Kansas football finally has clear-cut starting QB heading into season
By Dillon Davis
Among the many joys of being a Kansas football fan, is the seemingly annual mystery that comes with who will be the starting quarterback once the season begins.
In the past, that question has often led up to the week of or even the day of the first game. The depth charts that were released would include an “OR” next to the quarterbacks’ names to keep it ambiguous for fans, media, and opposing teams.
This year, there is no mystery, no riddle, no question about who will be the starting quarterback when the Jayhawks take the field on Sept. 2 against Tennessee Tech.
"“If you want to type right now, ‘Leipold expects Daniels to be the starter,’ go ahead and type it,” said head coach Lance Leipold at his press conference following the team’s first training camp practice. “That’s probably the best way that I’ll answer it at this time.”"
The fact that Leipold had no qualms in announcing Jalon Daniels as the starter following the first fall practice shows the confidence they have in him and the work he’s put in this offseason.
Last year, Daniels started three games for the Jayhawks – and decided to remove his redshirt option to do so. In those starts, he led the Jayhawks to their incredible overtime victory in Austin over the Texas Longhorns, a near upset over TCU in Fort Worth, and a narrow, 6-point defeat against West Virginia to end the season.
Daniels finished the 2021 season with 860 yards passing while throwing seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He also chipped in three rushing touchdowns.
Daniels hopes to build on those numbers this year thanks to a bulked-up offseason conditioning program from head strength and conditioning coach Matt Gildersleeve and the private training Daniels did with quarterbacks coach Sam Fisher in Los Angeles over the summer.
During this morning's start to #KUfball practice, coach Lance Leipold shouted to the media corner, "Jalon's the quarterback!" He's having fun with this. But it's definitely new territory for KU fans, who have become awfully used to not knowing the identity of the QB until Game 1
— Matt Tait (@mctait) August 3, 2022
Between the success he had last year, his offseason improvements, and the public support of his head coach, Daniels should have all the confidence in the world heading into his junior year.
Although there is a lot to be determined for this upcoming season in terms of wins and losses, it’s a win already for this team and fanbase that they know who their leader is going to be at the most important position on the field come opening day.