LAWRENCE — Austin Booker’s early departure, and eventual selection in the 2024 NFL draft, has once again left Kansas football with a need to find an answer for its pass rush.

Booker, a defensive lineman who transferred in from Minnesota, emerged for the Jayhawks in 2023. He led his team in sacks and tackles for loss, prior to the Chicago Bears picking him in the fifth round of the NFL draft. It means, at defensive end this upcoming season, Kansas has a position in which it has to figure out who it is going to rely upon.

But defensive end isn’t the only position to keep an eye on for Kansas’ defense in 2024. There are a couple others as well. The better the Jayhawks play at these positions, the better chance they have at competing for a Big 12 Conference championship.

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Here are those three defensive positions to watch out for ahead of Big 12 media days on Tuesday and Wednesday in Las Vegas:

Defensive end

This discussion does start with defensive end for Kansas, and it helps senior Jereme Robinson is back for another season. Behind Booker, Robinson was one of the Jayhawks’ leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. Robinson’s presence is key for a team that’s going to be giving a number of players chances for breakout seasons with the program in 2024.

Redshirt junior Dean Miller is among the returners from last season who could help be that answer. Redshirt senior Dylan Wudke, from Youngstown State, and redshirt freshman Bai Jobe, from Michigan State, are two who have transferred in as Booker once did. And don’t forget about a pair of freshmen, DJ Warner and Dakyus Brinkley, who are two high-profile recruits from the team’s 2024 recruiting class.

Linebacker

With Rich Miller and Craig Young moving on to their own professional careers, two of Kansas’ regular starters at linebacker won’t be back for the upcoming season. Both contributed a lot for the Jayhawks, with Miller finishing second in tackles. Miller’s leadership for the defense proved to be substantial, too.

So, redshirt senior Cornell Wheeler will need to step up as a leader on that side of the ball for Kansas. Redshirt junior JB Brown, senior Taiwan Berryhill Jr. and redshirt junior Jayson Gilliom are among those who will need to continue to develop. And keep an eye on redshirt freshman Logan Brantley.

Cornerback

This position can be a strength for Kansas’ defense this season, especially because of the cornerback duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson. Bryant and Dotson, both seniors, could give the Jayhawks one of the most formidable cornerback duos in the Big 12. They’re poised for All-Big 12 caliber years, if not better.

Considering that, though, it can’t all come down to Bryant and Dotson. Redshirt sophomore Brian Dilwoth and redshirt junior Damarius McGhee are two who are back from last season’s squad. And co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach D.K. McDonald, new to the staff this season, is charged with helping them all get there.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU football defense to rely on defensive end, linebacker, cornerback