Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 21-38vs Missouri | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#9
Dakyus Brinkley
Sophomore defensive end on Kansas's 2026 roster.
6′3″ · 255 lb · Katy, TX · Katy HS
CFB Index 9 · #409 of 420 edge rushersMedium confidenceReturning to Kansas for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
0.5 TFL · 8 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 0.5 TFL, 4 tackles, vs Missouri
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 defensive end on Kansas's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Kansas in 2024.
Dakyus Brinkley
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack. Second year in the Kansas defensive front, same address the whole way. The receipt: 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Missouri — Week 2, 2026.
8 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Kansas4-star out of Katy
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Kansas
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Lance Leipold — 6-8 over that span.
2025Kansas5-7HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
2026Kansas1-1HC: Lance Leipold · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.0 TKL/g, 0.2 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Leipold
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
9 · #409 of 420 edge rushers
Former four-star. Now #409 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #21 of 22 Big 12 DEs
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
4 TOT · 2 SOLO
Dominant 45-point win at home against Long Island University.
With I. Marshall — 246 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 80.7 · 49 rush yds (7 car) · C. Ballard — 90 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.2 · 14 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Kansas
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive end · Kansas
Returning around him
- 2 Kansas players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +5 net (31 in / 26 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Kansas · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #62 · 2026 recruiting class #61
DNA match
Player DNA
Versatile End
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Sincere Edwards’s 2025 season.
Matches Sincere on
Height
TFL rate
Sack rate
Differs from Sincere on
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Yvan Kemajou's freshman season at Penn State (2025).
Matches Yvan on
Class year
Height
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Dakyus Brinkley
Background
NAME PRONUNCIATION Get to Know Dak... At what age did you start playing football and how did you get into football? I started playing football at 6 years old and my football family got me into it. Who is your biggest role model? My dad. He's the reason why I love football. Who was your favorite p...
The defensive line · Kansas
- #33Leroy Harris III6.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #94Blake Herold5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #9Dakyus Brinkley5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #91Alex Bray3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #99Eamon Smalls3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
15 more on the roster · Kansas team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology