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