Hall of Fame coach criticizes Kansas football recruiting
By Stan Unruh
Kansas football recruiting took a hit from a Hall of Fame coach this week. Barry Switzer’s comments about the Big 12 players were probably accurate.
Most Kansas football fans are optimistic about next season. We live and die with the progress coach David Beaty and staff are making on the field and in recruiting.
In only his short time leading Kansas football, Beaty and his unique staff are doing what appears to be an outstanding job recruiting.
They obviously have no responsibility for what Charlie Weis or Turner Gill did or didn’t do.
A pair of Jayhawks did sign free agent deals after the recently completed NFL draft. Fish Smithson with the Washington Redskins and cornerback Brandon Stewart with Los Angeles Chargers.
No Jayhawks were actually drafted.
Oct 15, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach David Beaty on the sidelines during the second half against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. Baylor won 49-7. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
We all know only 14 Big-12 players were drafted. It is embarrassing.
Barry Switzer said he knows why.
As a matter of fact, he knows some things about sending players to the NFL draft. It starts on the other end of the process, according to Switzer. It starts with recruiting. During a radio interview this week he told Bo Mattingly, “Kansas and Iowa State don’t get blue chip recruits.”
It’s simple. If you don’t get the recruits, the NFL won’t be draft them.
We know David Beaty has outstanding recruiting ties in Texas. During 16 years as head coach at Oklahoma, Switzer did an outstanding job recruiting the Lone Star state.
He also worked the draft room as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He knows both sides of issue and you have to agree. Why did so many SEC players go in the draft? They get the top recruits.
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Will that change for Beaty’s recruits at Kansas? It will be interesting to watch. Let’s hope we see the positive result on the field first.