Recruiting Chatter: Dan Tapko

With this weeks Kansas football spring game, recruiting once again takes a step forward for what is really the second major on campus day since the original junior days this past winter. The Jayhawks will play host to a good number of prospects and recruits on Saturday as the summer recruiting season full of camps, visits and commitments gets ready to kick into high gear.

For Kansas and Coach Turner Gill one area that has been a focus early on is the local Kansas City teams.  Darrian Miller, Bernard Thomas, Phil Ford are a few names that we've spoken to here at RCT.  One of the other big names that's been on the Kansas radar as well as the RCT radar is Dan Tapko. 

Tapko comes from a regular Kansas City football powerhouse at Rockhurst where he was teammates with incoming Kansas recruit Dexter McDonald.  Tapko has been keeping his recruitment relatively low key to date but last night he gave us a few minutes of his time for a quick Q&A on recruiting, Turner Gill and where Kansas stands...an answer that might just surprise a few.

 

Denver

Dan thanks for giving us a few minutes tonight, to start off why don't you give us an update on the status of your recruitment? Who's involved, who's leading and what is your plan in terms of visits and any sort of commitment?

Dan

The schools most heavily involved are Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri

I don't really have a clear number one or anything but that's pretty much the top 5.

As for commitment I plan on making a decision before the football season.  Probably in July or August so i can take some pressure off myself and work toward winning another state championship for Rockhurst.

Denver

Have you taken any visits to date and any planned at this point?

Dan

I've taken visits to Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas and I plan to take more to those schools.  I'll also make it up to Notre dame and Wisconsin.

Denver

Kansas spring game?

Dan

Actually I was thinking about it but I'm not sure quite yet.  Probably though.

Denver

In terms of Kansas who's heading up your recruitment and what stands out to you about the opportunity to be a Jayhawk?

Dan

Coach Mitchell is recruiting me and the biggest thing I see in Kansas is a program on the rise and a head coach, who after meeting I can say I am confident he will succeed because he's doing everything the right way up there.

Denver

So it's safe to say you are a fan of Coach Gill?

Dan

Definitely he's got a certain vibe about him that makes you feel like he can take you places. He commands effort but in return he expects to have fun with it too.

Denver

So you are obviously regarded as one of the top prospects in the KC area. Would it mean more to you to help contribute to a local team in Missouri or Kansas or does the big name program in Oklahoma or Notre Dame have more draw at the moment?

Dan

It's something I've obviously thought a lot about and I cant say I've made a clear decision on it. T

here are appealing parts to both like being close to home and having a home audience that i know pretty well. Then there's the certainty that Oklahoma and Notre Dame are going to be playing in the games that people see all around the country.

It's something as I visit more it will sort itself out.

Denver

Fair enough. Now have you had any of your teammates or other local Jayhawks talking to you about Kansas?

Dan

Dexter McDonald tells me a lot about it. Sal Capra showed me around when I visited and he was a Rockhurst guy who played with my oldest brother Sam.

Denver

Last question. What is a program getting as a player and a person if they are able to get Dan Tapko to join the team?

Dan

I'm going to put all my effort into helping the team win. Some guys come in and look straight past college to the NFL, the money and glory that comes with it.  To me College Football is a great American pastime and I think it deserves a great amount of respect.

As for on the field they're going to get a big athlete with great hands and who is capable of devestating blocking to capture the edge.

Denver

Tight end all the way for you?

Dan

Yes

Denver

Good deal, well thanks again for your.  Keep us posted if you make it up to Lawrence on Saturday.

Dan

alright sounds great, talk to you later.