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Charlie Weis and the Kansas Jayhawks have a big weekend in store with a host of potential 2013 signees heading to campus for one of the final two weekend opportunities before the winter break kicks in. Kansas is looking to make improvments in a hurry this year and they have 25-28 scholarships at their disposal to use in adding players that can do that. Kansas will try to balance out players from the junior college level and players from the high school level, but it doesn't take long to see that upgrading the talent with players that can contribute early is the goal.
According to JayhawkSlant the list at this time consists of a solid mix of different positions and a few current Kansas commits.
Currently Committed to Kansas
Ben Johnson TE
Jordan Darling QB
Montell Cozart QB
Colin Spencer DB
Offensive Lineman
| Matt Finnin | OL |
|
5.5 | 6-8/330 |
| Damien Parris | OL |
|
5.5 | 6-7/295 |
| Mike Smithburg | OL | - | 6-3/300 |
| Josiah St.John | OL |
|
5.8 | 6-6/305 |
St. John or Finnin would both provide a tremendous addition. Both are junior college prospects with great size very impressive offer lists. Finnin was recently offered by Oklahoma and S. John has plenty of BCS level offers.
Parris is another tackle option from the west coast while Smithburg is a potential guard from the junior college level. Parris and Smithburg have a host of offers but both lists consist primarily of non-BCS schools.
All four would step in and provide depth at a position with question marks, but Finnin or St. John would generate the most excitement as potential impact transfer additions.
Defensive Line
| Trevor Harris | DE |
|
5.4 | 6-5/235 |
| Desmond Hollin | DE |
|
5.5 | 6-4/265 |
| Lyndon Tulimasealii | DE |
|
5.5 | 6-4/270 |
Three ends, three junior college end, a mix of strongside and weakside. Harris and Hollin are from the same team and Hollin has an offer from Florida State. Tulimasealii has a pair of Big 12 offers and a few Pac 12 offers. Next weekend Kansas is supposed to host a rush end in Chris Martin that might trump all three. Martin started his career at Florida and is familiar with some of the Kansas staff from that time. Throw some added depth up front, along with Marquel Combs and another two or three defensive backfield options and the defense could make some huge strides when these players are integrated with the pieces in place and Dave Campo.
Wideout
| Ishmael Hyman | WR |
|
5.5 | 6-0/169 |
High school wideout prospect, decent set of MAC, Big 10, ACC offers. Kansas needs options here just like they do at o-line, DB, etc. Plenty of opportunity for a good wideout if Heaps is what we think he is.
Kicker
| Trevor Pardula | K | - | 6-5/210 |
6'5" 210 pound JUCO kicker...rejoice!! If kicking doesn't work out maybe he can add weight and play end.
Defensive Back
| Isaiah Johnson | DB |
|
5.5 | 6-1/210 |
| Kevin Short | DB | - | 6-2/185 |
Kansas appears to be in great shape with Johnson who bolsters he safety position. Kevin Short would be a solid addition with good size at corner, especially if you can combine him with McDonald, an improved Shepherd or possibly Cassius Sendish who is still out there. Kansas has options and they appear to be sitting well with most of them. This is an area that has been circiled as a critical one by the fanbase and it appears the staff agrees.
Add it up and it's a pretty clear picture. Kansas wants to add players on the defensive side of the ball that can immediately change the look of this team. Integrate depth and competition at defensive line, linebacker and in the defensive backfield and see what pieces fall where. If things go the way the staff would like, this could be a drastically improved defense in 2013. Wouldn't that be a relief.