New assistant DK McDonald impressed by KU staff: ‘You want to be around great people’
When D.K. McDonald was a defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, he often watched Kansas football games and came away with a lasting impression:
The Jayhawks always played hard.
That trait and his chemistry with KU’s staff is why he accepted the Jayhawks’ co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks position in February. He brings 22 years of coaching experience to KU.
“You want to be around great people,” McDonald said, “people who love football and love (the) young men (in it) and want to see them be successful on and off the field.
“The players are just icing on the cake: just the type of people that they were. ... They love football and want to compete. They want to be the best they can be.”
KU’s cornerbacks room for 2024 is headlined by stars Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson. Bryant was named All-Big 12 first team for the second straight season in 2023. He finished with 32 tackles, nine pass deflections and four interceptions.
Meanwhile, Dotson earned an honorable mention in All-Big 12 honors. He had 48 tackles, 15 pass deflections and four interceptions — including two returned for a touchdown.
The pair have even started to garner attention from NFL teams.
“If you are around football, you know who Mello and Cobee are,” McDonald said. “I heard a lot about them at the next level.”
As for what McDonald’s has been most impressed by with the pair?
“Their leadership is amazing,” he said. When these young guys need help, the first two guys over there are those two guys. When we are going through some drills and we’re walking through and a guy makes a mistake, the first two guys to correct them are those two guys.
“That lets me know these aren’t guys who are only out for themselves ... but they are really trying to make sure they leave this place better than they found it. To me, that’s special.”
After the star starting duo, the Jayhawks’ cornerback room lacks playing experience. So, McDonald is primarily focused on teaching in the film room first, as he believes that will lead to results on the field.
“We’re trying to give them the knowledge that they need and then get them some reps out there,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of talent running around here, and now its just about developing them. … We will get those guys where they need to be when it’s time for them to step up on the field and play.”
Beyond that, McDonald has one more big goal for 2024: helping KU win a Big 12 championship.
“It’s one group, one goal, and that’s the goal to win this Big 12 title,” he said. “And if guys aren’t with that, they don’t need to be here.”
