Jalon Daniels

Jalon Daniels attended Lawndale High School in California, where he was the starting quarterback. He was labeled a three-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports. As a junior, he completed 136-of-237 passes for 2,351 yards and 26 touchdowns, while also rushing for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns. Daniels commmitted to the University of Kansas after previously committing to Middle Tennessee State University. Daniels started six games for the Jayhawks his freshman year. He completed 76 of 152 passes for 718 yards and threw for one touchdown and four interceptions. He lost out to Jason Bean for the starting quarterback position during camp. Following an injury to Bean in November, Daniels made three starts. The Jayhawks offense improved drastically after he became the starter, going from averaging 15.1 points per game to averaging 37.7. The sophomore signal caller finished the season with 860 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. Afer losing the starting job the previous season to Bean, Daniels earned the starting position entering his junior year. After leading the Jayhawks to a 5-0 record, some sports writers called Daniels a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. In the Liberty Bowl, Daniels threw for a program record 544 yards in a 55-53 loss to Arkansas. He finished the season with 2,014 yards passing and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 425 yards and seven more scores. Daniels was selected as the 2023 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, the first Kansas player to receive the award. However, he only played in three games due to a back injury. Daniels announced in November of 2023, he would return to Kansas for the 2024 season. In 2024, Daniels threw for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns with 447 rushing yards and six touchdowns. After the season, Daniels announced he was coming back to Lawrence for his sixth and final season of eligibility.