89 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Denzel Goolsby

Denzel Goolsby True Freshman 6-0 | 191 Wichita, Kan. Bio

Position: Wide Receiver Previous College: None Projection: Redshirt Status: On Scholarship

Denzel Christopher Goolsby (b. Jan. 25, 1997) continues an underrated, but tough-nosed family pipeline at K-State.

He has two cousins who played football at K-State — Jarard Milo, a starting safety on the Big 12 Championship team who lettered in 2011 and 2012, and Brian Goolsby, a popular fullback who lettered from 1995 to 1998.

Another cousin, DeAndre Goolsby, is a sophomore tight end at Florida and a former K-State recruit who hopefully could be a candidate to transfer back home now that the coach who recruited him, Will Muschamp, has been fired.

A running back in high school, Denzel Goolsby probably projects best in college as a wide receiver, although he still could line up in the backfield from time to time:

(The coaches) made it pretty clear this weekend that for most part it will be receiver, but Coach Coleman was pretty certain I may move into backfield too because my versatility allows that aspect to still be there.

My answer all along was wherever I can get on the field first and, in the long run, that's the better spot for me probably.

A four-year starter for Bishop Carroll under head coach Alan Schuckman, Goolsby was named the 2014 Gatorade Kansas Football Player of the Year and American Family Insurance All-USA Kansas Offensive Player of the Year.

Goolsby rushed for 1,641 yards and 31 touchdowns to go with 251 receiving yards and seven scores as a senior, helping the Eagles to earn a perfect 13-0 record and a Class 5A State championship.

He also was dangerous in the return game in 2014, when he scored five touchdowns on 13 punt returns and a touchdown on his only kickoff return.

Goolsby was named one of the top 11 players in the state and to the All-Class 5A teams by The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. He also was named a first-team All-Metro performer by The Wichita Eagle.

He was rated the fourth-best player in the state by Scout.com, and named as one of the top 12 players in the state by the Kansas Football Coaches Association and to the organization’s All-State 5A team.

Goolsby rushed for 495 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, despite missing three games due to injury. In all, he helped Bishop Carroll to go 47-2 over his four-year career, with two state championships (in 2012 and 2014).

In addition to football, he also ran track, placing second in the state in 2012 in the 4x100 and third in the 4x400.

And for those who care about personality above all else, Goolsby rates highly on that front. "Denzel Goolsby is right out of the Tyler Lockett school of polite, likable and impressive young men," said GoPowercat.com's Tim Fitzgerald.

You have to love his attitude coming in, as well:

"You now, it's funny because I always hear 'two-star athlete Denzel Goolsby' and I can't stand it," began the 5A State champion, somewhat agitated by his current rating, which included a post-season snub from the Kansas Top 10.

"At the same time, I know when I went to the Rivals camp, I was a sophomore and then my junior year, I didn't go at all. By now, I could've posted better numbers, but at end of the day, that's just exposure for recruiting anyway."

"I'd be lying if I said it doesn't upset me at times, but it's just added fuel. All I wanted was an opportunity and I got that. I got the same opportunity as any five-star athlete and come June, we're all on a level playing field. And you know what else? Work ethic doesn't get rated now, but by then, that's what's going to matter most."