photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas safety Jalen Dye catches a pass during practice at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Filling a vacancy left by veteran safety Kenny Logan is atop Kansas defensive coordinator Brian Borland’s to-do list as spring practices stretched into the weekend.

Meeting with reporters after Saturday’s practices, Borland pointed to several names “starting to step up a little bit” throughout the last week, including the Dye brothers, Jalen and Devin, and Mulvane native Mason Ellis in the safety room.

Devin reunited with his older brother, Jalen, who transferred to Lawrence from Utah State after they played together at Palomar College. The younger Dye, earning honorable-mention All-Mountain West status during his lone season with the Aggies, made a smooth transition, Borland said.

“That was a pretty easy decision for us,” Borland said of Dye’s recruitment. “We’ve certainly made room for him and he hasn’t disappointed. He does things just the way you want them.”

At Utah State, Devin Dye ranked fourth on the team with 81 total tackles with 37 solo tackles and 44 assisted stops to his name. Asked about his initial visit, Dye said encouraging conversations with Borland sold him on the KU system.

“He pulled up my film and showed me ways that he could help me improve my game as a whole, which is something that stood out to me,” Dye said. “He felt like he could improve my tackling, which is something I felt like after last season I needed to improve for this season coming up.”

Jalen, who took some steps this past season with the Jayhawks- including two pass deflections during a 28-21 win at Iowa State – serves as an obvious motivator for Devin and the remainder of the prospective safeties eyeing the opening in the secondary.

Borland has noticed the brotherly chemistry outside of the team’s regularly scheduled practices.

“They come in here and work out on their own,” Borland said. “Sunday nights, they’re in here working. I appreciate that about those guys because that tells you that they want it and they’re not going to be denied.”

The younger Dye described both himself and Jalen as two “fast, physical and sound” defenders.

“There’s always going to be competition, but I feel like it’s good – competition’s needed,” he said. “Just challenging each other every day brings out the best in everyone.”

The addition of co-defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald, who comes to KU after a two-year pro stint coaching defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles, is paying dividends for Borland, too.

As Borland manages a a questionable pass rush with defensive end Jereme Robinson not participating in spring practice, having another set of eyes in McDonald (who works primarily with the cornerbacks) is seemingly just what the Jayhawks needed.

“He’s really been everything I could’ve hoped for,” Borland said. “He’s got great experience and a really good demeanor with the players,” Borland said. “There are lots of times where he just takes the secondary and I can go do other things and look at some other positions. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”

The annual spring football showcase is slated for April 12.