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I would love to say thanks to everyone who supported me ! But i know where i should be and its in Kansas Wearing blue and red #rockchalk !!
— Marquel Combs (@TheReal_92) December 12, 2012
The Jayhawks have won a big recruiting battle against their in state rival the Kansas State Wildcats. Marquel Combs becomes the latest in a recent string of commitments from the junior college level and Combs provides another potentially huge piece to the puzzle.
Combs is a powerful and quick 6'3" 300 pound defensive lineman out of Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills California. Combs initially committed to Mississippi early on during the recruiting process before reopening his recruitment to the tune of nearly 40 offers from every BCS league in the country.
Combs is a four star defensive tackle with offers from Michigan State, Kansas State, Baylor, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and more. After a series of visits the final two were Kansas and Kansas State and Charlie Weis and the Jayhawks have been attracting a great deal of junior college talent in recent weeks. Perhaps it was that talent and the so called "dream team" movement that put this one over the edge, but ultimately Kansas lands a highly coveted defensive tackle and lands that player in a head to head battle against a rival.
Combs was originally expected to be a December grad and sign this week. There are rumors that his graduation could get pushed back until Spring so we'll have to see. Either way, for now Combs represents the third big junior college addition in as many days and the third junior college defensive lineman in this class. Add those pieces to Kevin Young, Keba Agostinho, Jordan Tavai, Keon Stowers and the expected arrival of Ty McKinney and the Kansas defensive line competition and rotation is looking as good as it has in years. Dave Campo should have a nice front four group to work with in his second year at Kansas.
Update: For what it's worth, here's Kevin Short's response via twitter. It would certainly seem to indicate that he'll be joining his friend in the very near future.
ShoutOut to my dawg @thereal_92 for committing I'm right behind bra ain't gone leave you out to dry !!!!!!!
— Kevin (@SaluteShort7) December 12, 2012