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Brandon Bourbon completed his 2011 freshman season as a running back at the University of Kansas after an all-state record-setting career at Potosi High School in Potosi, Mo.

As a high school senior in 2009, Brandon led the region by breaking his own single-season record with 2,531 yards on 196 carries.

As a junior in 2008, Brandon ran for a single-season school record 2,420 yards on 248 carries in 2008, helping the varsity program reach the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. He led both the 23-county Southeast Missouri region and the St. Louis metro region in total rushing yards in 2008.

Brandon committed to attend and play football at Kansas over Stanford, BYU, Harvard, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Penn, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt. He signed a formal letter of intent on February 3, 2010, the earliest day allowed by the NCAA, and was red-shirted in the 2010 season.

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Brandon finished the 2011 season at KU with 28 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown in eight games for the Jayhawks. He also had 14 kickoff returns for 273 yards. Click here for KU's full schedule, stats and game summaries.

As a freshman • In 2011, Brandon saw his first playing time for KU in its 42-24 win over McNeese State on Sept. 3 with 19 yards on three carries. He finished the season with 190 yards on 28 carries, along with 273 yards on 14 kickoff returns.

As a redshirt freshman • Brandon was redshirted in 2010 and did not play.

As a senior • Brandon set the school's career rushing record Oct. 2 with nine carries for 451 yards, also a single-game school record. His 451-yard game unofficially ranks as the fifth-best in Missouri high school history, and his average of 50.1 yards per carry broke the state record for most yards per carry in a single game. Brandon finished the season with 2,531 rushing yards on 196 carries (12.9 yards per carry), along with 34 touchdowns and 10 two-point conversions. Potosi finished 11-1. Brandon's postseason awards included first-team status on the coaches' all-state team and the media all-state team, along with offensive player of the year on the coaches' team. He was also an ESPN Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. Brandon was ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's 29th-best running back and the sixth-best overall football player in Missouri.

In track and field, Brandon ended his high school career by qualifying for two events in the Class 3 state meet. He finished 15th in the 100 meter dash, and he was part of the 4x100 relay team that finished 12th in its event.

As a junior • Brandon ran for a single-season school record 2,420 yards on 248 carries, breaking a record that stood since 1990, and caught nine passes for 134 yards. Brandon was chosen for both the all-state and all-region offensive team, the annual J-98 Dream Team compiled by KTJJ-FM, and was the Southeast Missouri MVP in a SemoSportsWeb.com fan poll.

In track and field, Brandon fought a nagging injury in state championship events in Jefferson City. He finished seventh in the 100 meter dash and eighth in the 200. During the regular season, Brandon broke the school record in the 100 meter dash (10.4 seconds) at the Trojan Relays.

As a sophomore • Brandon ran for 600 yards on 98 carries as a starter on the varsity level; he caught five passes for 119 yards. His 98-yard touchdown reception against St. Francis Borgia set a school record.

In track and field, Brandon's personal bests were 11.2 seconds in the 100 meter dash, 22.8 seconds in the 200, and 21 feet, 7.6 inches in the long jump. Brandon was an all-conference and all-district pick in all three events as well as the triple jump; he was an all-state selection in the long jump.

As a freshman • Brandon ran for 230 yards on 10 carries in his second game of the season on the freshman team, then was moved to special teams on the varsity level.

In track and field, Brandon was an all-conference selection in the triple jump.

In the classroom • Brandon ranked in the top 10 percent of his senior class and was in the top 10 percent of his class throughout high school. He held a 3.85 GPA with college prep courses. Brandon was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior.

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Highlights of Brandon's high school varsity football games

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Three words that best describe me • Motivated, persistant, determined.

My closest friends would say I ... am fast, athletic, determined, and my nickname is "The Superstar."

Why I compete • I love the team cooperation and the competition.

Who or what motivates me • The thought of other athletes and what they're doing to get better at the same time.

Playing style • Elusive, quick, and can smell the end zone when it's close or far.

My biggest role models • Reggie Bush for athletic ability, Roger Bourbon (my dad) for working hard and never quitting, and Janet Bourbon (my mom) for keeping my goals in sight.

Sports I'd like to play in college • Football first and foremost, and possibly track.

Degree I'll pursue in college • Undetermined.

What I want to be doing in 10 years • Settled down making a comfortable living.

My longterm goals • To live comfortably without having to struggle

My advice to somebody younger who considers me a role model • Figure out what you want and work for it, and keep that your highest priority.

Athletes • Reggie Bush, The Real Adrian Peterson, Michael Jordan.

Pro teams • New Orleans Saints

College teams • Kansas, Mizzou, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ball State

Three musical artists • Lil Wayne, Kanye West, The Game

Three movies • "Friday Night Lights," "Pirates Of the Caribbean," "Step Brothers."

Three TV shows • "Family Guy," "Friday Night Lights," "The Boondocks."

Best feature(s) • Speed, agility and vision.

Dominant hand or arm • Write with the left, everything else with the right.

Dominant foot or leg • Equal.

Bench press (max) • 310 lbs.

Squat (max) • 465 lbs.

40-yard dash • 4.25 seconds.

Banner photo by KUsports.com