Before Kansas opens the 2026 season against Long Island on Friday night, one part of the Jayhawks’ defensive line picture has already started to sharpen: David Santiago is going to matter.
D.K. McDonald laid out the defensive end rotation in his Week 1 press conference, noting that KU wants to work two ends at the stud spot and two or three at rush.
At rush, the depth chart runs Leroy Harris III, Dak Brinkley and Garrett Martin in that order. The more intriguing spot is stud, where Alex Bray is listed first and Santiago sits behind him as the No.
That backup label doesn’t tell the whole story. McDonald said Santiago had one of the best training camps on the roster, and maybe the best of any defender KU brought through preseason. Even as the second man at stud, he is expected to be part of the weekly plan in a meaningful way.
"The great thing about David now that he's getting comfortable," McDonald said. "Being a guy who was at a former military school, you can see those leadership abilities starting to come out of him, which is awesome to see.
He's fun to be around, and he has an infectious smile. But that smile turns into a mean growl when he turns on the field, and that's exciting to see."
Santiago’s path to Lawrence has moved fast. Kansas is his third stop in as many years, after two seasons at Air Force and then a transfer to Michigan State for 2025.
At Air Force, he appeared in 10 games as a redshirt freshman and spent more time at linebacker. At Michigan State, he got on the field in all 12 games.
That background matters now because Kansas asks different things from its two defensive end spots. The rush role is more of a pure pass-rushing job, while stud carries more responsibility and drops into coverage more often. Santiago explained the difference this summer.
"Rush is a lot more open space, in the quarter flats a lot, drop in more," Santiago said. "Stud is a lot more in three tech, four eye, taking on double teams, patting back against 350-pound guys, 315-pound guys, whatever.
So you know you have to be a lot more strong. That same stud, but I'm comfortable playing both now."
That versatility has been a selling point for both Joe Dineen and Lance Leipold, who have both emphasized Santiago’s ability to handle either side. His technique and football IQ have stood out throughout camp, and Santiago pointed to experience and age as reasons he feels more capable of handling the full load.
"The older you get, the smarter you get, or the wiser, I guess," Santiago said. "So we always say a smarter player is a better player. So if you know both positions, you can add more value to the team."
How much will he actually play? Leipold answered that plainly on Monday. The plan is for Santiago and Bray to split the stud reps.
"It's a position that's rotational, and reps will end up being pretty 50/50," Leipold said. "I would imagine it all depends on how games went out, but it's not.
They both know they're going to play. They both know they're going to rotate."
In Other News...
Kansas Blowout Put These Jayhawks On Notice Right Away
Kansas wasted no time making its season opener look like a mismatch, rolling past Long Island University 51-6 while piling up 613 total yards and holding the Sharks to 146. The lopsided result was the kind of start that can set a tone fast, and the grading from Pro Football Focus backed up what the score already suggested: this was a sharp night across the roster, with wide receiver Nik McMillan, defensive end David Santiago and backup quarterback Cole Ballard all drawing especially strong marks.
McMillans work stood out most, giving the Jayhawks a big-play presence early and a player to build around as the schedule tightens. Ballards grade also added another layer to the conversation behind center, since Kansas got more than just a comfortable win out of the opener - it got a clearer sense of which players flashed immediately and who is already forcing attention in a few key spots. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Has A Defensive Worry Heading Into Missouri
Kansas suddenly has a defensive question mark to sort through as it turns its attention from LIU to Missouri. Linebacker Bam Crouch was injured in the first half and did not return, leaving a noticeable hole in a spot that matters even more with a rivalry game looming on the schedule.
Head coach Lance Leipold said the staff still does not know the exact severity of the shoulder-area issue, and Crouch is set to undergo further testing. For Kansas, the timing is less than ideal, because the Jayhawks are now waiting on one of the key details that could shape how they line up when Missouri arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Showed Promise But Missouri Will Test What Still Looks Shaky
Kansas looked the part in its latest outing, piling up 613 yards while holding LIU to 146 and staying efficient enough to convert eight of 13 third downs without punting. The offense finished every red zone trip, but the larger takeaway was that the game still had a sluggish feel at the start, with only six first-quarter points and an opening drive that ended on downs instead of setting an early tone.
Missouri brings a different level of stress in the Border War, and that is where the lingering concerns around Kansas become harder to ignore. The Jayhawks still need cleaner quarterback play, more reliability at linebacker and tighter coverage on the back end, and the defense's depth took another hit when Bam Crouch went out with a shoulder injury, leaving his status for Saturday uncertain. [Read more 🡒]