Kansas football: Jayhawks signee Deshawn Warner to appear in All-American Bowl

Deshawn Warner became the highest-rated high school recruit to ever sign with the Kansas football program last month, and he garnered attention from scouts nationally with his impressive senior year at Desert Edge in Arizona. His senior year was dominant from a statistical standpoint. He recorded 16 sacks and 63 tackles, 20 of which were for loss, helping lead the Arizona-based high school to an 11-3 record.

After initially being rated just outside the top 600 last year, the defensive end is now the 148th-best player in 247 Sports 2024 rankings and has now been selected for the All-American Bowl.

"The All-American Bowl is a year-round celebration of high school excellence both on and off the field," NBC Sports writes on its website. "As the nation’s premier high school sporting event for 20 years, it features the top 100 senior football players from across the country and is played inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Broadcast annually on NBC, the All-American Bowl is the most-watched and highest-attended high school sporting event."

Initially introduced in 2000, hundreds of future NFL players have competed in the prestigious event. According to NBC, it has produced 562 draft picks, 217 Pro Bowl selections, 97 Super Bowl champions, and 14 Rookie of the Year winners. Needless to say, Warner will go up against some tremendous talent.

Very few players have entered Lawrence with expectations as high as Warner's, and fans across the country are taking notice of his exceptional play. Analysts praised Lance Leipold for maintaining his pledge through signing day despite receiving offers from Big Ten powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State.

It remains to be seen how much Warner will play in the contest — if at all — but showcasing himself on a stage as massive as this can only bode well for his future. Kansas football fans can watch the future Jayhawk in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 12:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports.