Hakeem Akinola Redshirt Sophomore 6-4 | 310 Fullerton, Calif. Bio

Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: Fullerton Community College Projection: Third-String Status: On Scholarship

Hakeem Akinola was a late addition to the 2012 class who was added a month after National Signing Day.

On the positive side, he's 310 pounds and could be a valuable addition to K-State's defensive line depth.

On the negative side, he missed almost all of two seasons with injuries, so there's some questions about his health and durability.

Luckily, he was able to both redshirt and medical redshirt, which means he arrives in Manhattan this summer as a sophomore with three years to play three.

But there's some murmurs that his grades might not yet be in order, so wait and see.

Chaquil Reed True Junior 6-3 | 290 Wichita, Kan. Bio

Position: Defensive Line Previous College: Butler County Community College Projection: Third-String Status: On Scholarship

Chaquil Reed (b. Dec. 4, 1991) might be one of my favorite players in this class, if only for the fact he told Charlie Weis where to shove it, decommitted from KU and switched to the purple a week before National Signing Day.

That's some serious EMAW, yo. And he has good bloodlines, too — his cousin is current Tennessee Titan Kamerion Wimbley, who bypassed college to go straight into the NFL draft out of high school.

As far as on-the-field production, I'm not sure we can expect too much from Chaq this season. He's here more for depth purposes, although there are things in his film that lead one to suspect he can be a contributor at some point.

Reed helped to lead Butler to a combined 22-2 record in 2010 and 2011, collecting 43 tackles and five sacks en route to 2011 all-conference honors. He also tallied 21 tackles in 2010.

At Wichita East High School, where he was a teammate of current Arthur Brown, Reed combined for 216 tackles, including 83 as a senior, in three seasons. He collected 11 sacks as a senior and 16.5 for his career.

For his high school efforts, Reed was named an all-city performer in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He played fullback and defensive tackle in high school, and also lettered in basketball.

#96 John Sua True Senior 6-0 | 290 Santa Maria, Calif. Bio

Position: Defensive Line Previous College: Allan Hancock College Projection: Starter Status: Walk-On

John M. Sua (b. Dec. 18, 1990) saw meager playing time last season after transferring into K-State late in the summer. But he resided in an "OR" position with Javonta Boyd all season on the depth chart.

Lining up at nose tackle opposite Vai Lutui in the spring game, Sua acquitted himself well and has a commanding lead for the starter's position for the time being. Bill Snyder has been effusive in his praise for Sua thus far.

But with potential impact transfers such as Hakeem Akinola arriving this summer and vying for playing time, Sua will have his hands full keeping his position.

There also is talk he could earn a scholarship. Walk-ons who work their way up to starting status, especially seniors, usually do.

Demonte Hood True Freshman 6-0 | 295 Arlington, Texas Bio

Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: None Projection: Redshirt (if eligible) Status: On Scholarship

Demonte Hood (b. Aug. 20, 1993) is a raw but ideally sized fireplug of a defensive tackle from Bowie High School.

He had 60 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks in 2011, and he was a first-team All-District 4-5A selection.

Unfortunately for a defensive line that probably could use as many bodies as possible this fall due to question marks at both tackle positions, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether Hood will qualify this fall.

At last report, he had raised his GPA such that he did not need as high of a test score on his ACT as originally thought. That test still has not been taken, though, so his status remains up in the air.

If Hood does not qualify, he most likely will be placed at a friendly JUCO such as Blinn or Navarro. That could free up a scholarship in the 2012 class for Florida State transfer Jeff Luc, who's apparently on the verge of committing.

And if he does qualify, I frankly expect him to redshirt. His film shows a recruit who is talented, but unpolished.

Travis Britz True Freshman 6-4 | 287 Harrisonville, Mo. Bio

Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: None Projection: Redshirt Status: On Scholarship

Travis Britz (b. Jan. 26, 1994) is a promising young defensive lineman whom we plucked out of the defective state of Missouri (you know, because they defected).

You can watch his highlights here.

Though rated only a two-star player by Rivals.com, he carries a 5.4 overall rating, the highest possible for his grade.

A 5.5 would have made him a three-star player, and most three-star players tend to have great success at K-State.

Rivals also rated him the No. 20 overall player in a state that had a bumper crop of talent last year. He was a 2011 first team all-state pick by the Missouri Coaches Association and Missouri Sports Writers Association.

A 2011 Kansas City Star All-Metro first-team pick, Britz recorded 70 tackles and seven sacks in 2011, collected 99 tackles and three sacks as a junior, and totaled 214 career tackles in three seasons overall.

Other accolades include being a two-time All-Missouri River Valley pick, and a MaxPrep second-team All-American and Missouri Class 4 Defensive MVP in 2011.

Those who think wrestling provides a great foundation for solid defensive line play (such as me) will be delighted to know Britz also placed fourth in the state in wrestling as a heavyweight in 2011.

I'm excited about this kid and think he has an outside chance to make an impact in 2012, given the current uncertainty at the two defensive tackle positions. But the team's growing deep enough that a redshirt looks likely.

May 25 is an auspicious day, as it marks the first time this year that there are fewer than 100 days until the kickoff of the Missouri State game on Sept. 1.

That means it's time for my minor sabbatical since basketball season to come to an end. Yes, it's time for the second annual BOTC season countdown to kickoff!

Each day from now until then, I will count down this interminable desert ahead of us by profiling the player(s) whose number(s) match the number of days left until autumnal football bliss.

Normally, these will appear at midnight on their respective days, but I needed the Memorial Day weekend to get ahead on them in the story database, so this installment is 12 hours later than I prefer.

Follow the jump for No. 99, DT Javonta Boyd.

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According to a high school coach who was able to observe a practice as part of a coaching clinic, here's what K-State's two-deep currently looks like:

QB: Collin Klein / Daniel Sams
FB: Braden Wilson
RB: John Hubert / Angelo Pease

LT: Cornelius Lucas / William Cooper
LG: Nick Puetz / Keenan Taylor
OC: B.J. Finney / Tomasi Mariner
RG: Boston Stiverson / Drew Liddle
RT: Cody Whitehair / Tavon Rooks

TE: Travis Tannahill / Zach Trujillo
WR: Chris Harper / Kyle Klein
WR: Tyler Lockett / Torell Miller
WR: Tramaine Thompson / Curry Sexton

DE: Adam Davis / Laton Dowling
DT: Vai Lutui / Javonta Boyd
DT: John Sua / Wesley Hollingshed
DE: Meshak Williams / Ryan Mueller

MLB: Arthur Brown / Mike Moore
SLB: Jarell Childs OR Justin Tuggle / Jonathan Truman
WLB: Tre Walker / Blake Slaughter

CB: Kip Daily OR Allen Chapman
FS: Ty Zimmerman / Jarard Milo
SS: Thomas Ferguson OR Randall Evans
CB: Nigel Malone / Dorrian Roberts
NB: Allen Chapman

K: Anthony Cantele
P: Ryan Doerr
KR: Tyler Lockett / Tramaine Thompson
PR: Tyler Lockett

Marquez Clark is not here yet. Manase Foketi was at practice, but not 100 percent yet. Darryl Blackmon and Andre McDonald are in the doghouse. No mention made of Jordan Allred, Ethan Douglas, Brandon Harold or Sam Harvill.

There's a few too many walk-ons in the defensive secondary for my taste, but help is on the way this summer. You have to at least think Kent Gainous will be a big addition.