Originally Posted by Mr. Laz
FOOTBALL ADDS THREE MIDYEAR PLAYERS IN DECEMBER SIGNING CLASS
12/18/2013 8:10:00 PM
Football Signing Day Graphic
Kansas bolstered one of its most improved units from last season while adding needed depth and competition at another as the Jayhawks signed three junior college student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on the first day of the midyear signing period Wednesday.
The Jayhawks added a pair of defensive backs in Ronnie Davis (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) and Anthony Smithson (Hartnell College) to a secondary that held opposing offenses to nearly 40 less yards per game and intercepted 14 opponent passes, the most since 2008. Kansas also signed talented offensive line prospect Keyon Haughton (Georgia Military College).
Kansas finished the 2013 season with a 3-9 overall record, including the team's first win over a Big 12 Conference opponent since 2010, and looks to add to the positive momentum further as it builds the 2014 signing class. The midyear signing period comes to a close Jan. 15, with football's annual National Signing Day on Feb. 5.
Ronnie Davis
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DB, 6-0, 181, Jr.
Midwest City, Okla.
Midwest City HS/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
A three-star prospect out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) at defensive back according to Rivals.com... Played for head coach Sherard Poteete... Had 24 tackles, four interceptions and three pass breakups in seven games in 2013... Earned honorable mention All-Southwest Conference honors... Tallied 48 stops, one interception, 2.0 TFLs, two pass breakups and a blocked kick in 10 games in 2012... Helped lead Midwest City HS to an 11-1 overall mark in 2011 and a trip to the Class 6A state quarterfinals... Played both quarterback and defensive back at Midwest City HS under coach Steve Huff... Earned all-state honors after a standout senior season where he collected 58 tackles, including two sacks... Also hauled in seven interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns... On offense he carried the ball 38 times for 335 yards and four TDs... Also caught three passes for 45 yards, with all three resulting in TDs... Rated the 18th-best player in the state of Oklahoma by MaxPreps following his senior season... Tabbed as the 20th-best player in the state of Oklahoma by the The Oklahoman... Selected to play in the 2012 Oil Bowl... Also participated in basketball and track at Midwest City HS... Son of Tangie Davis and Ronnie Mathenia.
Keyon Haughton
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OL, 6-2, 309, Jr.
Baltimore, Md.
W.E.B. DuBois HS/Georgia Military College
Comes to Kansas after spending the past two seasons at Georgia Military College where he helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-1 mark and a No. 3 national ranking in the final 2013 National Junior College Athletics Assocation (NJCAA) poll... Anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line that paved the way for the NJCAA's top rushing offense at 289.2 yards per game in 2013... Played for head coach Bert Williams at GMC... Played on both the offensive and defensive lines at W.E.B. DuBois HS... Earned Scholar Athlete honors from Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation... Son of Desreene and Demetrius Whitted.
Anthony Smithson
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DB, 5-11, 185, So.
Baltimore, Md.
Highland HS (Utah)/Hartnell College
Arrives at KU after playing the 2013 season at Hartnell College under head coach Matt Collins... Helped lead the Panthers to the Coast Conference title, including a 9-2 mark and a win in the Living Breath Foundation Bowl, in 2013... Earned All-Coast Conference First Team honors in 2013... Named Hartnell Defensive MVP after leading the Panthers with 74 tackles and eight interceptions on the season... His 58 solo stops and eight picks led the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA)... Also forced two fumbles and was credited with five pass breakups in 2013... Signed with Navy out of Highlands HS (Salt Lake City, Utah) and attended Navy Prep in 2012... Played primarily on offense at Highland HS under head coach Brody Benson... Helped lead the Rams to a 7-4 mark during his senior campaign, while completing 32-of-61 passes for 528 yards and six touchdowns... Also rushed for 492 yards and nine touchdowns on 69 carries... Son of Lori and Tony Smithson... Brother, Shaky, played wide receiver at Utah before a stint in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers... Goes by the nickname "Fish".
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