All-American DT picks Kansas
The stage was set as Jordan Tavai had narrowed his college choices down to a pair of Big 12 schools. He took a visit to Kansas last weekend and this weekend the Red Raiders got their chance.
It was a tight battle and Tavai returned home to California to talk it over with his family.
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"I talked to my mom, dad, and brother about it," Tavai said. "I didn't want to make a decision until I talked with them."
After talking with his family Tavai made a call to his lead recruiter at Kansas, Rob Ianello. That's when he broke the news about his decision.
"I talked to coach Ianello and coach Weis," Tavai said. "First I called coach Ianello to tell him my decision and then I called coach Weis. They were both happy I decided to commit to Kansas."
When Tavai completed the visit to Lubbock he said both schools were evenly matched. His decision came down to the coaching staff.
"I want to play for Buddy Wyatt and coach Dave Campo," he said. "I want to get into Kansas and help turn the program around. The two schools (Kansas/Texas Tech) were even but I thought Kansas had the better coaches I would be playing for. Kansas has the coaches with the NFL experience that will help me."
Tavai was selected as a junior college All-American for El Camino. Kansas started to recruit him in the beginning of January.
"They told me they liked my explosiveness on film," Tavai said. "They said they liked the way I hustle to the ball. They said I can inside our outside. They talked about switching up defenses and I would play over the ball and sometimes over the guard."
There were a lot of schools making a late push at Tavai. He is glad to make a commitment and have recruiting behind him.
"It's a relief," he said. "I'm ready to get the papers signed on Wednesday. There will be a lot of coaches that try to change my mind."