Three-star defensive end, Geneo Grissom, ended his recruitment earlier this summer when he committed to the home-state Jayhawks. Although his commitment kept most schools from pursuing the 6’5″, 245 pound Grissom, one school came into the picture this fall, and is now capitalizing on the uncertainty that now surrounds the Kansas football program with the resignation of Mark Mangino.
Grissom and his Hutchinson High School teammates put together another undefeated season in 2009 which was capped by winning their sixth straight state championship. Grissom, once again, was a huge reason the Salthawks navigated their way through the season undefeated. Projected as a defensive end at the next level, Grissom showcased his versatility throughout the season by lining up at multiple positions along the defensive line. Grissom’s size, strength, and speed made him nearly impossible to block on the outside as an end, or inside as a tackle. Grissom often found himself double-teamed throughout games, leaving his fellow Salthawk defenders one-on-one with blockers which generally resulted in negative plays for the opposition.
Grissom, who seems to add to his already impressive frame every time we see him, is now growing into his size 18 shoe. Now, easily 6’5″, Grissom will likely add another inch to inch and a half by the time he steps onto a college football field next fall. Many have commented that if Grissom played in Texas, or even Kansas City, instead of western Kansas, he would easily be considered one of the nations best defensive prospects. However, the well-kept Kansas secret is no longer a secret, and Grissom’s talents are now well-known throughout the country and schools have taken notice of his game. His talents, along with the current coaching situation at Kansas, recruiting Grissom despite his commitment to the Jayhawks makes perfect sense. One of the schools eagerly pursuing Grissom is college football powerhouse and two time National Champion this decade, LSU. Not only have the Tigers been recruiting the star lineman, they have made sure that he and his high school coach, Randy Dreiling, know that Grissom isn’t just a player they would like to have in Baton Rouge, he is the top lineman that they are recruiting. It appears that their persistence has paid off, as Grissom is hoping to make a trip to LSU on the weekend of January 23rd.
“I actually might be visiting LSU on that weekend,” Grissom said of a possible LSU visit.
Although the trip isn’t finalized yet, it is something that is likely to happen on that weekend or another shortly after.
“No not completely,” said Grissom of the LSU visit being finalized. “We have a tournament that weekend, which is our league tournament,” added Grissom about his Hutchinson High School basketball team, a team that was the only one successful against Wichita Heights who stars the #4 ranked player in the ESPNU Terrific 25, Perry Ellis.
Although Kansas remains Grissom’s #1 choice at this time, whether or not his decision will change could depend upon who the Jayhawks name as their next head coach and what current assistants remain on the Kansas staff. For now, Grissom is sitting back and waiting to see who the Jayhawks hire, and will then reevaluate his commitment to the Jayhawks.
With no set timetable as to when the Kansas Athletic Director, Lew Perkins, will conclude his search for a new coach, it’s no secret that schools around the country will continue to recruit Grissom and the other talented football players that are currently committed to the Jayhawks. One of those talented players is three-star quarterback, Jacoby Walker, who many see as the quarterback of the future at Kansas. Walker, who plans to enroll for the spring semester, will travel to Arkansas this weekend.
