The Kansas Jayhawks are looking to redeem themselves after a disappointing performance last season. A big part of that will be turning to returning players to step into leadership roles as they grow in their responsibilities for head coach Lance Leipold.
One of those returning players is Dakyus "Dak" Brinkley, a redshirt freshman defensive end, who is looking to earn himself a significant amount of playing time after not seeing a snap last season.
This offseason, Brinkley has put in the work, and then some, to earn himself playing time during the upcoming season. The defensive end was just 219 pounds when he joined the Jayhawks out of high school and had suffered a season-ending injury during his senior year.
Now, the young DE is up to 245 pounds and is healthier than ever. This spring, Brinkley has been able to take the normal number of reps, aligning himself with the rest of the defensive end room in Lawrence.
"I've been trying to hit 245 plus or two or 245, and I've hit that," Brinkley said. "I just want to thank Miss Katie [O'Connor] and Miss Courtney [Denny], the nutritionist staff, for pushing me to that weight goal."
Reportedly, Brinkley worked consistently with Kansas's nutrition team in order to pack on the nearly 30 pounds that he gained during the past year. Even the Jayhawks' defensive end coach Taiwo Onatolu has been impressed by Brinkley aligning with the team's vision.
"We always say, you have to be versatile," Onatolu said. "We name certain positions certain things, but we're gonna play the best two guys or best four guys or best five guys eventually. We try to mix guys around a little bit throughout spring ball to make sure they know both positions, because we're going to play the best guys. That's what you do to help the team. You've got to put the best two out there."
Kansas is set to kick off its 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 23, with a non-conference matchup against the Fresno State Bulldogs.