to have joining our program.”

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BRANDON STEWART

DB, 6-0, 170, Jr., Cedar Hill, Texas

Trinity Valley Community College (2012-14): Spent two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College suiting up for head coach Brad Smiley… Played as a cornerback on the 2014 team that was a perfect 12-0 in 2014… Helped lead the Cardinals to the SWJCFC championship, the Region XIV championship and the Heart of Texas Bowl title in 2014… Recorded 52 total tackles, including 39 solo stops, as a sophomore in 2014… Led TVCC with 19 pass breakups… Also had three interceptions and one forced fumble… Spent the 2013 season as a redshirt… Collected 19 tackles, including 16 solo hits, and six pass breakups for TVCC as a freshman in 2012.

High School: Earned one letter playing football under head coach Joey McGuire at Cedar Hill HS… Named first team all-district in 2011… Also picked up second team all-state honors as a senior at CHHS… Moved to Cedar Hill for his senior year of high school after playing first three years at Buena HS in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Personal: Son of Erica and Kevin Stewart… Has one brother, Kevin… Plans to major in kinesiology.

Head coach David Beaty on Stewart: “Brandon is a very explosive, ball-hawking cornerback. He has outstanding cover skills and has shown a tremendous ability to support the edge in the run game.”

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