The Jalon Daniels effect? KU Jayhawks’ star QB has aided Southern California recruiting

In Southern California, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels represents more than Jayhawk football’s return to relevancy.

He’s one of their own, and his every move is watched closely.

Last season, the Lawndale, Calif., native accomplished something that hasn’t happened in 14 years: He led KU (6-6, 3-5 Big 12) to its first bowl appearance since 2008.

Despite playing in just nine games because of a shoulder injury, Daniels threw for 2,014 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 425 yards and seven more TDs. When the season came to an end, he made the All-Big 12 second team.

The former three-star recruit has undoubtedly come a long way from an 0-9 start in his freshman year. And players and coaches from Southern California have taken notice.

“I think a lot of our kids have Kansas on their radar,” Lawndale High football coach Travis Clark told The Star. “It’s not just our kids at Lawndale, but I think more kids just in the Southern California area. I hope the Kansas program and coaching staff come out here and take advantage of what Jalon has done.

“I don’t even know if they understand the impact he’s had on the kids in this area. I think they could get here and do a little bit of damage (in recruiting).”

Southern California is a hotbed for football talent, having produced a lengthy list of NFL players that includes Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, running back Terrell Davis and former Chiefs star tight end Tony Gonzalez, to name just a few. More recently, the region has produced receiver Michael Thomas and linebacker Clay Matthews.

Now, it seems that Daniels’ 2022 season — and KU’s overall success last year — has become a major talking point in the region.

“Kansas was kind of the darlings of college football last year,” Clark said, “and everybody was rooting for Kansas because they were the underdogs that turned it around. Of course, the quarterback took the biggest spotlight: Jalon Daniels — he’s from here, he went to Lawndale.”

Clark said he believes Southern California could be the newest recruiting hotbed for Kansas.

“I think that really put Kansas football on the map here in Southern California,” he said. “I believe they should piggyback off that. ... I think they need to capitalize on that.

“I believe they can do some great recruiting in Southern California. I would encourage my athletes to play for Kansas. I believe in their coach. I believe in their program.”

Don’t just take Clark’s word for it — Jahmal Wright, one of Clark’s biggest rivals on the field and a good friend off it, also believes KU can compete for Southern California kids. Wright is the football coach at Culver City High and a former KU defensive back (1995-99).

“I’m excited for a (KU) coach to open back up the recruiting lines,” Wright told The Star. “There’s a love for the Midwest within Southern California athletes.”

Wright even runs an offense that’s similar to what KU runs with Daniels.

“The style of play that the Big 12 has with the wide-open offenses and the spread attacks,” Wright said, “a lot of California schools come from those types of offenses.

“It’s a receiver and quarterback’s dream to play in the offenses the Big 12 has, especially KU, with how they do such a great job and are very creative.”

Wright told The Star that a pair of class of 2025 recruits from his team, Myles Singleton and Braylon Singleton, have received scholarship offers from KU. The brothers play both sides of the field — wide receiver and defensive back.

Wright and Clark told The Star that Kansas quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski has come to each school to recruit. They said he’s done an excellent job of branching out and finding talent.

“I absolutely 1,000,000% think that they could break through even more,” Wright said. “I mean, you see the success that Jalon has had and it’s so much talent in our area. It’s an untapped territory with a lot of Kansas’ competition.”

Clark had a suggestion for how the Jayhawks can remain competitive for recruiting victories in the region.

“I think they need to look into getting out here a little more often and send more coaches to cover more area,” Clark said. “San Diego, all the way up to Ventura County and everything in between, they all know about Jalon Daniels.

“So I think they could really sneak a couple of these talented kids that are maybe not going to go to USC or are not going to go to UCLA, or some kids maybe just looking for an opportunity to play outside the state. The talent is high.”

Clark detailed what it would take for KU to more firmly establish itself in the region in the age of conference realignment.

“It’s probably going to take a focused approach from the Kansas side,” he said. “I think they’re probably going to have to maybe spend a little bit more money with their coaching staff and get them out here, maybe visit a little more often, I think, just to show that KU brand. To be able to walk around these high schools and say, ‘Hey, we are here. We are going to be here. We want kids from Southern California.’

“Kansas has a list of success stories from Southern California they can promote. I just think they just need to show up more. People need to see that logo; they need to see that KU brand. They need to see those colors, especially now. You’ve got USC and UCLA stepping into the Big Ten. I just sent a kid to Indiana this past season. So those programs are going to be our backyard — Ohio State, Indiana, etc.

“They’re going to have to try and steal some of that talent from USC and UCLA. So why not Kansas coming in here and stealing some of that talent and taking it to the Big 12?”

The Jayhawks do appear to be well-positioned to continue working the Southern California recruiting pipeline. From afar, Wright and other high school coaches are witnessing a transformation in Lawrence: For the first time in a long time, winning can be listed among the benefits of choosing to play for KU.

“You go to the Booth (David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium) and the atmosphere is crazy,” Wright said. “Lawrence, Kansas is an awesome place to be a college athlete. It’s changed so much since I was there in the ‘90s. I totally enjoyed my experience as a college athlete in Lawrence as somebody coming from Los Angeles to a small town.

“Look at the facility. … To watch the growth of the athletic facilities in the locker rooms and weight rooms, uniforms and equipment, I mean, it’s top-of-the-line, just top-notch.”