Q&A with new KU commit Jayson Gilliom

Minutes ago, Jayson Gilliom announced his verbal commitment to Kansas. He was recruited by Jordan Peterson, Chevis Jackson, and Les Miles.

Gilliom, a versatile defensive back from Georgia, spoke with Jayhawk Slant and did a Q&A about his decision to pick KU and an old friend, who helped him.

You just gave the Jayhawks your verbal commitment. Tell me about the decision and when you decided you wanted to commit to Kansas.

It was the best fit for me, just playing under a great coach like Les Miles. My parents really like Coach Peterson and Les Miles, and this is a great fit for me. That's why I made the decision.

Last week you talked about Coach Peterson, you also mentioned early in the process Chevis Jackson. Tell me about the relationship you had with the coaching staff, and what did they tell you about the Kansas program?

They said some really, good stuff to me about the program. I was talking to Coach Jackson earlier this spring, and I started talking to Coach Peterson more. They're just really excited to change, and to bring in a new culture of Kansas football and start building it from the ground up. I'm really excited to be a part of that.

Your name just came up to Kansas fans recently. But what a lot of people don’t know is the Kansas coaches started recruiting you some time ago.

Yeah. They started talking to me back in the spring. They've been recruiting me off and on this whole spring and the whole year. So, it wasn't a decision where I made on the spot. I had some connections and some background to it.

Talk about the scene when you called the coaches and committed. Break what it was like telling them that you wanted to be a Jayhawk.

Oh, I was super excited. I was smiling from ear to ear. My parents were there. They were happy. Coach Peterson and Coach Les Miles, they were ecstatic. It was a great feeling just to become a part of the family and bring in this new culture.

At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds you are playing corner in high school. What position do you see yourself at the college level.

Right now, they're (KU) treating me as a safety. They like the way I can cover, obviously, since I played corner. They like my cover ability, but they also like my size for me to come up and fill the hole as safety. But I feel like I'm a very versatile player. I can play corner. I can play safety. I can play wherever they want me to play.

You are close friends with Trey Staley who is from Georgia. He gave a commitment earlier in the year to Kansas. How was his influence with you, and what did he tell you about Kansas?

Me and Trey have been talking about Kansas for a while now. Once I told him that they offered me, he was so excited. He was trying to get me to flip even when they hadn't offered me yet. It was a great because Trey's one of my best friends, so I'm super excited to go to Kansas with him.

You've made a commitment to a Big 12 school. Hopefully, the recruiting's done and it's out of the way. Just what's going through your mind?

I'm super excited right now. I'm ready to get up there. January can't come soon enough. I'm just super excited to become a part of the program.

You and I talked last week about the possibility of graduating early. Just tell me about those plans. How can that help you get your career started fast at Kansas?

Yes, sir. I'll be graduating early, and I'll be enrolling in January at Kansas. I'm just trying to come in early, become part of that program, get inside the weight room, learn the defense, and play in the spring. I'm really excited about that.

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