Kansas State Recruiting 2000

View the 2000 K-State Football Recruits

The 2000 K-State Walk-ons

Recruiting Recap...
Visits for December 3 Visits for December 10th

RB	Josh Scobey	Del City, Oklahoma	LB	Ken Greene	Omaha, Texas
TE	Brian Casey	Kansas City, Missouri	OL	Nick Leckey	Grapevine, Texas
OL	Chris Boggas	Irving, Texas	RB	Jonathan Ward	Poway, California
DB	Korey Banks	Boynton Beach, Florida	OL	David Castillo	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
WR	Sloan Thomas	Klein, Texas	DT	Brian Watson	Houston, Texas
			OL	David Moreno	Poway, California

Visits for December 17 Visits for January 14

OL	Ryan Schmuecker	Lincoln, Nebraska	DE	Alax Carrier	Houston, Texas
LB	Patrick Howard	La Marque, Texas	DB	Derrick Yates	Houston, Texas
QB	Erik Garcia	Los Angeles, CA.	P/K	Jason Brite	Bakersfield, California
			DT	Jerry Togiai	Laie, Hawaii
			WR/DB	Mark Tate	San Diego, California
			DB	Roc Alexander	Colorado Springs, CO.
			DE/LB	Terrell Mills	Raytown, Missouri
			DL	Ervin Holloman	Wichita, Kansas
			DL	John Culp	Rock Hill, South Carolina
			DL	Travis Watkins	Derby, Kansas

Visits for January 21 Visits for January 28

DL	Mike Johnson	Boulder, Colorado	OL	Billy Miller	Torrance, California
TE	Jon Doty	West Des Moines, IA.	QB/ATH	Will Martin	Clarksville, Tennessee
LB	Maurice Thurmond	Fort Worth, Texas	LB	Carlton Baker	Belle Glade, Florida
DL	Jerad Cowan	Alief, Texas	DL	Ron John-Finn	Apopka, Florida
WR	Antoine Polite	Indianola, Iowa
DB	Michael Menifee	Aldine , Texas
QB	Ronnie Banks	New Orleans, LA.
DB	Keith Lander	Denver, Colorado

Quarterback:

Commitments: Will Martin (5-11 195 4.55) Clarksville, Tennessee

Erik Garcia (6-0 180 4.5) was headed to Washington State. The L.A. Franklin High product pledged to the Cougars, but got his qualifying test scores too late. So Garcia signed with East Los Angeles Community College and stepped in immediately to fill their QB void. In just one season in the program Garcia had nearly 2-thousand yards passing and 18 TDs (12 interceptions...but completed 58% of passes) thru the air, and added another 300 yards rushing. From other reports Garcia is a great scrambler and has good arm strength. Erik would have 4 years to play 3 and will enroll early for spring ball. At the time of his visit Garcia had cut his list to just two schools, Arizona and K-State. He commited to Arizona following his weekend visit to Manhattan in December.

Ronnie Banks (6-4 210 4.65) from Lawless High School in inner-city New Orleans threw for nearly 19-hundred yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season for the Pythians. With those numbers you would think he's a pure dropback passer, but he may fit better in the athlete model. Louisiana based recruiting analyst Max Emfinger ranks him as the #6 dropback passer in his Super Dixie 200. A note from one person who has seen Banks in action compares him to former Syracuse QB Donovan McNabb. Ronnie commited to South Florida over Southern. K-Stat pulled their scholarship offer off the table as signing day approached.

Running Back:

Commitments: Josh Scobey (6-0 210 4.4) Del City, Oklahoma

The size of a fullback, but the speed of a tailback. Poway, California's Jonathan Ward (6-1 235 4.5) is a big part of a dominating ground attack for the Titans, in the past two seasons he's racked up over two thousand yards and 25 TD's (averaging 5.8 yards/carry average). His senior season he rushed for 1039 yards and 11 TDs (6.8 yards per carry) while battling some injuries. Ward would provide the "big back" that the Cats groud attack has been without for many years (other than Joe Hall in '99). Matt Miller is recruiting Jonathan for the Cats, and K-State was the first to offer of his final five teams. After taking all 5 visits to K-State, Michigan, Virginia, Oregon State and Colorado State ward decided on the Beavers only to change his mind on signing day and ink with Virginia.

Wide Receiver:

Commitments: Antoine Polite (6-3 185 4.6) Indianola, Iowa

Mark Tate (6-1 200 4.4) from Hoover High School in San Diego had 37 receptions for 474 yards and seven touchdowns to close out his junior season. Tate's also a top track athlete in San Diego county for the Cardinals...a trait which runs in the family because he's a nephew of the late Florence Griffith Joiner. As a sophomore Tate ran a 11.07 100 meter to take the Harbor League title and has a top time in the 400 meter his junior season of 49.79 (his junior season 100 time was 10.9). Mark took 4 official visits before commiting...those were to Hawaii, Washington State, Wisconsin and Manhattan. He commited to and signed with the Rainbows before signing day.

Throughout the year everyone claimed Sloan Thomas (6-3 190 4.4) is commited to Texas. That is...everyone except for Sloan himself, who always claimed to have a large group of teams as favorites. A Klein, Texas (High) product, Sloan is widely considered to be one of the top 3 WR prospects in the Lone Star State and Rivals.com ranks him among the top 10 in the nation. In his junior season Thomas had 31 receptions for 735 yards and 11 TDs, and closed out his senior year with 52 receptions for over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns. Add in a couple of punts returns and passes for scores as well. Sloan finally has commited to the Longhorns, with Texas A&M and K-State the only other schools still under consideration when he made his decision. The Aggies were recruiting Thomas as a defensive back. Sloan visited Manhattan in early December.

Tight Ends:

Commitments: Brian Casey (6-6 245 4.8) Kansas City, Missouri, Jon Doty (6-7 280 4.9) West Des Moines, Iowa.

Offensive Line:

Commitments: Nick Leckey (6-3 280 5.1) Grapevine, Texas, Ryan Schmuecker (6-5 265 5.0) Lincoln, Nebraska, Chris Boggas (6-4 310 5.1), Irving, Texas and Billy Miller (6-6 280 4.9) Torrance, California.

The stock in David Castillo (6-3 285 5.2) heated up the closer it got to February. An All-Region selection and starter the past two season from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Castillo visited Manhattan early on the December 10th weekend. At that time the other main team in the picture for David was Florida State, and when they offered on a January official visit he accepted. Marshall, Indiana and Colorado State were also under consideration. David had 77 pancake blocks in his senior season and graded out at above 80% in seven of his ten games this season.

David Moreno (6-2 285 5.0) from Palomar Community College (California) visited Manhattan on the December 10th weekend. A former teammate of current Wildcat Joe Hall. Hall describes Moreno as a "true beast" who has actually played both ways for Palomar over the past two seasons, and it's undetermined where exactly he will end up at the D-1 level. At this point of his visit Cal-Berkley was the only other team heavily involved with Moreno, who played at Poway High School with fellow recruit Jonathan Ward. K-State was the favorites at the time of his visit...but he instead later chose to stay near home and sign with San Diego State.

Defensive Line:

Commitments: Mike Johnson (6-5 240 4.8) Boulder Colorado, Alax Carrier (6-3 220 4.5) Houston, Texas, Jerry Togiai (6-4 290 4.85), Laie, Hawaii and Jerad Cowan (6-4 290 5.0) Alief, Texas.

Most players come into college needing to gain weight. That was not the case with John Culp (6-5 250 4.7) from Garden City Community College, he in fact lost about 20 pounds to get where he is at right now. Where is that? Right next to Ervin Holloman on the Broncbusters D-Line and one of the more highly recruited players on a team loaded with talent. He was an All-Jayhawk Conference pick this past season and will have 3 years to play 2 wherever he signs. Virginia Tech has already been visited, other trips are scheduled to Kansas, K-State (January 21) and perhaps Marshall. Culp has now commited to Kansas.

Much like his brother Cliff who signed with the Wildcats in the 1999 class, Ervin Holloman (6-4 275 4.7) had a stand-out sophomore season at Garden City Community College. It's not like it was not expected though, Holloman was a pre-season All-American pick for J.C. Gridwire and held up to those expectations by receiving the same honors from the NJCAA following the season. Virginia Tech, K-State, Colorado and Kansas each got visits following the football season and Ervin visited Manhattan on the January 14th weekend. He later chose the Jayhawks over the Wildcats in late January.

Admit it...the kid has a cool name. Ron John-Finn (6-4 250 4.7) from Apopka, Florida might just have the game to match the name too. The Orlando area prospect had a break-out senior season with 86 tackles (11 for a loss) and 8 sacks...and is a player who's constantly praised for being a big game player. An All-Central Florida team selection by the Orlando Sentinel and their recruting tracker Bill Buchalter, the Wildcats are still very much involved with Finn. After a couple of weekends where Ron had a scheduled visit to Manhattan but had to cancel, he did make it to the Little Apple the January 28th weekend. At that point Finn has his list down the 3 schools, the Wildcats, South Carolina and Central Florida. He later commited the the Gamecocks days before the February 3rd signing day.

Terrell Mills (6-4 220 4.6) is a name that has been floating around the K-State recruiting circles for sometime. It was not until mid-January though that he started to put a deadline down for a commitment. Early on he thought he would end up at Colorado...but later it was a horse race with the Wildcats and Missouri. The Tigers won out for a number of reasons including the fact that Mills is good friends with Mizzou pledge QB Cody Buford . Terrell could play either of 3 positions in college defensive end, linebacker or tight end.

He's sticking with this commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks. That was the word from Travis Watkins (6-5 295 5.2) following his official visit to Manhattan. Watkins, who is widely considered the top prospect in the state, was offered over the summer by the Wildcats before commiting to KU at the start of football season. K-State's coaches have continued to contact him between that time and his visit though and Travis just wanted to scope out other options. The Wildcats were recruiting him to play Tackle, a position he favors over End (where KU is recruiting him).

Brian Watson (6-5 275 4.9) is a four year starter for Houston's Lee High School. Watson was injured thorughout his senior season, but still managed over 100 tackles and was named an all-league pick for the 3rd straight year. Brian was an an All-Greater Houston pick and Houston Touchdown Club pre-season in his junior year (other names on that team included Ell Roberson and Jason Cedeno, two Wildcat signings last year). Watson reportedly visited Manhattan on the December 10th. He chose the Razorbacks just before Christmas, and reaffirmed that commitment before signing day.

Linebacker:

Commitments: Ken Greene (6-2 225 4.65) Omaha, Texas, Maurice Thurmond (6-2 210 4.55) Fort Worth, Texas.

Carlton Baker (6-1 215 4.7) from Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida may be one of the 5 best overall players in the state this season. Florida Prep Football would certainly agree with that...PrepStar has named Baker a pre-season All-American pick, and Rivals.com ranks him among the top 15 linebackers in the nation. Problem is Baker is questionable on the academic side to be a full qualifier ...but that's something he's working on. His final 3 include the Wildcats, along with Arkansas and Louisville. As a junior Baker was an all-state selection with 115 tackles (40 for a loss) and 6 sacks. Then, in his senior season he had Baker had 131 tackles (70 for loss), 13 sacks and one interception playing the in middle for a top program in Glades Central. Baker signed with the Hogs.

Patrick Howard (5-11 215 4.6) from La Marque, Texas was the best defensive player in the Houston area this season. Don't believe me? How about the Greater Houston Touchdown Club...would you believe them? Well that's the award Howard won for his efforts this past season. It's hard to argue with the season he had. After 122 tackles as a junior, Patrick topped those numbers as a senior. He visited K-State on the December 17th weekend and was offered a scholarship. Still, Howard did not commit, and continued to take trips to Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma State and Iowa State. Howard later chose the University of Arizona following his final official visit.

Defensive Back:

Commitments: DeMarcus Faggins (5-10 170 4.4) Irving, Texas, Derrick Yates (6-2 195 4.35), Houston, Texas and Michael Menifee (6-2 190 4.5) Aldine, Texas.

Korey Banks - Korey was kind of a name that slipped through the cracks until late this recruiting season. After visiting Manhattan on the December 3rd weekend Banks commited to K-State...but that decision did not become public until a month later. Now, it appears the K-State coaching staff has taken back his offered scholarship and he will not sign with the Wildcats in February. Originally from Boynton Beach, Florida...Korey was an all-state selection at Santaluces High School and later signed with Garden City Community College. Once in the Broncbusters program, he made an immediately impact. As a true freshman he had 15 pass break-ups at CB while receiving Honorable Mention Jayhawk Conference honors. Banks was also one of the top punt returners (15.2 yards average and a TD) in the conference in 1998. This past year he left the Broncbusters program and enrolled a little closer to home at Palm Beach Community College. He would have 3 years to play 3.

Cats Bank on Korey: MO-KAN Football

Roc Alexander (6-1 180 4.4) from Colorado Springs Wasson High School has offers from nearly a dozen schools, K-State among them. As a RB this season he rushed for over 16-hundred yards and double digit TDs on offense, and had 60 tackles in 7 games as a defensive back. K-State, Washington and Arizona are his top 3 and Roc lists the Huskies and Cats as his top 2. He will visit Manhattan on the January 14th weekend. In track Alexander has been timed a 10.43 in the 100 meters, so his 40 time is legit. Roc chose the Huskies in late January.

Keith Lander (6-1 170 4.42) is rather new to all of the recruiting circles, but appears to have the size, speed, strength and cover abilities to make an impact at some D-1 program at Safety. Lander was almost unheard of before before breaking out at Nike combine in Denver, but could be one of the top 25 safeties in the country. Keith visited Manhattan on the January 21st weekend, but chose to commit to Colorado State over Kansas and Nebraska. He's expecting to play both football and basketball for the Rams.

Punter/Kicker:

Commitments: Jared Brite (6-2 185 4.7) Bakersfield, California

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