Kansas football: Durability remains key for Jalon Daniels

Jalon Daniels is one of the most electric quarterbacks in Kansas football history, but the Jayhawks’ No. 1 priority should be for him to stay healthy this season.

There’s no denying the talent that Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels holds. He is the most talented signal caller to step foot in Lawrence since Todd Reesing.

In 2021, Daniels had to take over starting duties from Jason Bean after he got injured. This past season, the roles were reversed. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6 vs. TCU, forcing him to miss several contests. In fact, he didn’t look right until the Liberty Bowl, when he threw for 544 yards and five scores.

Jalon Daniels being able to stay on the field will be paramount for Kansas football

Forget his performance on the field. We know he’ll play at an elite level. He’s been ranked a top 10 quarterback in the nation by ESPN and has the highest QBR (90.0) amongst returning quarterbacks at the FBS level.

It might seem like an obvious statement, but the only thing the coaching staff needs to worry about is that he is healthy. Kansas can afford the occasional interception or misplaced throw. What they can’t afford is for Daniels to spend his final season as a Jayhawk on the sidelines while he recovers from an ailment.

Daniels must avoid injuries at all costs. If that means he can’t use his legs as often, so be it. KU has a solid ground game with running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw. We know Lance Leipold loves to incorporate his rushing ability into his RPO-style offense, but there’s wrong with cutting back on that just a tad.

Even if it’s not possible to avoid injuries entirely — they’re playing Power 5 football, after all — this should always remain the most pressing matter in 2023.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Kansas football this year, and the Jayhawks certainly have a top-notch insurance option in Bean. However, all of the hard work and offseason preparation will be for nothing if KU loses Daniels.

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