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
Committed️Lawrence is home@KU_Football @CoachLeipold @CoachJPeterson @CoachOnatolu @RecruitClique @Katyfootball pic.twitter.com/Pfm5CFNsif
— Dakyus(DAK)Brinkley (@DakyusB) July 4, 2023
School: Katy High in Katy, Texas
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: .9114
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 21
Austin Alexander, cornerback
Let’s goo!!!!! Im excited to be a Jayhawk!!!#Rockchalk @CoachLeipold @CoachJPeterson @KU_Football pic.twitter.com/ecIREyiyVl
— Austin “Double AA” Alexander (@Aaustin05) June 12, 2023
School: Marian Catholic High in Chicago
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: 0.8921
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 49
Damani Maxson, safety
LAWRENCE KANSAS, IM HOME
110% COMMITTED️️
Happy Father’s day pops this is for you ROCK CHALK @CoachLeipold @CoachWallaceKU pic.twitter.com/vZ2dLd52Cn— Damani Maxson (@DamaniMaxson) June 18, 2023
School: Clear Lake High in Houston
Stars: Four
247Sports composite rating: 0.8908
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 40
Jalen Todd, safety
Lawrence Let’s Do It #RockChalk 1000% Committed pic.twitter.com/vrjqZpIv97
— Jalen Todd 4️ CB (@JalenTodd1) June 14, 2023
School: Southfield High in Southfield, Michigan
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8867
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 46
Harry Stewart, running back
committed. #RockChalk @CoachWallaceKU @KU_Football pic.twitter.com/QPjXduUGIK
— Harry Stewart III (@hstewartiii) June 13, 2023
School: Centennial High in Frisco, Texas
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8811
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 44
Deshawn Warner, defensive end
mama i'm home pic.twitter.com/KDmhVs6LMT
— DESHAWN WARNER (@DeshawnWarner15) July 1, 2023
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8759
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 46
Red Martel, running back
Committed! ️ #ROCKCHALKJAYHAWK @CoachWallaceKU pic.twitter.com/RpRpsSTT8O
— Mekusapv “Red” Martel (@RedMartel11) November 9, 2022
School: Beggs High in Beggs, Oklahoma
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.87
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 62
Isaiah Marshall, quarterback
Beyond excited and blessed to make my commitment to the University of Kansas!!! #RockChalk @KU_Football @CoachLeipold @S_Warriors_FB pic.twitter.com/kzVolHQMFS
— Isaiah Marshall QB 2024 (@ZekeMarshall07) February 2, 2023
School: Southfield High in Southfield, Michigan
Stars: Three
247Sports Composite rating: 0.8697
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 35
Aundre Gibson, cornerback
Committed #RockChalk ️ pic.twitter.com/LMuf1wlP9F
— Aundre Gibson (@NoLimitDre21) March 5, 2023
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8633
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 81
Carson Bruhn, tight end
Committed️️#RockChalk pic.twitter.com/bKNWIuCnwN
— Carson Bruhn (@carsonbruhn2024) April 20, 2023
School: Sioux Center High in Sioux Center, Iowa
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8619
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 47
Harrison Utley, offensive lineman
Everyone knows what the players and coaches have started in Lawrence. Me and my brothers in the Class of ‘24 are on the way.
Come be a part of history. #RockChalk #KAN24S pic.twitter.com/fKX6imI0Yb— Harrison Utley (@HarrisonUtley) June 11, 2023
School: Norman North High in Norman, Oklahoma
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.86
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 79
Jacorey Stewart, linebacker
Let’s get this 24 Jayhawks class right where my jayhawk fans @CoachSimps @CoachSvarczkopf @CoachBenReaves @MiltonEagles_FB @CoachOnatolu pic.twitter.com/hVo0JabWcl
— jacorey stewart (@jacorey___18) June 11, 2023
School: Milton High in Alpharetta, Georgia
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8578
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 100
Jonathan Kamara, linebacker
All Glory To God!!
Committed #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/QFen4kpNCs— Jonathan Kamara (@JKamara_28) May 28, 2023
School: Desert Edge High in Goodyear, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8511
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 116
Carter Lavrusky, offensive lineman
100% COMMITTED. @KU_Football @litten_andy @WClay99 @CoachFuchs @CoachJPeterson @CoachLeipold @hzfbfamily pic.twitter.com/RqPAOnDOhz
— carter lavrusky (@carter_lavrusky) June 26, 2023
School: Horizon High in Scottsdale, Arizona
Stars: Three
247Sports composite rating: 0.8417
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: 117
Kene Anene, offensive lineman
100% COMMITTED️ #RockChalk #AGTG pic.twitter.com/gI7AMZ46Tu
— Kene Anene (@AneneKene) June 18, 2023
School: East Ridge High in St. Paul, Minnesota
Stars: None
247Sports composite rating: NA
247Sports Position Ranking Composite: NA