Surahz Buncom is helping build up Kansas football
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (BVM) – The Kansas Jayhawks have been one of the biggest storylines in college football this season. Kansas football is getting noticed and recruits like three-star wide receiver Surahz Buncom are thrilled to be a part of one of the top up-and-coming college football programs in the nation.
“It feels great because you feel like you’re a part of something that’s beyond just football,” Buncom said.
Buncom is the top Jayhawk recruit for the Class of 2023 and has been committed to the program since early June. The 6-foot-4 Mater Dei Catholic senior chose Kansas football over offers from Oregon, Oregon State, BYU and Colorado as well as other DI schools. Kansas had given Buncom an offer in February and then won the three-star over.
“A lot of schools had told me I was the No. 1 on their recruiting but Kansas was one of the few that actually showed it,” Buncom said.
However, even with his time around the program, he wasn’t ready for Kansas taking the college football world by storm. Buncom believed in what head coach Lance Leipold and his staff were building but a 5-0 start was more than any Jayhawk could have asked for.
“I wouldn’t necessarily call it a surprise but I also wasn’t expecting the start,” Buncom said. “I definitely see a program that was gaining confidence and instilling a competitive culture but to say that I saw a 5-0 start, I wouldn’t say that.”
The start to the season has given the Jayhawks national recognition. ESPN College GameDay came to Lawrence for the first time ever last week for the Jayhawks’ game against TCU. Kansas football has also sold out its last three straight home games for the first time since 2008.
An amazing start has helped Kansas with recruiting. Buncom has talked up Kansas since he first committed and the Jayhawks’ success has definitely made the recruiting pitch easier.
“Since I committed, me and Taylor Davis have been helping with the recruiting process, reaching out to some other recruits,” Buncom said. “Ever since the sudden success, a lot of people are quick to give me responses and shed a lot of praise on the program”
Kansas is getting noticed and Lawrence is being shown off for the great college town it is. The intense fandom that has mostly been around Jayhawk basketball in recent years, is now cheering on football. That college experience has gotten Buncom and the other recruits excited to be a part of all of it.
“The thing I’m most excited for is just being able to experience that with the players,” Buncom said. “To experience how hyped everyone is.”
Once he is with Kansas football, it will start the next chapter in the Buncom family’s long history in football. Buncom’s grandfather, Frank Buncom Jr., played linebacker in the AFL and his older brother, Frank Buncom IV, was a four-star safety that played at Stanford. However, even with football running in the family, Surahz says that wasn’t always his plan.
“It really wasn’t even until last year… in my mind I was still a baseball player,” Surahz said about his realization that he should play college football.
Baseball had always been his favorite sport and even though he received his first college offer from Pitt as a sophomore, he planned on playing baseball in college. But last year as a junior for Mater Dei Catholic, Surahz helped the Crusaders go 13-0 and win the state championship.
The 6-foot-4 wide out led the team in touchdown receptions with nine and also racked up 467 receiving yards on 30 receptions. This season, Surahz has been working on preparing for Kansas while also helping the Crusaders build off of their success last year.
Surahz is also going to enjoy the Jayhawks’ success this year. He has plans to go to more Kansas football games and will be attending basketball games as well. Surahz will continue to recruit others to join him in Lawrence. He’s proud to be a Jayhawk and is ready to add to the hype.
