Swain Snags Offer at KU Junior Day

Jimmie Swain was looking forward to learning more about the Kansas program during Saturday’s Junior Day event. After meeting with the head coach and his prospective position coach, the 2014 prospect came away impressed. Go Inside for more on Swain’s KU visit…

Lee’s Summit (MO) Jimmie Swain was looking forward to Junior Day at KU. By the sound of it, so was Head Coach Charlie Weis. “As soon as I got there, I told the lady my name and she took me back to the coaches offices,” Swain said, smiling. “Then they called me into Coach Weis’ office. The first thing he says to me is ‘we are offering you a full-ride scholarship to play football at The University of Kansas.’” Swain laughed. “It was just really straight to the point.” The 6-foot-3, 212-pound linebacker was impressed with the Kansas program, and enjoyed the Junior Day festivities. “They’ve got some really nice facilities,” he said of the KU football complex. “It was just a really great time, getting to talk really one-on-one and getting to know the staff in general.” The 2014 prospect spent time talking with long-time KU assistant Clint Bowen, who recently took over as linebackers coach. Swain enjoyed learning more about the system the Jayhawks will run next season. “Coach Bowen took us into the linebacker room and explained the scheme they are going for,” he said, nodding. “They are tweaking their scheme this year. He gave us the builds they are looking for, so I know about where I would be and the position he would like for me to play.” “He didn’t try to hide anything from us,” he said. “He gave us a little bit of a football lesson on the 4-3 and 3-4 defense.” The more he learned about his prospective role as the Sam linebacker in the Jayhawks system, the more interested Swain seemed to get. “He was explaining that it’s a defense that is partly a 3-4 and partly a 4-3,” he said. “Teams are having success with it. I didn’t know it’s the system that Texas A&M is running.” The position group meeting with Coach Bowen allowed Swain to talk with some of the other players being recruited to play at Kansas. “Getting to know other recruits that might end up being your teammates was also a really good experience,” he said. “You see linebackers when you are playing the game, but you don’t get to really see them. I enjoy seeing other people that play my position.” Like many Junior Day visitors, seeing the Jayhawks take on Texas in Allen Fieldhouse was a major highlight for Swain. Despite KU taking apart the Longhorns Saturday night, the game wasn’t the main attraction. “I think the best part of the day for me was more than just the game,” he said, nodding his head. “At the very beginning, the crowd was getting really hyped. Just seeing the traditional stuff, the cheers and trying to learn those. I couldn’t hear myself talk, it was really awesome.”