Four-star running back picks Kansas

Brandon Bourbon is quick to admit the last two weeks have been very tough on him. He has been committed to Stanford for six months. But after taking an official visit to Kansas and building a relationship with the coaches he started to think about his recruiting.

After talking with family and thinking things over Bourbon decided he was making the switch to be a Jayhawk.

"I wanted to make sure that I broke my commitment to Stanford," Bourbon said. "I talked to the Stanford coaches. I felt better after I talked with coach (Jim) Harbaugh and let him know. I prayed on it and I have been talking to a lot of people about it. I talked to the coaches at Kansas and I'm going to be a Jayhawk."

Kansas offensive coordinator Chuck Long started the early move on Bourbon. During the first week Long was hired he made a trip to Potosi to meet with Bourbon. Then Kansas hired Reggie Mitchell as the running backs and things heated up from there.

"Coach Mitchell is my guy we are pretty tight," Bourbon said. "I talked to him all the time. I also talked with coach Long and I built a good relationship with the coaches. It wasn't a pressure situation. I was just talking with them and getting to know them."

Several things played into Bourbon's decision over the last two weeks. One of them was the idea of playing near home in front of those close to him.

"Coach Mitchell told me and I started thinking about it after a big game I could come out of the locker room and see players hugging their family and friends," Bourbon said. "And then I come out maybe have a girlfriend there, or maybe not."

Kansas head coach Turner Gill made an in home visit with Mitchell after his official trip to Lawrence. Bourbon liked Gill's approach throughout the recruiting process.

"I really like coach Gill a lot," Bourbon said. "He's a no-pressure guy and kept things relaxed and comfortable. I like the staff he assembled and the way he handles himself."

With three days until signing day Bourbon can relax now that he made the decision to attend Kansas. It was a tough situation to get through but one he's glad is over.

"It was a lot of stress on me," Bourbon said. "I was committed to Stanford for six months. But I felt Kansas was the best place for me and that's what I came to the conclusion with."

Bourbon, a four-star prospect is rated as the nation's 29th best running back and the sixth overall player in Missouri.