Head coach Lance Leipold said it was hard to get a read on defensive end Dylan Wudke at first.
The sixth-year senior, who transferred from Youngstown State in the winter, dealt with a hamstring issue following his arrival in Lawrence.
“Definitely, it was tough, I feel like (for) momentum more than anything, just coming in, because I know I got to prove myself coming in,” Wudke said. “I feel like it pushed me back a little bit, but it also motivated me to become more healthy every day, push myself in the training room, and on the field, pushed me to be better.”
The ailment could only hamper him for so long before it became clear to the rest of KU’s personnel that — as position coach Taiwo Onatolu put in the spring — he was a “grown man.”
“He’s a sharp guy, and I say really in the group, he’s the most experienced guy,” Onatolu said on Monday. “He was at Youngstown State as a four-year starter, so he’s played a lot of football. He’s played against Ohio State, a lot of big-time schools. He’s not afraid, he’s an older guy, he’s extremely mature.”
Now, while the pass-rush ends continue to battle it out, the veteran Wudke is in a position to earn plenty of playing time in a rotation with veteran Jereme Robinson at the strong-side defensive end spot — he said of Robinson, “He teaches me something new every day” — and he’s fully back in action.
“Being out there every day, being able to compete with the guys in the room, I feel amazing,” Wudke said. “Especially coming off the spring ball, I mean, I’ve got the playbook understanding now, I can go play fast, I don’t got to think about all that extra stuff.”
Leipold said he stood out during the Jayhawks’ scrimmage at Rock Chalk Park last week.
“He’s been showing off what he can do for years,” Robinson said at the start of camp, “and there’s no difference here.”
A native of Miamisburg, Ohio, Wudke began his career at YSU back in 2019. After redshirting his first year, he was a consistent contributor for each of the next four seasons, and between 2022 and 2023 totaled 77 tackles with 20 for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pair of second-team all-conference honors.
He brings all of that experience to bear each time he takes a snap in practice for KU. Onatolu noted that he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.
“It definitely has helped just understanding the game itself, and understanding the looks I’m going to get,” Wudke said, “and just understanding pre-snap, I can kind of have an idea of what’s coming my way, just knowing how to adapt on the run, stuff like that.”
It’s also helped aid his transition to a higher level of play — a common challenge for several of KU’s spring transfers, including players like center Shane Bumgardner (from Tiffin, an NCAA Division II school) and defensive tackle Javier Derritt (from North Dakota State, which plays at the same level as YSU).
Wudke said he was struck from the first day he arrived by the sheer number of people in the building, to start, along with the caliber of nutrition and strength and conditioning programs — which he’s used to cut 7% or 8% body fat, he said.
The run-stopping end is listed at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and Onatolu has praised his physicality.
“Wudke has been kind of an under-the-radar guy,” Onatolu said, “but we love what he’s doing for us and he’s in a great position.”
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