Julian Marks has been busy with basketball so the talented 2025 prospect from St. Thomas Aquinas has not been able to take many visits.
With Lawrence only 30 minutes from his home he found time to visit Kansas for a junior day last month.
Marks attended the basketball game as part of the visit.
“Every time I go to Kansas, the environment and everything is just electrifying,” Marks said. “It's never boring. You can feel it inside your body every time they get loud. It's just crazy every time.”
He watched the game against TCU where the team suffered a rare home loss. But still came away impressed with the environment.
“Allen Fieldhouse is the loudest field house in the country, of course,” he said. “Losing, winning, it's ridiculously loud. I love that. And the fans, they're supportive no matter what. So, I think that really sticks out to me too.”
Marks college future is on the football field. He has earned several scholarship offers, and still in his sophomore year. Kansas has been recruiting him from the beginning and he likes the fact he hears from several coaches.
One of those coaches is Lance Leipold.
“I think it's really special, especially for Coach Leipold to be so social with me because there's only one other college where I've actually talked to the head coach, and that was Nebraska, before Coach Mickey Joseph got fired,” Marks said. “I think Coach Leipold really talking to me helps my recruitment with KU, showing that he's more interested in me.”
Marks said there have been several discussions with defensive tackles coach Jim Panagos and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
Growing up in the area Marks has followed the Kansas sports programs. He watched how the team won six games and qualified for a bowl in Leipold’s second season.
“Honestly, I didn't expect it to happen that fast, but I knew KU was building,” he said. “Just watching them slowly grow and become a big time program is crazy, especially being down the street from them almost. And I've always been a KU fan, so I love that they're building.”
Marks has offers from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Washington, Kansas State, Oregon, and Nebraska with several others showing heavy interest.
“I honestly didn't think it'd happened in my sophomore year, but I'm grateful it did put my foot in the door as far as national recruitment,” Marks said. “I'm forever grateful and I'm humble with all this happening to me.”
The dead period ends next week and once the high school basketball season is over he plans to take more visits. Marks said Iowa, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are in line to get visits and another trip to Kansas.
- OLB
- PRO
- APB
- WR
- ATH
- RB
- WDE
- CB
- ATH
- WR