Jalon Daniels is set to start as Kansas' QB, but don’t expect that to change his mindset
LAWRENCE — Jalon Daniels hasn’t been in this position before. Not really.
Back in 2020 as a freshman, his six starts at quarterback came for a Kansas football team that would go winless and be the last of the Les Miles era. Last season he was forced to burn his redshirt after injuries thrust him into the starting role for the final three games of the year. Now, as a junior, he’s heading into the season opener against Tennessee Tech as Kansas’ chosen starter for the second year of the Lance Leipold era.
That doesn’t mean Daniels’ mentality is any different. It doesn’t mean his preparation this year is any different than it was in 2021, even though there are a lot more knowns than unknowns compared to a season ago. That’s who Daniels has shown himself to be during his time at KU, and now it’s a matter of what that leads to when the season kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. against Tennessee Tech in Lawrence.
“I mean, I go into every single practice with the same preparation, same mindset, just to get that one percent better every day,” Daniels said. “So, I’m glad to be able to be put in that situation and be able to show everybody what I can do. But I’ve always went in with the same preparation no matter who it was.”
Why Jalon Daniels is optimistic
Daniels explained that comes from the faith he has in the coaching staff and the plan it came in with last year. Daniels has also seen the success those coaches had in the past, with Leipold winning six Division III national titles and earning three bowl appearances at the University at Buffalo before arriving in Kansas. Daniels and his fellow class of 2020 recruits have dreamed of enjoying those kinds of seasons.
To what extent the Jayhawks will show they’re getting close to that this year, after going 2-10 in 2021, will play out in the months ahead. It’s still only the second year of Leipold’s tenure and a Big 12 Conference slate presents its own set of challenges. But there are reasons to respect Daniels’ optimism.
There’s what Daniels described as a “four-headed dragon” of running backs, likely a nod to sophomore Devin Neal and redshirt sophomores Sevion Morrison, Ky Thomas and Daniel Hishaw Jr. There’s experience along the offensive line, even if the depth might not be where everyone would like it yet. The group feels more comfortable in second-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's scheme now too.
That doesn't even mention the strides Daniels may have made himself. As a freshman, he threw for 718 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions while completing 50% of his passes in seven games. As a sophomore, he threw for 860 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 69.2% of his passes in six total games.
“I feel like I’ve grown," Daniels, who’s also rushed for 103 yards and six touchdowns the past two seasons, said. “I’ve grown in many, many ways that I knew it was going to take a minute for me coming out of high school. But everything that I felt I did coming out of high school, I feel like I’ve developed in those areas.”
Starting role gives Daniels confidence
It’s a level of development that, at the very least, helped Daniels hold off redshirt senior quarterback Jason Bean — the opening day starter last year for the Jayhawks. Bean, according to both Leipold and Kotelnicki, has been playing the best football the coaches have seen from him this fall. Leipold has even said he’d feel comfortable playing either of them.
For Daniels, earning the starting role gives him more confidence heading into the season. Leipold alluded to that, while also highlighting the body of work in games Daniels showed last season. The way Daniels handled a position battle with someone he’s as close to as Bean could've played into why their teammates felt comfortable wanting Daniels to be a captain, alongside redshirt senior offensive lineman Mike Novitsky, super-senior defensive lineman Sam Burt and senior linebacker Rich Miller.
“It definitely feels good, but I don’t look at it as the title,” Daniels, reacting to being named a captain, said. “That’s something that (director of sports performance) coach (Matt Gildersleeve) said when we were doing the meeting to become captains. It’s not a title. It’s something that you just develop and I feel like I’ve learned that from past guys that have been here.”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels has faith in football team, coach
