Kaitori Leveston says no thanks to Texas, sticks with K-State
For all the success that Texas had in the months leading up to this season on the recruiting trail, a concern is growing that the staff have needed to find more help along the offensive line.
Texas recently offered Waco-Midway offensive tackle Kaitori Leveston, but the Kansas State commit said despite his affection for the Longhorns, his heart is with the Wildcats.
“It was a struggle,” he said. “I know that I love Texas, but I went out to Kansas and I felt real comfortable out there. Every night before I went to bed, that was all I thought about. I was just like Oh my gosh, who am I going to pick?”
Now Texas is starting to find itself in a tight spot up front, offensively. Right now, it seems likely the Longhorns will be without five of the linemen on this season’s roster, with only two committed in 2018 and two signees from last year’s group.
Surely that was something on Leveston’s mind when he made his decision to keep his commitment to Kansas State, but the potential opportunity at Texas didn’t outweigh the feeling he had in Manhattan.
“I told them that I appreciated the offer and it was a blessing to have it,” he said. “But I really love K-State and I was going to have to stay with them.”
IN HIS WORDS
On what it was specifically about Kansas State that won him over
“When I went out there for my visit, it was just like I felt back home in Waco playing with the boys,” he said. “I feel like once I leave here to go to Kansas, it’s going to be like I never left … When I came out there, they all approached me like I was family, and that’s what I thought about, that this was a good feeling and I love them.”
On his personal expectation of himself at K-State
“I feel like I can be a good player there as a left tackle,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to making some plays and winning some games out there.”
RIVALS REACTION
Not too many people in Texas might have expected the Longhorns to lose a battle with for an in-state recruit at a position of need. Leveston said that Texas hasn’t been the only program that has attempted to move him off of his commitment to Kansas State, but has told them all that his mind is made up. Leveston looked like he outplayed his current ranking in a big game on Friday night against Mansfield and has the look of another smart pickup by Bill Snyder’s staff.