21 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Jonathan Truman

#21 Jonathan Truman Redshirt Senior 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 2011 and 2012, prior to earning a starting nod at linebacker in 2013.

Truman, who redshirted in 2010, was voted a team captain for the 2014 season. He is one of our top leaders.

He started all 13 games in 2013, which truly was his breakthrough season, finishing second on the team with 89 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, while also recording two forced fumbles and a pass breakup.

Truman finished 13th in the Big 12 Conference in tackles in tackles per game, but ninth in total tackles.

He tallied at least seven tackles in eight games, including a career-best 13 against Oklahoma, and also had double-digit tackles against Texas Tech (12) and North Dakota State (10).

Truman also played in all 13 games in 2012, making 25 tackles and recovering two fumbles. He paced the squad with 12 special teams tackles, including nine on kickoffs. He also recovered fumbles against Kansas and at TCU.

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

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.

He once said he gave up baseball because "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.

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

He 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 2010 Kansas Shrine Bowl.