Jalon Daniels, the quarterback from Kansas, will start the season opener against Lindenwood on Aug 29. Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold announced this news on Tuesday.
He missed the majority of the 2023 season, including the first game of the year, all thanks to lingering back tightness.
“I’ll announce him as our starting quarterback, he will start the opener,” Leipold told reporters Tuesday. “I’ve seen a lot of good things from Jalon Daniels the last 10 days, and he hasn’t missed anything. He’s played well and he’s confident. He’s excited. His enthusiasm is contagious, and we all know that it’s important for him to stay healthy and it’s good to see.”
At the Big 12 media days in July, Daniels said that he feels healthy enough to play in the summer. However, the Jayhawks have been cautious about the approach with Daniels this offseason.
Naming him a starter shouldn’t come as a surprise, he was set to return once he regained his health. Daniels is one of the top quarterbacks in college football when healthy. However, he has faced injuries throughout his career.
He has only played three games in the 2023 season before landing on the injured list and being not available for the entire season. In that period, he helped Kansas to a 3-0 record while completing 75% of his passes.
He has the potential to make a difference for the team. He holds the key to unlocking the full potential of Kansas. With him on the team, Kansas has the championship upside.
