Kansas Coach Charlie Weis continues to bolster the talent pool for his 2013 Jayhawks just weeks after completing his first season as the head honcho on Campanile Hill. One of the key targets for Weis was Arizona Western corner Cassius Sendish who gave his verbal to Weis earlier this week.
Though his name might not be accompanied by a handful of stars, Sendish began getting a lot of love at the BCS level after earning All-Region and All-Conference accolades in 2012. Sendish finished the season with 3 tackles for a loss and 10 pass breakups to go with 29 tackles. When considering his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, and his reputation as a hard-hitting, physical corner, Sendish became a prized possession for a coaching staff needing to replace several senior DB’s including starter Greg Brown.
“It’s a major relief”, says Sendish about completing the recruitment process, “I feel good that I’m ready to have a successful career with the Jayhawks both on and off the field”.
But receiving a scholarship offer from a BCS school like Kansas wasn’t always in the cards for Sendish who began his collegiate career at College of the Canyon in California where he played for one season before transferring to Arizona Western.
“Coming out of high school I was a non-qualifier because of my Core Course GPA”, Sendish tells TheShiver.com. “We had a pipeline out of high school to where you could go to junior college out in California which our coach recommended to us if grades or whatever was an issue.”
Though some would view this as a setback in an athletic career, Sendish says is it nothing but a blessing in disguise. “It helped open my eyes up because it made me a better student and there was a chance for me to play at the college level for two years instead of being a redshirt and sitting on the bench. I want to definitely say that junior college was a positive process for me.”
Coach Weis had promised to improve a very poor academic standing the first moment he stepped onto campus and it wasn’t just lip service either. Weis quickly turned around the Jayhawks in the classroom and Sendish says that’s one of the major factors in naming Kansas as his school of choice.
“{Weis} is the head man when it comes to the football team’s academics”, says Sendish. “So if there’s anything to do with academics he’s the first person to know and I like that because I want to be successful both on and off the field. Obviously I want to be able to graduate from Kansas with a degree.”
Kansas began targeting Sendish back in May and never let off the gas. Lead recruiter of Sendish, Jeff Blasko (tight ends coach) has maintained weekly conversations with Sendish throughout the season which is something the Washington D.C. native says was a factor in his commitment. But it was Coach Weis who sealed the deal last week.
“I had a visit with Coach Weis last week who came out to the campus and I got a chance to sit down and talk to him. I just really weighed my options after I talked to him and the coaches from Indiana and Toledo and after another night of sleeping on it, I went with the Kansas Jayhawks—I’m real confident in that decision.”
Sendish was hosted on his official trip to Kansas by wide receiver Josh Ford who is also a D.C. native and transfer from Arizona Western. Though never actually playing together, Sendish says Ford’s praise of the coaching staff made his decision easier.
“{Josh Ford} says there’s no feeling like playing for a coach who’s already won four Super Bowls. He’s already earned your respect just from that.”
But as Coach Weis has said many times over the course of the season, his job recruiting is made easier (particularly in the JUCO ranks) by the ability to offer immediate playing time (see Kansas 2012 win-loss record). Sendish says this was a major factor in his decision but that the cherry on top was defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Dave Campo.
“What really put it over the top was being able to be coached by Dave Campo and all the experience that he has. I just know that he’s going to make me a better player on the field….He’s coached players like Darren Woodson and Deion Sanders. Those are two names that are household names so of course I’m going to try to immolate those two. He’s coached a lot of greats and I just want to be part of that list”
Though Kansas may add a few more pieces to the mix over the next several months, Sendish will be looking to make an immediate impact in 2013. Sendish will get a head start as he plans to enroll in spring class at KU and will participate in spring practice for the Jayhawks.
Sendish knows he will have to battle for the vacated starting position left by graduated Greg Brown, opposite Tyler Patmon, but says that he expects to compete for that role.
“That’s definitely my plan”, says Sendish. “I wouldn’t even be a good player if I said that wasn’t my plan.”
Sendish will make his collegiate plans official on December 19th when he faxes in his letter of intent.
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