A bold early message and a coach seeking genuine connection swayed Nahzae Cox. Kansas’s direct approach and demand for hard work won him over.
KU WR Coach Terrence Samuel’s Early Message Sealed It: Why WR Nahzae Cox Chose Kansas
Current KU transfer wide receiver Nahzae Cox had options when he hit the transfer portal, but Kansas made sure it didn’t feel like a recruitment battle for long.
The former Middle Tennessee State wide receiver said it was wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel who immediately separated KU from the pack. While programs like Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Maryland reached out, Samuel’s approach stood out from the jump.
“Coach Tam, he text me… ‘I’m going to come get you,’” Cox said. “After that, I was like, shoot, come on.”
That early message wasn’t just talk. Samuel stayed consistent, continuing to text and call Cox throughout the process, building a relationship that went beyond football.
The turning point came during Cox’s visit to Michigan State. While waiting in the airport, Samuel called, not to pitch Kansas, but to learn who Cox was as a person.
“He was like, ‘I want to get to know you as a person before you get here,’” Cox said.
That conversation hit differently. Instead of selling promises, Samuel challenged him.
“He was like… ‘You got to come out here and put the work in. I can’t promise you nothing,’” Cox said. “That’s all I wanted—somebody to challenge me.”
Then came the question that sealed it.
“Do you take hard coaching?” Cox recalled.
“I was like, ‘Yeah… that’s what I’ve been getting my whole life.’”
For Cox, that was the fit.
A coach who wasn’t promising anything. A program that demanded work. And a relationship that felt real from the start.
“I needed somebody to come push me and be better every day,” Cox said.
In a crowded portal recruitment, that message, and that mindset, put Kansas over the edge.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Kansas Hosts Big 12 Scorer Vyctorius Miller for Official Visit
Bill Self and the Kansas coaching staff remain aggressive in the portal, and their latest target is a familiar Big 12 name. Oklahoma State transfer Vyctorius Miller is set to visit Lawrence beginning Monday, giving the Jayhawks a close look at one of the more intriguing scoring guards available.
Miller, a 6-foot-5 guard with two years of eligibility remaining, spent last season with the Cowboys after starting his career at LSU. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 37.5% from three, a notable jump from his freshman year.
Kansas fans got a firsthand look at Miller in Stillwater, where he posted seven points and four rebounds against the Jayhawks. But his value goes beyond one matchup. He’s a true three-level scorer who can create his own shot and bring instant offense — something KU is actively looking to add.
While Miller’s overall shooting numbers (41.8%) suggest some inefficiency, his role at Kansas would look much different. Instead of being a primary option, he projects as a potential sixth man who can provide a scoring punch off the bench, similar to the role left behind by Elmarko Jackson.
That fit could be key. Kansas doesn’t necessarily need another high-usage guard, but it does need depth and shot creation in the second unit. Miller checks both boxes.
According to 247Sports, Miller ranks as the No. 81 overall transfer and the No. 12 shooting guard in the portal, making him a solid, though not headline-grabbing, addition if the Jayhawks can land him.
He’s also not the only guard on Self’s radar. Kansas is expected to host Toledo’s Leroy Blyden Jr., signaling a clear priority in rebuilding depth at the position.
Miller’s visit will be one to watch. If he’s open to embracing a more defined role on a bigger stage, Kansas could be an ideal fit, and a chance for him to stay in the Big 12 while elevating his game.