Liam Jones holds a Kansas offer, will visit Tuesday

The Kansas coaches attended several satellite camps in Oklahoma and Texas during June. Now they are hoping to land a recruit they discovered at one of those camps.

The Kansas staff hosted a camp in Oklahoma along with Missouri State and that’s where they saw the abilities of Liam Jones, a kicker from Choctaw High School.

“My high school coach Todd Dilbeck is really good friends with some of the coaches a KU,” Jones said. “Kansas and Missouri State ran a satellite camp at my school. Coach Dilbeck let me know about it. It was mainly for skill kids so there were only about four or five specialist at the camp. So I basically got a one-on-one with the coaches. I got to kick with coach Deforest and then the Missouri State coaches.”

DeForest has coached a lot of successful special teams players from the state of Oklahoma when he was at Oklahoma State. He told Jones after the camp he would be in touch with him.

“A couple days ago coach Dilbeck called me and said Kansas wants to offer me a scholarship,” Jones said. “So I called coach DeForest and they offered me. I have faith in my hard work and that it would soon pay off. Coach Dilbeck has always told me that. When coach DeForest told me he was going to offer me I felt really blessed. It is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.”

Jones will make the trip to Lawrence on Tuesday with his father. He knows it is difficult for special team’s players to earn scholarships. But he still wants to be thorough in the recruiting process.

“It is a full ride so it will be hard to pass up,” Jones said. “I love the school and I have always watched their games. I have already been a fan of Kansas football. I want to wait a little bit to see because other schools are telling me they want to see how I do in the season. But I am having a good feeling about Kansas and I want to see how the visit goes.”

Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Southern Illinois, and Missouri State have also shown an interest in him.

“This isn’t a decision that you want to rush into it is very important,” Jones said.

Chris Sailer who ranks the top kickers in the country had this to say about Jones on his website:

Liam is an excellent kicker. The lefty has a strong leg and kicks with outstanding consistency. He is smooth and kicks with great technique. His field goals are a major strength. Liam's kickoffs are strong and near the top of his class. He drives the ball well and gets solid hang time. Also a dependable punter. He competes well under pressure. He has the tools to be great at the next level. Liam has a bright college future ahead of him. Look for him to pick up scholarship offers. Excellent prospect.