After another successful gridiron season, coach Mark Mangino announces a 2009 KU football recruiting class that includes six defensive backs, nine players from Texas and four Kansans.

The signing group includes 14 defensive players, including a position-high six defensive backs, five defensive linemen and three linebackers. KU signed 10 offensive players, including three linemen, three wide receivers, two quarterbacks and two running backs. Twenty-one of the 24 signees are high school players, while the three junior college signees include cornerback Calvin Rubles (Tyler JC), defensive tackle Travis Stephens (Blinn CC) and defensive end Quintin Woods (Bakersfield CC).

Once again, the Jayhawks went to Texas for a large pool of its recruits, as KU signed nine high school players from the Lone Star State. Two of the three junior college players were Texas high school standouts as well.

The Jayhawks gained four players from the state of Kansas in Girard safety Darian Kelly, Hesston offensive lineman Riley Spencer, Mulvane linebacker Huldon Tharp and Olathe North defensive end Kevin Young.

Two players in the class are from the state of Florida and have well-known fathers. Wide receiver Erick McGriff, from Jesuit High School in Tampa, is the son of former major league baseball player Fred McGriff, while running back Deshaun Sands, from Piper High School in Sunrise, is the son of former Jayhawk football standout Tony Sands.

KU also signed two players from Oklahoma and one from each of the states of Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska and Missouri. Signees already on campus include Rubles, Sands, Jordan Webb and Kevin Young.

For a complete look at the 2009 football recruiting class, fans can visit Signing Day Central powered by Lynn Electric and Communications. Exclusive highlight videos and official biographies of the newest Jayhawks are included.

The Jayhawks will tackle a six-game 2009 schedule at Memorial Stadium's Kivisto Field that is one of KU’s best ever. It includes games against national powers Oklahoma and Nebraska, as well as non-conference games against Duke and Southern Mississippi.

Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online. Reserved season tickets cost $300. The Family Plan, which includes two adult and two youth general admission season tickets in Memorial Stadium’s North Bowl, costs $450. Kansas Athletics also has announced a new season ticket option, the Crimson Zone ticket—a reserved seat in Sections 1 and 2—for just $225.