Zavier Hamilton, one of nation's top LB, plans to visit Kansas again
The Jayhawks got a visit from one of the top linebackers in the country and there are more trips to Lawrence in the future.
Zavier Hamilton, from Navarre, Fla., visited for Junior Day earlier this month and told Jayhawk Slant he will be back in Kansas soon.
Running backs coach Jonathan Wallace recruits the area where Hamilton lives. The two started building a relationship last year and that was a big reason Hamilton took the visit.
“Coach Wallace is a fantastic guy,” Hamilton said. “I mean, we talk and text pretty much almost every day. I mean, he's a fantastic guy. He's really authentic. He tells you how it's going to be and what's it going to be like. He tries to learn as much as he can about me. I mean, I love him, man. He's a great guy.”
When Hamilton went on his visit to Kansas, he got to meet linebackers coach Chris Simpson and learn about the position.
“I like the way the defense is run,” he said. “I could truly envision myself playing there, and Coach Simpson made it clear that they want me there. Hanging around Coach Simpson, he's a great guy too, man. He’s real authentic as well. It was great for me to be able to go up there so I can have that one-on-one talk with him and just sit down with him.”
The coaches believe Hamilton could play different positions in their linebacker sets.
“Coach Simpson said he likes how fast I play and how versatile I am,” Hamilton said. “And considering my skillset, I can play anywhere in the LB room.”
This was Hamilton’s first visit to Kansas, and he came away impressed. He did not know what to expect but people told him he needed to see campus and he would get a better picture of what Kansas has to offer.
“I wasn't expecting it to look as good as it looked,” he said. “People were telling me that I have to go up there to see it, I was like, ‘Man, all right. I guess, I'll go.’ I'm so happy that I did. I'm so happy that I did because going up there, I was able to really grasp what people were talking about. The campus is beautiful. The buildings and facilities they have are amazing. I mean, I just wasn't expecting it.”
And the facilities are about to get big upgrades. This spring they are expected to start renovations inside the Anderson Family Football Complex that will focus on the weight room and locker rooms. After that Kansas will start a project to renovate the football stadium.
“They told me they're putting 400 million into it,” Hamilton said. “They're building a new weight room and new locker room coming soon.”
Hamilton said he will visit Auburn, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Florida. He will be back at Kansas for the spring game and is in the process of setting up an official visit.
“I'm definitely taking an official visit to Kansas whenever they open it,” he said. “I think they said June. I'm talking to coach now about it.”
He holds offers from Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Florida State and several other programs. Hamilton is currently ranked the 12th best linebacker in the country. During his visits he is taking good notes so he can start trimming his list in the near future.
“Every visit that I go on, I'm looking at three things,” he said. “I'm looking for passion out of the coaches, I'm looking at how the players respond and the culture of the players themselves, and the culture of the entire area and how everyone else interacts with each other.
“If the culture in the locker room is great that’s something I want to be a part of. I have no problem being a part of the program that's rebuilding or building up. I love being a part of change, so me going to a school like Kansas is great because they are changing, and I love it there.”