Two 247Sports recruiting experts weigh in on KU landing Juju Marks

Kansas recently received a positive update with Juju Marks announcing his commitment to KU earlier this week. This news was highlighted on the 247Sports College Football Recruiting Podcast, hosted by Cooper Petagna and Andrew Ivins.

Petagna, who has a background in college football recruiting departments and has held roles like recruiting coordinator and director of player personnel at institutions such as Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, shared his insights first on the commitment. Ivins, the Director of Scouting for 247Sports, joined in the discussion.

Speaking about Marks, Petagna emphasized the athlete’s attributes and his versatility in playing on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Petagna expressed his earlier high evaluation of Marks, stating, “Given his background, given his stature, you look at the athletic foundation, I had a Top247 grade on this guy a couple of months ago.” Petagna acknowledged the player’s physical capabilities and mentioned his surprise at Marks transitioning to an offensive tackle position at the next level. Nevertheless, he praised Marks’ size and skills, noting that Kansas is making a wise choice in recruiting him.

The Top247 ranking system by 247Sports designates players as either four or five-star recruits and represents the top talent across the nation. Initially, the top 247 players are individually ranked before transitioning to state and positional rankings. Currently, Marks holds a rating of 89, making him the highest-rated three-star prospect possible. Specifically, he is positioned as the 33rd best offensive tackle in his class.

Marks initially started his high school journey as a defensive tackle, but during his junior year, he shifted his focus to playing on the offensive line. This transition aligns with the position he has been recruited to play at KU.

When offering his opinion on Marks, Ivins described him as a former basketball-oriented athlete and noted his observation of Marks at a 7-on-7 tournament. Although he expressed doubt about Marks’ height being exactly 6-foot-7, he recognized that Marks stands over 6-foot-5. Ivins highlighted Marks billing himself as an offensive tackle despite most of his gameplay footage showcasing his defensive prowess. Overall, Ivins praised Kansas for securing an outstanding in-state prospect like Marks, emphasizing the importance of the recruitment success.

During a camp in Kansas City in spring 2023, the local talent was measured at 6-foot-6 with a wingspan of 6-foot-10, weighing approximately 260 pounds at that time, though his current weight is presumed to be higher.

In the 247Sports Composite ranking, which amalgamates assessments from the four primary recruiting websites, Marks is deemed a four-star recruit and holds the 376th national ranking. He is on the cusp of being classified as a blue-chip prospect based on the 247Sports staff evaluations. Even without a potential ratings increase, Ivins noted that securing Marks signifies progress for KU in attracting top-tier talent, alongside previous acquisitions like Deshawn Warner and Bai Jobe. This trend showcases the university’s enhanced ability to recruit high-caliber athletes.