Insight on new KU Jayhawks 4-star pledge Dakyus Brinkley + overall look at the class
The Kansas football program displayed some fireworks of its own on Independence Day.
The Jayhawks landed a verbal commitment from four-star defensive end Dakyus Brinkley on Tuesday.
Brinkley picked KU over Penn State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State and other schools. Brinkley is currently KU’s highest-rated recruit in the class of 2024.
The Star spoke to Brinkley’s high school coach, Gary Joseph, about Brinkley. Joseph is a longtime legendary high football coach at Katy High School in Katy, Texas.
Joseph told The Star that the University Interscholastic League recently approved Brinkley’s transfer, clearing the way for Brinkley’s move from Katy Seven Lakes High to Katy High for his senior season.
Joseph praised Brinkley’s work ethic.
“He plays hard, that’s his biggest strength,” Joseph said. “He’s got speed. He’s pretty relentless in his pursuit.”
Joseph believes Brinkley will fit right into KU’s culture under coach Lance Leipold.
“Kansas turned a corner (last season) and he’s a good kid that will continue to add to that,” Joseph said. “He can be very type of player. He can be an edge rusher and an outside linebacker. He can do a lot of different things. I think the biggest thing he can add is the way he plays the game. He plays very hard.”
Joseph has coached for 14 seasons at Katy and won multiple championships, so he’s seen his share of college football coaches come around, recruiting his players.
Joseph was impressed by KU football’s program overall but believes Kansas’ continued success depends on players’ development.
“Kansas is going to have to very much be like Iowa State and they way the are — they are going to have to get the kids and have develop them,” Joseph said. “Dak is not a finished product. He’s going to get better at football. … It doesn’t matter how many stars he has. He has to work and be developed.”
Kansas’ 2024 class currently ranks No. 36 nationally and fourth in the Big 12, according to 247Sports’ class of 2024 rankings.
Here’s a look at the players in that class:
Dakyus Brinkley, defensive end
School: Katy High in Katy, Texas
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: .9114
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 21
Austin Alexander, cornerback
School: Marian Catholic High in Chicago
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: 0.8921
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 49
Damani Maxson, safety
School: Clear Lake High in Houston
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: 0.8908
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 40
Jalen Todd, safety
School: Southfield High in Southfield, Michigan
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8867
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 46
Harry Stewart, running back
School: Centennial High in Frisco, Texas
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8811
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 44
Deshawn Warner, defensive end
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8759
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 46
Red Martel, running back
School: Beggs High in Beggs, Oklahoma
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.87
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 62
Isaiah Marshall, quarterback
School: Southfield High in Southfield, Michigan
Stars: Three
247Sports Composite rating: 0.8697
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 35
Aundre Gibson, cornerback
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8633
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 81
Carson Bruhn, tight end
School: Sioux Center High in Sioux Center, Iowa
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8619
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 47
Harrison Utley, offensive lineman
School: Norman North High in Norman, Oklahoma
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.86
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 79
Jacorey Stewart, linebacker
School: Milton High in Alpharetta, Georgia
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8578
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 100
Jonathan Kamara, linebacker
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8511
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 116
Carter Lavrusky, offensive lineman
School: Horizon High in Scottsdale, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8417
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 117
Kene Anene, offensive lineman
School: East Ridge High in St. Paul, Minnesota
Stars: None
247Sports composite rating: NA
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: NA
