Kansas football: Lance Leipold lands four-star cornerback Aundre Gibson

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks yells during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks yells during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Kansas football just landed one of their best recruits in a while.

The Jayhawks football program has been on the rise in recent years, and their recruiting classes have been as well. Just yesterday, KU landed four-star cornerback Aundre Gibson. He is currently a junior in high school.

247Sports ratings list him as the No. 242 player and No. 19 cornerback in the Class of 2024. If he enrolls, he will be one of the program’s best pickups in recent history.

A native of Arizona, Gibson possesses some special tools that could make him an outstanding college player. Even if he is a bit undersized at the cornerback position at 5′ 11″, 175 pounds, he is swift, reacts to cuts well, and can play in the slot or the outside. His versatility could impact the Kansas defense immediately.

Gibson also runs track for Desert Edge High School. He recorded an 11.56 100 and 23.26 200 in 2022. His speed will be vital on special teams and in defending opposing receivers.

KU beat out west coast schools such as Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington in the recruiting process. Defensive backs coach Jordan Peterson can be credited as the man who convinced Gibson to come to Lawrence.

Gibson had some high praise for Kansas’ culture and coaches in an interview:

"“It just felt like home. I liked the culture and I love the coaching staff…I pretty much knew that this was the direction I wanted to go even when I put out my top four. I just wanted to visit to confirm and make sure.”"

This continues to be a recurring theme for KU’s football program. Players appreciate the culture that Lance Leipold brings, and it has been paying off lately. After garnering the 61st-best recruiting class in 2023, they hold the 28th-best in the early stages of the Class of 2024. Gibson is just the start of what will be a very promising group of commits for Kansas.