21 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Jonathan Truman

#21 Jonathan Truman Redshirt Junior 5-11 | 219 Kechi, Kan. Bio

Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship

Jonathan Michael Truman (b. Jan. 6, 1992) is a former walk-on who shined on special teams and as a reserve linebacker in the last two seasons. Now he has earned a scholarship and will battle for a starting nod as a junior.

Truman played in all 13 games in 2011, mainly on special teams. He registered 17 tackles, including four against Kent State, and three apiece against Eastern Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Texas. But 2012 is when he took off.

He played in all 13 games last year, finishing with 25 tackles and recovering two fumbles. Truman paced the squad with 12 special teams tackles, including nine on kickoffs. He also recovered fumbles against Kansas and at TCU.

Truman carded nine tackles in the first two games and also had a tackle for loss against the Hurricanes. He set a career high with six tackles against Texas Tech, and also had two stops against West Virginia, Texas and Oregon.

Those are pretty good numbers for a nonstarter, although his production increased after Tre Walker was hurt. Now Truman is poised to complement Walker and fellow senior Blake Slaughter in the defensive midfield.

Truman gave up baseball because, he said, "it wasn't contact enough for me. It got boring for me. I just like being on defense. I like hitting people and that's what I'm getting recruited for." Sounds like another Mike "Crash" Ekeler.

He earned numerous all-city and all-state honors while helping to lead the Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders to three consecutive district championships.

Truman made 312 tackles in his stellar high school career, including 113 in his senior season to go with three picks and three forced fumbles. He won a state wrestling title in 2010 and also appeared in the Shrine Bowl.