Kansas has plenty to sort out on its defensive line heading into 2026, but one name that keeps coming up is Dakyus “Dak” Brinkley.
The redshirt sophomore edge rusher enters the year with real intrigue around him. A former 4-star recruit, Brinkley was ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s 323rd-best player and the 25th-best edge rusher in the 2024 class. He also checked in as Kansas’ seventh-highest-rated recruit since recruiting services began tracking those rankings.
His first season on campus gave a glimpse of why the Jayhawks are still invested in him. Brinkley finished with 15 total tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his redshirt freshman year.
Like most young defenders, the production came with some growing pains, and he was doing it in the middle of a Kansas defense that allowed 409.5 total yards per game, which ranked 95th in the FBS, under first-year defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald.
New defensive ends coach Joe Dineen made it clear earlier this month that Brinkley is still very much in the program’s plans.
“Dak is a kid that wants to be really good. He wants to be really good, so it's on us as coaches to get him to that point and let him know if he's slipping at all.
You know, he wants to be coached. The maturity level with Dak has really gone up.
And I appreciate working with them every day. And we're just keeping striving, 'cause he's got a lot of potential.”
The question now is how Kansas fits him into the rotation. Ourlads projects Alex Bray on the left side and Leroy Harris III on the right, which leaves Brinkley in a tricky spot behind Harris. That’s no small obstacle, considering Harris is one of the team’s top players after a first Big 12 season that produced 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and eight pass breakups.
That setup could push Brinkley into a smaller role again, or even send him to the other edge-rusher spot, a position that has also been discussed for redshirt freshman Garrett Martin.
Whatever the alignment ends up being, Brinkley will be part of a defense that needs a reset. Kansas brought in 13 healthy new transfers this offseason to help fill the holes that hurt the Jayhawks’ chances of reaching bowl eligibility last year.
The push toward Lance Leipold’s third bowl game in six years begins September 4 against the LIU Sharks, before the schedule tightens quickly with Missouri and Arizona State right after.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found A Key O-Line Answer In Fall Camp
Kansas entered fall camp with a reshaped offensive line after moving on from Bryce Foster, Enrique Cruz and Kobe Baynes, and the early picture points to a new group trying to settle in quickly. The projected starters include Calvin Clements, Amir Herring, Kasen Carpenter, Connor Stroh and Nick Morrow, giving the Jayhawks a fresh look up front as they sort through one of the most important units on the roster.
One of the most encouraging developments has been the rise of DeAndre Harper, whose work in camp has drawn praise from Lance Leipold. The redshirt sophomore has shown enough growth to put himself into the conversation for a bigger role, and his versatility could make him difficult to keep off the field if that progress continues. For a line still finding its shape, that kind of flexibility gives Kansas another possible answer just when it needs one. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas May Have An Unexpected Path To The Center It Needs
Kansas has spent the offseason looking for a way to shore up its frontcourt, and one possible answer may have surfaced in an unexpected place. BYU center Keba Keita has entered the NCAA transfer portal, giving the Jayhawks another name to monitor as they continue sorting through center options, while also weighing Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler as part of the same search.
Keita has not closed the door on a return to BYU, so nothing is settled yet, and that uncertainty is part of what makes this situation worth watching from Lawrence. If BYU lands Kohler, the picture in Provo could change quickly, and Kansas could find itself with a more realistic path to a player it may have viewed as a fit for its roster needs. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Has A New 2027 Wing To Watch
Kansas is already looking ahead to its 2027 class, and a new international name has surfaced on the radar. The Jayhawks are reportedly hosting a promising German wing on a recruiting visit, a sign that Bill Self and his staff are continuing to cast a wide net as they map out the roster beyond the current cycle. With no official comment yet from Kansas, the intrigue is in the fit, especially for a program that has long valued wings who can adapt quickly to the college game.
The player in question has experience in the Real Madrid U21 Liga, which only adds to the appeal for a Kansas staff that has shown it is willing to evaluate talent with a broad developmental track. For the Jayhawks, the bigger picture is how this piece might fit into future roster planning, particularly if the staff decides it needs another long-term answer on the perimeter. Right now, the visit is the first step, but it is the kind of move that can quietly reshape a class if things keep moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]