Cornerback Topps liked Kansas from the start

Robert Topps took notice right away to Kansas after defensive coordinator Clint Bowen visited Marist High School. The next day Topps was told he had a scholarship offer from the Jayhawks.

When Topps got the offer Bowen told him he reminded him physically of a Pro Bowl cornerback he coached earlier at Kansas.

“When I first talked to coach Bowen he told me he likes my length and he told me I reminded him of Aqib Talib and how he was built,” Topps said. “That meant a lot to me.”

Topps had over 15 division one offers and although he hasn’t visited Kansas yet he decided he was ready to make a decision.

“Kansas was by far the school that caught my eye,” Topps said. “When they offered I knew it was one of the best offers I had and I did not want to see that opportunity go away.”

On Wednesday evening he reached out to head coach David Beaty and told him he was ready to accept their scholarship offer.

“He told me he was real excited,” Topps said. “He told me he was ready to do a flip.”

Ever since the Jayhawks offered Topps over a month ago he stayed in constant contact with Bowen and Beaty.

“I have been talking to and having communication with coach Bowen and coach Beaty almost every day,” he said. “When I heard about the history of Kansas and the Big 12 conference that helped me pretty much make up my mind. With the history that they have with Chris Harris and Aqib Talib that had me sold from the beginning since I talked to Coach Bowen back in May.”

The Jayhawks currently have six defensive backs in the NFL. Bowen has coached most of them in his career and that is something that caught his attention.

“It stands out and shows he can produce players,” Topps said of Bowen. “He has helped produce some of the best DBs in the league. Automatically I think that makes him one of the best defensive back coaches in the nation.”

Before he made his call to the Kansas coaches Topps talked things over with people close to him and made sure he was making the right decision.

“I talked to my dad and my head coach,” Topps said. “They told me going to Kansas would be the smartest move for me.”

Topps, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds said he plans to take a visit to Lawrence soon. Until then he is confident he made the right choice in his college future.

“When they talk to me they treat me like family,” he said. “That goes a long way. Even though I haven’t visited there they kept me up to date with information about the school and videos of the campus. I felt like I knew a lot about the Kansas program. I have been told how nice the school is. I feel great and I know this is definitely the right move.”