Kansas football: Jalon Daniels named Big 12 Preseason Offensive POY; Four Jayhawks projected First Team All-Big 12

For the first time in program history, a Kansas football player has been named Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Star quarterback for the Kansas Jayhawks, Jalon Daniels, was selected by Big 12 media members as this year’s top offensive player heading into the 2023 season.

This past season, Daniels was named Second Team All-Big 12 after throwing for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also rushed for 425 yards and 7 touchdowns, despite missing four games due to injury.

Daniels led KU to a surprising 5-0 start and the team’s first bowl game appearance since 2009 where he set a Liberty Bowl record throwing for 544 yards and five touchdowns.

When healthy, there’s no better quarterback in the Big 12 Conference. Daniels has all the tools to be a star in college football and take his game (and his team) to new heights in 2023.

But he won’t have to do it alone, as he and three of his teammates were also named Preseason First Team All-Big 12.

Joining him in that group is running back Devin Neal, center Mike Novitsky, and defensive back Cobee Bryant.

Neal rushed for nearly 1,100 yards and 9 touchdowns during his sophomore season, earning him All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors this past year.

Neal is one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the Big 12 who has shown flashes of greatness ever since he first stepped foot on campus. He’s a key factor of KU’s offense and he should be able to take another big step forward during his upcoming junior season.

A lot of credit for Daniels’ and Neal’s success goes to the man under center.

Novitsky has been an absolute stalwart on the Kansas offensive line ever since he decided to follow head coach Lance Leipold to Lawrence from Buffalo.

He has started every game in his two seasons as a Jayhawk, and this past season he gave up zero sacks and only two quarterback hits in 846 snaps. In fact, the KU offensive line ranks third in the country in fewest sacks allowed since Novitsky joined the team two years ago.

Novitsky was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 following the 2021 season and was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection following the 2022 season – demonstrating just how much he’s improved year to year during his time in Lawrence.

If that continues this upcoming season, Novitsky should be a lock for the All-Big 12 First Team which he’s now been projected to this offseason.

Speaking of First Team All-Big 12 performers, Bryant has a good chance to earn that distinction in back-to-back years.

The junior cornerback was KU’s only First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 thanks to his three interceptions, 9 pass breakups, and 38 tackles this past season.

He’s perhaps KU’s biggest defensive playmaker who will be counted on even more this upcoming season. If he can build upon last year’s performance, then that will mean good things for both his and the team’s potential postseason accolades.

These four preseason First Team All-Big 12 selections and their fellow Jayhawks will kick off the 2023 season in less than two months on Friday, Sept. 1, against Missouri State.