Kansas Head Football Coach Charlie Weis and his staff hit the ground running upon being hired in mid-December, collecting a total of 20 signatures for its 2012 football class released Wednesday.
KU received signatures from 17 players on Wednesday, in addition to the three players who were previously announced as mid-year transfers in Dayne Crist, Jake Heaps and Justin McCay. In all, the Jayhawks inked 11 offensive players and nine defensive players.
Weis and his staff put together one of the top quarterback classes of all-time with Crist and Heaps both rated as five-star players by Rivals.com and Scout.com as high school seniors and City College of San Francisco signal caller Taylor Baty joining the mix on Wednesday as a three-star prospect by both websites.
KU signed junior college All-Americans in running back Taylor Cox and defensive lineman Jordan Tavai. Tavai was one of four defensive linemen to join the Jayhawks on Wednesday as Keon Stowers and Ty McKinney arrive in Lawrence by way of junior college and Tyler Holmes comes to KU straight from high school.
Six players from the state of Texas are going to become Jayhawks, including Dallas-Ft. Worth area natives Courtney Arnick, Holmes and McKinney; Houston area natives Greg Allen and Ty’ree Williams and Waco area native Jordan Smith.
Kansas signed three players from the California in Los Angeles area players Crist and Tavai and San Francisco area native Baty.
KU’s Sunflower state signees include Brian Beckman (Blue Valley West) and Tre Parmalee (Bishop Miege), both of Overland Park.
2012 Kansas Football Signees
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp. Hometown (Previous School)
Dayne Crist* QB 6-4 235 Sr. TR Canoga Park, Calif. (Notre Dame)
Jake Heaps* QB 6-1 200 Jr. TR Issaquah, Wash. (BYU)
Justin McCay* WR 6-3 220 So. TR Kansas City, Mo. (Oklahoma)
* Already on campus this spring
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp. Hometown (Previous School)
Greg Allen DB 5-11 190 Fr. HS Houston, Texas (Alief Taylor HS)
Courtney Arnick LB 6-2 205 Fr. HS Dallas, Texas (Carter HS)
Turner Baty QB 6-2 220 So. JC Redwood City, Calif. (City College of San Francisco)
Brian Beckman OL 6-6 315 Fr. HS Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS)
Charles Brooks TE 6-6 240 Jr. JC St. Louis, Mo. (Scottsdale CC)
Sean Connolly OL 6-7 290 Fr. HS Kirtland Hills, Ohio (St. Edward HS)
Taylor Cox RB 5-11 206 Jr. JC Mill Creek, Wash. (College of the Siskiyous)
Josh Ford WR 6-3 190 Jr. JC Landover, Md. (Arizona Western CC)
Tyler Holmes DL 6-3 280 Fr. HS Garland, Texas (Sachse HS)
Schyler Miles LB 6-2 220 Fr. HS Tampa, Fla. (Berkeley Prep HS)
Ty McKinney DL 6-3 310 Jr. JC Athens, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)
Nasir Moore DB 6-1 185 Jr. JC Suwanee, Ga. (East Los Angeles College)
Tre Parmalee WR 5-10 170 Fr. HS Overland Park, Kan. (Bishop Miege HS)
Jordan Smith TE 6-5 240 Fr. HS McGregor, Texas (Reicher Catholic HS)
Keon Stowers DL 6-3 280 So. JC Rock Hill, S.C. (Georgia Military College)
Jordan Tavai DL 6-3 290 Jr. JC Redondo Beach, Calif. (El Camino CC)
Ty’ree Williams DB 6-0 189 Fr. HS Stafford, Texas (Dulles HS)
*Dayne Crist
QB, 6-4, 235, Sr., TR
Canoga Park, Calif.
(Notre Dame HS/Notre Dame)
Graduated from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business in December 2011 with a degree in management-consulting … Appeared in 17 games for the Irish, including 10 starts … Threw for 2,327 yards, with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 17 games at Notre Dame … Started the first nine games of the 2010 season before suffering a season-ending injury … Amassed 2,033 yards passing yards and 15 TDs prior to his injury … No. 2-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2008 according to Rivals.com … Selected to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio following his senior season at Notre Dame HS … One of six finalists for the 2008 U.S. Army Player of the Year Award and was one of seven finalists for the Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year Award … Played for Kevin Rooney at Notre Dame High School … Also had offers out of high school from Florida State, USC, Iowa, Michigan, Stanford, Nebraska and Oregon … Son of Tim and Karen Crist.
*Jake Heaps
QB, 6-1, 200, Jr., TR
Issaquah, Wash.
(Skyline HS/BYU)
Transferred to Kansas from Brigham Young in January 2012 … Started the final 10 games of his freshman season at BYU (2010) and the first five games in 2011 … Set freshman school records for yards passing (2,316), attempts (383), completions (219) and touchdown passes (15) during the 2010 season … Led BYU to a 7-6 overall mark in 2010 and a win over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl … Played in nine games in 2011, starting six … Completed 144-of-252 passes, good for 1,452 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore … No. 1-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2010 according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com … Earned Parade All-America honors following his senior season and was invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as the starting quarterback for the West team … Led his Skyline High School team to three consecutive state championships and a perfect 28-0 mark during his sophomore and junior campaigns … Played for Matt Taylor at Skyline HS … Also recruited by Oklahoma, Florida State, USC, Florida, UCLA, Georgia, Alabama, California, Tennessee, Washington and LSU out of high school … Son of Steve and Kelly Heaps … Married to wife Brooke.
*Justin McCay
WR, 6-3, 220, So., TR
Kansas City, Mo.
(Bishop Miege HS/Oklahoma)
Transferred to Kansas from Oklahoma in January 2012 … Saw action in three games for the Sooners in 2011, while battling injuries … Redshirted during the 2010 season … Was the top-ranked player in the state of Kansas in 2009 according to Rivals.com … Rated a five-star recruit by Scout.com and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com … Selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American game, where he teamed up with current KU quarterback Jake Heaps … Named to the 2009 Kansas Football Coaches Association All-State team as a senior after registering 46 receptions for 926 yards and 15 touchdowns and 18 carries for 252 yards and four touchdowns … Also recorded 12 kick returns for 426 yards (35.5 average) and two TDs along with five punt returns (18.2 average) and one touchdown in his final season with the Stags … Picked up first team all-state honors by the Topeka Capital Journal, the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas City Star … Played for current KU offensive line coach Tim Grunhard at Bishop Miege … Also considered Florida, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Wisconsin out of high school … Son of Felicia Diane White and the late Robert Steven McCay.
Greg Allen
DB, 5-11, 190, Fr., HS
Houston, Texas
(Alief Taylor HS)
Recorded 58 total tackles, 13 pass breakups and one interception during senior season at Alief Taylor HS … Was a first team All-District honoree in both 2010 and 2011, earning District 18-5A Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011 … Earned honorable mention All-District honors in 2009 … Ranked as one of the top 25 defensive backs in Texas by Dave Campbell … Named to 2011 Pre-Season All-Greater Houston High School Football Team by Touchdown Club of Houston … A three-year letterwinner in football … Also competed in track and field at Alief Taylor, earning team MVP honors as a junior … Coached by J.D. Jordan at Alief Taylor … Selected Kansas over Utah, Ole Miss and Memphis … Son of Camella Allen … Born in New Orleans, La., but moved to Houston following Hurricane Katrina … His cousin, Shawn Allen, plays football at Grambling.
Courtney Arnick
LB, 6-2, 205, Fr., HS
Dallas, Texas
(Carter HS)
A three-star linebacker according to Rivals.com … Rated the 13th best linebacker in the Dallas Metro area by the Dallas Morning News … Earned unanimous first team District 11-4A honors following his senior season … Had a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown in his school’s ‘Super Bowl’ rivalry game against Kimball HS during his senior season … Recorded 112 tackles (60 solos), 16 TFLs, three pass breakups and one interception in 2011 … Voted Carter’s team MVP as a senior … Named to ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth’s, District 11-4A’s, 2011 Preseason watch list … Served as team captain as a senior … Coached by Patrick Willams at Carter HS … Also competed in track and field, where he placed second at the district meet in the discus and fourth in the shot put as a junior … An excellent student, ranks seventh in his graduating class at Carter and is the senior class vice president … Also considered Boise State, Houston, Colorado State and Memphis … Son of Carla and Curlie Arnick … Brother, Curnelius, recently completed his collegiate career at Tulsa, where he was a four-year starter at linebacker and led the Golden Hurricane with 159 tackles in 2011.
Turner Baty
QB, 6-2, 220, So., JC
Redwood City, Calif.
(New Canaan Prep/CC of San Francisco)
Named Most Valuable Player of the California Community College Athletic Association state championship after leading City College of San Francisco to the title and a perfect 12-0 mark in 2011 … CCSF were named the 2011 JC Football National Champions … Completed 178 of 265 pass attempts, good for 62.2 percent … Threw for 2,410 yards and 23 touchdowns, with just five interceptions … Also recorded 249 yards rushing and seven TDs on the ground … Coached by George Rush at CCSF … Played his senior season at New Canaan Prep (Conn.), leading the Rams to their fourth-straight CIAC Championship … Named MVP of the state championship game after leading New Canaan Prep to a 28-0 win … Threw for 2,452 yards and 26 TDs in his one season at New Canaan … Spent his sophomore and junior seasons at Menlo-Atherton (Calif.) High School … Threw for 1,800 yards, with 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a junior … Also rushed for 200 yards and two TDs … Helped lead Menlo-Atherton to a 22-4 overall mark and a perfect 12-0 mark in conference play during his two seasons with the Bears … Son of Kathleen Baty and Greg Baty … Father, Greg, played tight end at Stanford, while his grandfather played at Michigan.
Brian Beckman
OL, 6-6, 315, Fr., HS
Overland Park, Kan.
(Blue Valley West HS)
Named the top offensive lineman prospect and third overall prospect in the state of Kansas by Rivals.com heading into senior campaign … Missed his senior season at Blue Valley West due to injury … Earned honorable mention All-Eastern Kansas League honors as a junior … Coached by Scott Wright at BVWHS … Also lettered in track and field at Blue Valley West and taking second in the discus and third in the shot put at 2011 Kansas State Track and Field Championships … An outstanding student … Member of the National Honor Society, the BVWHS Honor Roll and the German Club … Plans to major in English at KU … Chose Kansas over Kansas State … Son of Cathy and Bruce Beckman … Father, Bruce, was a wrestler at Nebraska.
Charles Brooks
TE, 6-6, 240, Jr., JC
St. Louis, Mo.
(Maplewood HS/Scottsdale CC)
One of the top junior college tight ends in 2011 by Rivals.com … Played in nine games during the 2011 season for Scottsdale Community College, catching 26 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns … Missed two games with an injury … Coached by Doug Madoski at SCC … Did not start playing football until his senior year of high school … During his lone season at Maplewood HS he caught 33 passes for 769 yards and eight touchdowns … Helped lead his team to a near perfect season and the Missouri Class 2 State Semi-Finals … Member of the 2010 Class 2 All-State Football squad as well as All-Metro Football team … Suited up as a power forward for the school’s basketball team … Named MVP and All-South Central Athletic Association First Team member for 2008-09 basketball season … Chose Kansas over Ole Miss, New Mexico, Middle Tennessee and Florida International … Son of Anita Williams.
Sean Connolly
OL, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
Kirtland Hills, Ohio
(St. Edward HS)
Helped St. Edward to a perfect 15-0 record and a Division I state championship during the 2010 campaign … St. Edward finished with an 8-4 mark during the 2011 season, falling in the regional semi-finals … Member of an offensive line that has three players moving on to BCS schools following graduation … Coached by Rick Fionti at St. Edward … Played varsity basketball during his freshman and sophomore years at St. Edward … Picked Kansas over Akron, Marshall and Wyoming … An outstanding student … Member of the St. Edward Honor Roll and is a student ambassador … Son of Melissa and Tim Connolly.
Taylor Cox
RB, 5-11, 206, Jr., JC
Mill Creek, Wash.
(Jackson HS/College of the Siskiyous)
Selected as an All-American by the California Community Colleges Football Association following his sophomore season … Rushed for 1,507 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games during 2011 season … Claims school records for rushing yards in a game (326), career (2,744) and touchdowns in career (31) … Tallied 1,237 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on 212 carries as a freshman … Also had 31 receptions for 148 yards and three TDs in 2010 … Coached by Charlie Roche at College of Siskiyous … Named First Team All-Wesco during junior and senior seasons at running back as well as at cornerback at Jackson HS … Rushed for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two high school seasons … Also recorded 307 receiving yards and four touchdown catches … Rushed for over 200 yards in three games during his senior season … Helped lead Jackson to Wesco South Championship in 2008 … Played in Washington State Football Coaches Association All-State game in spring of 2009 … Chose KU over Utah State … Son of McCall Cox.
Josh Ford
WR, 6-3, 190, Jr., JC
Landover, Md.
(Coolidge HS/Arizona Western CC)
Earned All-ACCAC and All-Western States Football League first team honors in 2011 … As a sophomore at Arizona Western Community College he recorded 58 receptions, good for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns, which were all team highs … Had six catches for 117 yards and a TD in the 2011 El Toro Bowl, which was the NJCAA National Championship game … As a freshman at AWCC he hauled in 20 receptions, good for 252 yards and a touchdown … Suited up for Tom Minnick at AWCC … Played wide receiver and kick returner for the Colts of Calvin Coolidge HS in Washington, D.C. … Earned two letters in football and helped lead the Colts to a 9-3 mark during his junior season and the first round of the playoffs … Named team MVP as a senior … Also lettered as a sprinter for the Colts’ track & field team, earning Most Valuable Runner honors as a senior … Was a member of the top 4×200-meter relay team in the nation in 2009-10 … Son of Lynette Ford.
Tyler Holmes
DL, 6-3, 280, Fr., HS
Garland, Texas
(Sachse HS)
Recorded 104 tackles, five sacks, 28 quarterback hurries, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles playing both defensive tackle and defensive end … Named first team All-District and was named Sachse HS team MVP and Defensive Lineman of the Year … Helped his team reach the second round of the Texas Class 5A State Playoffs during his senior year … Played for Mark Behrens at SHS … Chose Kansas over Western Kentucky and Central Arkansas … Would like to major in graphic design … Son of Linda and Tony Holmes … Father, Tony, played football at Arkansas … Uncle, Kevin Holmes, also played football at Arkansas.
Ty McKinney
DL, 6-3, 310, Jr., JC
Weatherford, Texas
(Zion Academy/Trinity Valley CC)
Tied for fourth during 2011 season in the Southwest Junior College Conference with four sacks, which also led his team … Compiled 27 total tackles, two of which were for a loss and added a fumble recovery during his sophomore campaign at Trinity Valley … Played for Brad Smiley at Trinity Valley CC … Recorded 39 stops and two fumble recoveries during his senior year at Zion Academy … Garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors for District 7-4A West following his 2009 season at Zion Academy … Named first team All-District as a junior and senior … Earned three letters in football … Plans to major in education at Kansas and would like to pursue a career in coaching … Also considered Houston, UTEP and Arkansas State … Son of Lyedea Caston and Alex McKinney … Brother, Adrick McKinney, played basketball at TCU … Uncle, Norman McKinney, played football at Texas State.
Schyler Miles
LB, 6-2, 220, Fr., HS
Tampa, Fla.
(Berkeley Prep HS)
Made 123 total stops and 60 solo tackles during senior season at Berkeley Prep … Forced four fumbles and also had four sacks … Led Berkeley Prep to an undefeated season in 2011 and Class 3A-District 5 title … Named to the Tampa Tribune’s and St. Pete Times All-State and All-Hillsborough County First Team as a linebacker … Rated the 27th best inside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com … Saw action at fullback and tight end for the Berkeley offense, collected 52 rushing yards on 16 carries and 88 receiving yards on four catches … Played for Dominic Ciao at Berkeley Prep … Considered Florida, Notre Dame and West Virginia before choosing Kansas … Son of Susan Miles and Brandon Miles … Father, Brandon, competed in both football and wrestling at Indiana.
Nasir Moore
DB, 6-1, 185, Jr., JC
Suwanee, Ga.
(Peachtree Ridge HS/East Los Angeles College)
Played the 2011 season at East Los Angeles College where he was coached by Lynn Cain … Helped lead ELAC to an 8-3 mark and a win over Santa Monica in the American Division Championship Bowl game … Named Defensive Player of the Game honors in the American Division Championship Bowl game … Recorded 21 tackles, including 17 solo tackles, in 2011 … Also had 1.5 TFLs, eight interceptions, ten pass breakups and one sack … His eight interceptions were the most in the California Community College Athletic Association … Earned first team SCFA All-Mountain Conference at cornerback … Spent the 2010 season at West Hills Community College where he started two games at wide receiver … Started as a junior and senior at wide receiver at Peachtree Ridge High School … Also participated in track at PRHS … Chose Kansas after considering BYU and Utah … Son of Isis Spencer and Samir Moore.
Tre Parmalee
WR, 5-10, 170, Fr., HS
Overland Park, Kan.
(Bishop Miege HS)
Set every single-season receiving record at Bishop Miege in 2011 as he recorded 1,164 yards on 82 receptions to go along with 15 touchdowns … Earned first team All-State honors from the Kansas City Star, Wichita Eagle and the Topeka Capitol Journal … Also named to the Kansas City Star’s All-Metro team … Took home the Otis Taylor Award, for the best wide receiver in Kansas City … Earned Top 11 honors from both the Topeka Capitol Journal and the Wichita Eagle … Named first team All-EKL as both a wide receiver and a defensive back … Tallied 57 tackles and five interceptions on defense … Played for current KU offensive line coach, Tim Grunhard, at Bishop Miege … Plans to major in Sports Management … Selected Kansas over Northern Illinois … Son of Angel and Bernie Parmalee … Father, Bernie, is currently the tight ends coach with the Kansas City Chiefs and had a nine year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
Jordan Smith
TE, 6-5, 240, Fr., HS
McGregor, Texas
Reicher Catholic HS
Saw action for Reicher Catholic as both a wide receiver and tight end on offense and a defensive end on defense … Had 16 catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns as a senior … Also recorded three touchdowns for the RCHS defense in 2011 … Named first team All-State as a tight end … Was an honorable mention member of the Super Centex team on defense … Reeled in six catches for 109 yards during his junior year, averaging 18 yards per catch with two touchdowns … Member of the Reicher Catholic team that captured the state title in 2009 … Played for Mark Waggoner at Reicher Catholic … Also ran track at RCHS competing in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles … Son of Tonya and Steve Smith and Dennis Smith … Father, Dennis, played offensive line at Baylor before going on to play in the NFL for both the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins … Stepfather, Steve, played wide receiver at Midwestern State.
Keon Stowers
DL, 6-3, 280, So., JC
Rock Hill, S.C.
(Northwestern HS/Georgia Military College)
Made 26 total stops during his sophomore year at Georgia Military College, including 10 solo tackles … Also recorded three TFLs and two interceptions … Coached by Bert Williams at Georgia Military College … Earned All-Region honors his senior season at Northwestern HS … Recorded 95 tackles, eight TFLs, five sacks and three interceptions … Ranked the 13th best player in the state of South Carolina following his senior season … Also earned two letters in track and field … Placed second in the state meet in the discus his senior year … Would like to major in Physical Education at Kansas … Chose Kansas over Louisville, Iowa State, Indiana and South Alabama … Lists Larry Shaw as his mentor.
Jordan Tavai
DL, 6-3, 290, Jr., JC
Redondo Beach, Calif.
(Mira Costa HS/El Camino CC)
Named to the California Community College Football Coaches Association All-America team and All-Region IV as a defensive tackle following his sophomore season at El Camino … Unanimous selection as the 2011 All-Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the SFCA … Started all 10 games as a sophomore … Tallied 58 total tackles, seven TFLs, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick in leading El Camino to an 8-2 record and an appearance in the National Bowl … Started all 10 games as a freshman at El Camino … Recorded 30 tackles, six TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick in 2010 … Coached by John Featherstone at El Camino CC … Recorded 86 tackles during his senior season at Mira Costa HS, including 66 solo tackles … Also had five sacks and two fumble recoveries … Named All-CIF and All-Bay League first team at defensive line as a senior … Considered Texas Tech, Washington State and Indiana before choosing Kansas … Son of Nua and Will Tavai … The oldest of six children … Brother, J.R., plays football at USC and played in seven games at defensive tackle as a freshman in 2011.
Ty’ree Williams
DB, 6-0, 189, Fr., HS
Stafford, Texas
(Dulles HS)
Earned two letters in football at Dulles HS … Recorded 37 tackles and three interceptions while playing cornerback … Also had three touchdown catches for DHS at wide receiver … Earned first team All-District honors following his senior season … Coached by Jim Creech at Dulles … A three-year letterwinner in baseball and a two-year letterwinner in basketball … An All-District honoree in baseball … Chose KU over SMU and North Texas … Would like to major in business at Kansas … Son of Debra Woods.
— KU Sports Information —