LAWRENCE, Kan. (KUAthletics.com) – Kansas Football head coach Lance Leipold announced the addition of 15 high school players who signed with the Jayhawks on the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday.
Kansas signing class includes Jackson Cook (Loganville, Ga.,), Malachi Curvey (Waukee, Iowa), Josiah Hammond (Tulsa, Okla.), Bryson Hayes (Wichita, Kan.), Adrian Holley (Westville, Ind.), Darrion Jones (Fort Myers, Fla.), John Kelly (Cypress, Texas), Anderson Kopp (Phoenix, Ariz.), Garrett Martin (Scottsdale, Ariz.), David McComb (Edmond, Okla.), Chris McCorkle (Bradenton, Fla.), Tate Nagy (Overland Park, Kan.), Jaden Nickens (Simi Valley, Calif.), Brandon Schmelzle (Axtell, Kan), and Justin Thurman (Tampa, Fla.).
Included in the class are 15 high school signees covering nine states, including four from the state of Kansas, two from Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma and one from Georgia, Indiana, Iowa and Texas.
Kansas’ signing class consists of nine different positions, including one quarterback, two running backs, four wide receivers, one offensive lineman, one defensive tackle, two defensive ends, one linebacker, one cornerback and two safeties.
Jackson Cook
WR, 6-2, 180 lbs., Loganville, Ga., South Gwinnett HS
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Bryan Lamar at South Gwinnett … In 2023, he caught 13 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns … Ranked as the No. 212 wide receiver in the class and the No. 148 senior in Georgia, per 247sports … Helped South Gwinnett to their first playoff appearance since 2021 .. Also competed in track and field at South Gwinnett in the 100 and 200 meters.
Personal: Son of Veneka Williams and Carlton Cameron Sr. … Has three siblings, Carlton Jr., Nora Grace and Alexis … Chose Kansas over 20+ offers, including Memphis, UConn and Indiana, among others … CeeDee Lamb is his favorite wide receiver.
Malachi Curvey
LB, 6-4, 220 lbs., Waukee, Iowa, Ankeny Centennial HS
High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … Coached by Jerry and Ryan Pezzetti at Ankeny Centennial high school … Rated the No. 3 prospect in the state of Iowa for the Class of 2025 by Rivals … First Team All-District selection as a senior … Also competes in track & field at Ankeny Centennial.
Personal: Son of TiAnn Taylor and Brent Curvey … Has five siblings, four brothers and one sister … Chose Kansas over offers from Iowa State, Kansas State and Missouri, among others.
Josiah Hammond
DT, 6-4, 270 lbs., Tulsa, Okla., Union HS
High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Kirk Fridrich at Union high school … Named to the Oklahoman’s Super 30 list for the state’s top-30 recruits … As a junior in 2023, he compiled 44 tackles, 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks … Did not play as a sophomore due to Oklahoma transfer rules … Hadn’t played football until his junior year of high school … Also played basketball.
Personal: Son of Melisha Calvert and Luke Hammond Sr. … Has three siblings, Langstyn, Luke and Jennifer … Chose Kansas over 15+ offers, including offers from Arizona, Iowa State, Cal, Houston, Utah and more.
Bryson Hayes
WR, 6-0, 180 lbs., Wichita, Kan., Maize HS
High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Gary Guzman at Maize high school … Caught 60 passes for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2023 … Had over 2,000 career receiving yards and 23 career touchdowns at Maize … Played with former high school teammate and current Jayhawk, Bryce Cohoon … Also competed in track and field and baseball.
Personal: Son of Michelle Drumright, Mike Drumright (Stepdad), Jarrod Hayes, Brandy Hayes (Stepmom) … Has five siblings, Teagan, Taylee, Delaney, Aubrey, Addison and Brecken … Chose Kansas over offers from Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa State and more.
Adrian Holley
DE, 6-4, 240 lbs., Michigan City, Ind., Michigan City HS
High School: Rated a four-star recruit by 247sports and a three-star by Rivals … Coached by Cody French at Michigan City, where he helped them to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023 … Named All-Conference at Defensive End … Totaled 84 tackles in 2024, including 30 tackles-for-loss and 12.5 sacks … His 12.5 sacks were the second most in 5A in 2024 … Also forced four fumbles and recovered one … In 2023, he compiled 41 tackles, including 15.5 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks.
Personal: Son of Johanna Holley … Has four siblings, Michael, Amani, Taylor, Levoni and Lindsey … Chose Kansas over multiple offers, including Minnesota and Cincinnati, among others.
Darrion Jones
S, 6-3, 175 lbs., Fort Myers, Fla., Cape Coral HS
High School: A three-star athlete according to Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Tyler Murphy at Cape Coral … Ranked as the No. 103 safety in the 2025 class, according to 247sports … Was a multi-sport athlete at Cape Coral high school, competing in basketball and track and field … Compiled 34 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, a pass breakup and a sack in eight games in 2023 … Played at Dunbar high school in 2022, helping them to a 10-2 record and a run in the Florida 3S Playoffs … Credited with 16 tackles, two pass breakups and two sacks in 2022.
Personal: Son of Tiffany Jones and Darrell Jones Sr. … Has five brothers and two sisters … Chose Kansas over 15+ offers, including from Ohio State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Miami, Florida, Iowa State and more.
John Kelly
RB, 6-1, 190 lbs., Cypress, Texas, Cypress Christian HS
High School: Labeled as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247sports … Rated as the 44th best running back recruit in the class according to Rivals … Coached by Kris Hogan at Cypress Christian … Was on the final ballot for the 2024 Whataburger Super Team … Was named a top-30 most athletic running back prospect by Reel Analytics … As a junior, he helped Cypress Christian to an 8-4 record in the Division II bracket of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools … Transferred to Cypress Christian after his sophomore season from Cypress Cy-Fair … As a sophomore as Cy-Fair, he ran for 424 yards and eight touchdowns on 7.44 yards-per-carry … Also competed in track and field in the 100 and 200 meters.
Personal: Son of Raquel Kelly … Has one sibling, Myles … Chose Kansas over offers from Missouri, Houston, Duke, Texas Tech, Tulane, Washington State and several other schools.
Anderson Kopp
OL, 6-4, 280 lbs., Phoenix, Ariz., Brophy College Preparatory
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … Coached by Jason Jewell at Brophy College Prep, where he was a team captain as a senior … Helped the Broncos to an 8-2 regular season record and the top seed in the 6A Conference playoffs … Two-time all-state selection … Unanimous All-Central Region first team selection as a senior … Was named to the Fiesta Bowl Preseason All-State Team in 2024.
Personal: Son of Brooke and Kevin Kopp … Both parents attended Kansas … Father, Kevin, played football at KU from 1993-96 … Has two siblings, Annie and Ainsley … Chose Kansas over offers from Iowa State, Memphis, San Diego State and Memphis, among others.
Garrett Martin
DE, 6-4, 240 lbs., Scottsdale, Ariz., Saguaro HS
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … Coached by Darius Kelly at Saguaro high school … Won the Class 6A AIA State Football Championship with Saguaro HS in 2023 … First Team All-Region selection and MaxPreps Player of the Year.
Personal: Son of Stacy Martin … Has an older brother … Chose Kansas over offers from Kansas State, Oregon, Washington, Washington State, TCU and Colorado, among others.
David McComb
QB, 6-4, 210 lbs., Edmond, Okla., Memorial HS
High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Named to the Oklahoman’s Super 30 list for the state’s top-30 recruits … Coached by Justin Merideth at Edmond Memorial, where he is the all-time leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards and attempts over a career … In 2023, he threw for 3,009 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a junior on 198-of-325 passing, while carrying for 520 yards and one touchdown … Also competed in track and field at Memorial high school, throwing the discus.
Personal: Son of Dacia and Kyle McComb … Has four siblings, Justus, Colton, Presley and Maverick … Chose Kansas over at least 10 other offers, including Virginia Tech, Memphis, Tulane and more.
Chris McCorkle
CB, 6-1, 175 lbs., Bradenton, Fla., Cardinal Mooney HS
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Jared Clark at Cardinal Mooney, where he was a two-way player, playing both wide receiver and cornerback … As a junior in 2023, he totaled 14 tackles, nine pass breakups, and four interceptions, while catching eight passes for 186 yards at wide receiver … Led the Cougars to the 2023 1S playoffs, where they won their first state title since 1972 … In the state title game, he scored the go-ahead touchdown and sealed the game with an interception … Started his high school career at South Charleston high school in West Virginia.
Personal: Son of Chrya Ellis and Chris McCorkle … Has four siblings, Tre, Tyara, Gianna and Antonio … Chose Kansas over 20+ offers, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, West Virginia, UCF and more.
Tate Nagy
WR, 5-10, 165 lbs., Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley West HS
High School: Rated as a three-star athlete by Rivals and 247sports … Coached by Josh Koerkenmeier at Blue Valley West … Was a finalist for the Thomas A. Simone Award, awarded to the most outstanding high school football player in the Kansas City Metro … Compiled over 4,400 passing yards and 41 career passing touchdowns as well as over 1,000 career rushing yards and 12 career rushing touchdowns …As a junior he threw for 1,888 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 147-of-235 passing … Also ran for 618 yards and five touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry … Served as the Jaguars’ punter, averaging 35.2 yards-per-punt in 2023 … Also played basketball at Blue Valley West, where he was an all-conference point guard.
Personal: Son of Matt and Stacey Nagy … Father, Matt is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs … Has three siblings, Brayden, Jaxon and Jett … Brother, Brayden, also attends KU … Chose Kansas over offers from Kentucky and Ball State.
Jaden Nickens
WR, 6-3, 190 lbs., Simi Valley, Calif., Sierra Canyon School
High School: Rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and a three-star by Rivals … Coached by Jon Ellinghouse at Sierra Canyon … Ranked the No. 30 ranked athlete prospect in the Class of 2025 by Rivals … Dual sport athlete, playing both football and basketball for Sierra Canyon … Helped his team to an 8-4 record as a senior, including a 5-0 conference record.
Personal: Son of Shamrya Kennedy and Nathaniel Jones Jr. … Has three brothers and 3 sisters,, Demerius Vealy, Nathaniel Jones III, Jaxon Jones, Dayja Hurst, Akilah Masters, Natalya Jones… Chose Kansas over offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, California, Georgia and Texas A&M, among others.
Brandon Schmelzle
S, 6-2, 195 lbs., Axtell, Kan., Axtell HS
High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … Coached by Eric Detweiler at Axtell, where he is a Four-time 8-man State Champion … Won 52 games in a row and was part of a senior class that never lost a game in four years … The 52-game win streak is the longest in Kansas history for 8-man football … Named 2023 8M-II Defensive Player of the Year … Played quarterback and cornerback for the Eagles … Threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in Axtell’s 2024 State Championship victory.
Personal: Son of Amy and Loren Schmelzle … Has 2 siblings, Kori Lobdell, Aaron Schmelzle … Chose Kansas over offers from North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
Justin Thurman
RB, 6-0, 195 lbs., Tampa, Fla., Jesuit HS
High School: Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star by 247sports … Attended Jesuit high school in Tampa and is originally from St. Louis, Missouri … Coached by Matt Thompson at Jesuit high school … Ranked as the nation’s 10th best All-Purpose back … As a junior in 2023, he carried for 812 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards-per-carry … He also caught 22 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns, leading Jesuit to the regional finals of the Florida 3M Playoffs … In 2022, ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns … Also competed in track and field, where he was a regional qualifier in the 100 meters as a sophomore and placed 11th as a freshman in the Missouri 5A State Championship.
Personal: Son of Sheree and James Thurman … Has one sibling, Sydney … Chose Kansas over offers from Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Kansas State and Missouri, among others … Is a 3rd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do.
