Kansas football's biggest weakness could set back Jayhawks' defensive performance

The Kansas football team improved tremendously on defense a season ago, allowing 26.5 points per game in comparison to 35.5 one year prior. Many of KU's improvements can be attributed to the defensive line, which finished third in the Big 12 in sacks. Unfortunately, breakout star Austin Booker declared for the NFL Draft early, leaving a massive void in the front four.

While the Jayhawks have proven players at positions like cornerback (Cobee Bryant, Mello Dotson) and safety (Marvin Grant, O.J. Burroughs), there are several question marks surrounding the defensive line. Could creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks be an issue for Lance Leipold's group? We think it will be.

Kansas football defensive line could be team's biggest weakness

On paper, Kansas is crammed with young talent on the defensive front. Michigan State transfer Bai Jobe is expected to transform into a star once he gains more experience, while Deshawn "DJ" Warner was the school's highest-rated high school signee in the rankings era. But the defensive line's lack of experience might come back to bite the Jayhawks.

The impact that Booker had on the defense cannot be understated. He earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection and finished the season with 37 QB pressures and 26 QB hurries. Jereme Robinson is the only somewhat proven defensive end on the roster — he has 19 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks across four seasons at KU.

In addition to a questionable pass rush, the Jayhawks lost defensive tackle Devin Phillips to graduation. He was an unsung hero for the defense in 2023, stuffing the middle and closing run gaps. North Dakota State transfer Javier Derritt should ease that loss, but stopping the run will be especially challenging with Phillips out of the picture.

It would be a big win for Kansas if Dylan Brooks, a former 4-star recruit and transfer from Auburn, could step up and lead the pass rush. He spent one year learning behind Booker and other defensive linemen, but it remains to be seen if he will have the same kind of unexpected breakout season.

There is less than one month until the season begins and fans are unsure which players will come to the rescue on the defensive line. Although KU's secondary is one of the best in the conference, it won't matter if opposing quarterbacks are getting extended time to throw the ball. We'll see if this turns out to be a problem come the regular season or if there will be a few unexpected contributors on the team.