Dakyus Brinkley DE/EDGE Kansas |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.60 seconds (93%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #9 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.60 seconds (93%*) | |
| Overall Rating: | 68.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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61% |
| Pass Rush: |
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68% |
| Run Defense: |
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68% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#775
Position rank:
#71 (DL)
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| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 333 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Johnson - Tulane |
|
89% |
| Clayton Smith - Arizona State |
|
86% |
| Shane Simmons - Marshall |
|
77% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Athletic success runs in Dakyus Brinkley's family. His father, Jasper Brinkley, was a linebacker at South Carolina and played seven NFL seasons, and his stepmother, Kellie Wells Brinkley, won Olympic bronze in the 100-meter hurdles in 2012. A four-star recruit at Katy High School in Texas, he also ran track and played basketball, drawing offers from Oklahoma, Texas and Oregon.An early enrollee in January 2024, Brinkley did not play that season while redshirting. He made 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks across 12 games in 2025, with both of his sacks coming at Arizona on 8 November.
Brinkley has been a rotational rusher in each of Kansas's eight games. He sacked the quarterback when Kansas beat Middle Tennessee 55-0, two hits and a hurry against Arizona State and a forced fumble at Kansas State. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald praised his second-effort sacks against Arizona.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite speed off the edge, among the fastest testers at his position
- Jarred the ball loose at Kansas State in October
- Sacked the quarterback in the September rout of Middle Tennessee
- Two hits and a hurry on just 14 snaps against Arizona State
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Very light frame that struggles to hold up against the run
- Rotational role, averaging about 19 snaps per game
- Only one sack this season despite his burst off the edge
- Missed three tackles, including one each at Kansas State and TCU
- Made little impact at Utah, with one tackle on 30 snaps
Scouting Report: Summary
Brinkley is a fast, athletic edge rusher from a family of elite athletes. He has the speed to win around the corner, and he has made plays in a limited role, including a sack against Middle Tennessee and a forced fumble at Kansas State.However, he is very light, which hurts him against the run, and he is on the field for only about 19 snaps per game. One sack is his total for the season, and he is still developing his pass-rush moves.
Overall, Brinkley is a raw, high-upside pass rusher who needs to add strength. He projects as a priority free agent, though Kansas is likely to have him back.
How other scouting services rate Dakyus Brinkley (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
480.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
77.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.