Bowie High School senior to be Donovan Vestal is busy preparing for his last season of high school football, but his recruitment isn’t far from his mind. With schools like Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri, Minnesota, and Iowa all pursuing the now 6’5″ 245 pound defensive end from Arlington, Texas. Even with some of the best college football programs in the country recruiting Vestal, one program has separated themselves from the pack.
“I love Kansas. I love everything about them,” Vestal said. “I just need to visit, which will happen after July 4th sometime. I haven’t picked a date yet, and I need to speak with Coach Beaty, but I will visit,” Vestal added.
As for when Vestal will announce his decision, it appears that it won’t be long after his visit to Lawrence.
“Early August,” Vestal said about when he will announce his college decision.
If Vestal should choose the Jayhawks, it would reunite him with his cousin who is currently on the KU roster. That, and the way the Jayhawks play, has helped make the Jayhawk the favorite for Vestal.
“I like the way they (KU) play.” Vestal said. I can see myself fitting in there. I can’t wait to get bigger, stronger, and faster. If I have to red-shirt, that’s fine. My cousin Christian Matthews plays there too and it would be great to set him up on offense by making plays on defense,” Vestal said.
Technically, Vestal and Matthews aren’t cousins, but according to Vestal they are “God Brothers” and just call each other cousins.
With the success of the Kansas program over the past few years, playing football in Lawrence has become a very attractive choice for top recruits around the country. According to Vestal, the past successes are great, but he is thinking about what could happen if he should end up in Lawrence.
“I love that they are a up and coming team,” Vestal said. They’re a special team and I want to be apart of it. I want to be there to win a championship or a bowl game,” Vestal added.
It wasn’t just the way the Jayhawks play or the the fact that his ‘cousin’ is already in Lawrence that set the Jayhawks apart from all of the other programs. According to Vestal, the Jayhawks did it by making sure he knew he was very welcome in Lawrence.
“I feel the love,” said Vestal. “When I came there, I was greeted by every single coach. No matter who else was there with me, every single coach came up to me and greeted me. They were showing me they wanted me. They stepped up and showed me how much they loved me. I want to show them I can be great,” added Vestal.
Vestal now stands 6’5″ and is up to 245 pounds, but that’s not where he hopes to be in the not so distant future.
“260 is where I want to get to. I want to be a man child,” said Vestal.
