Kansas RB makes his pick

What was once expected to be one of the most intense recruiting battles in the Sunflower State ended on Monday when Great Bend, Kan., running back Jeremy Reed made his decision, making one local coach a very happy man.

"I went to Kansas and I went to K-State for visits," Reed, who is 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, said. "I looked around both campuses, met the coaches and talked to a lot of people. I came back and made up my mind.

"I called Ron Prince last night and told him I wanted to be a Wildcat. I'm 100 percent committed. I'm a Wildcat now."

Reed had both offers from K-State and Kansas ever since early in the recruiting process. He said several things won him over on the Wildcats in the end.

"I really liked the running back coach (Tim Horton)," Reed said. "He honestly reminded me of my high school coach. When I told coach Prince he was really excited. I've gotten texts from almost all the other coaches welcoming me to the family. They were really pumped up about me.

"They said that I'm going to be a huge part of their class. They wanted to lock up all of the best players in-state, and they said I was a big piece of that. I just got a really good feeling about K-State when I was up there. I think with the class they're putting together that we're going to help them get back to where they belong."

Reed had positive things to say about the Jayhawks, especially coach Mark Mangino and assistant coach Clint Bowen, who was in charge of recruiting him. But after visiting Manhattan, he said he was sold on the change of playing running back for the Wildcats.

"They didn't talk to me about playing defense, and I'd like to get a shot at playing running back first," Reed said. "Either way, I'm excited about my decision, and I am ready to help get K-State back to the top."

As a junior, Reed rushed 142 times for 978 yards and 19 touchdowns. Every time Reed touched the ball, he averaged 6.9 yards per carry and was named his league's most valuable player in 2005. Wyoming, Purdue and Texas A&M also contacted Reed in the month of May and most have him pegged as one of the top five players in the Sunflower State.

"Jeremy is the best athlete I've ever had come through here and I've been here five years," Great Bend coach Bo Black said.

"We've had some talented athletes through the years, too, but Jeremy is the best of all of them. He's a special talent."