Andrew Simpson, a three-star linebacker from St. John Bosco High in Southern California, became the second defensive player in the 2021 recruiting class to commit to the Kansas football program on Saturday night.
Simpson announced his news on Twitter, saying “I want to live the full college experience and go somewhere I know I will be focused on my craft.”
Primarily recruited by KU assistant coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe, the 6-foot-1, 218-pound outside linebacker said his bond with Uzo-Diribe, along with the connection he made with the rest of the Kansas coaching staff, inspired him to make the call to join the Jayhawks.
“I wanted to go somewhere I was really wanted,” Simpson told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “And Kansas made me feel like I could come in immediately and make an impact. I feel like Coach Les Miles and Coach Diribe are great people, and we developed a strong relationship. They just made it feel right to commit there.”
In Simpson, the Jayhawks are adding a player with experience competing, preparing and winning at an elite level. Last season, St. John Bosco claimed its first outright national championship by finishing atop the USA Today and Max Preps high school football polls following a 13-1 season.
“We go to work and do a lot of things that some others don’t,” Simpson told Kirby of his high school program. “I feel like I’m prepared for college just because of everything we do every day and the competition that I have to face in practice and in games.”
KU’s newest commitment has yet to visit Lawrence, but he has talked to Uzo-Diribe about making that happen as soon as the COVID-19 health crisis passes.
He picked KU over offers from Oregon, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV and Utah State.
Simpson becomes the 10th commitment in KU’s current recruiting class, joining Little Rock, Ark., defensive end Deldrick Withers as the only two defensive players on the list to date.
The rest of KU’s class includes Lawrence High running back Devin Neal; Brownsburg (Ind.) High quarterback Ben Easters; Mena, Ark., tight end Mason Brotherton and Jaddai Henry, Majik Rector and Kelan Robinson, who are all wide receivers from Texas.