It’s tough to decide on how to view Jalon Daniels' career at Kansas. He has teased fans with his immense talent and production, but his inability to stay healthy has marred his time with the Jayhawks.
At times, Daniels has been seen as a saviour for the program. While this is a bit unfair to put that on anyone’s shoulders, it has also been true. He and Devin Neal, along with head coach Lance Leipold, have been the faces of this resurgent program.
Daniels is entering his sixth season at Kansas. He qualified for the extra COVID year, and one season as a medical redshirt. In those five previous seasons, he played in only 37 games. When he’s been healthy, he’s been pretty darn good most of the time.
The primary example of when he was not effective was during a four-game stretch early last season. After a win against an overmatched Lindenwood (in which Daniels was not overly effective), Daniels and the Jayhawks struggled badly.
In those four games, all of which were losses for the Kansas football team, Daniels only completed 52 percent of his passes and had seven interceptions to only four touchdowns. Most of his turnovers came in key situations, either late in the first half or in the fourth quarter of those games. He also only threw for 657 yards in those games.
In the next six games, which included three straight victories over ranked opponents, Daniels looked to be his old self. He threw for 1,369 yards, completing 61 percent of his attempts, and producing nine touchdowns and just two interceptions, while the team went 4-2.
Still, against K-State, the Jayhawks looked to have locked it up when Daniels fumbled on a scramble late in the game. That turnover led to another loss. Also, during the last game of the season, with a bowl game on the line, Daniels had one of his worst games of the season against Baylor, throwing two picks and no touchdowns.
What should fans expect from Daniels in his final season with the Kansas football team?
If Daniels can stay healthy, he will need to be the team leader. He must cut out those costly mistakes at the end of halves and games. The bigger issue for Daniels will be the weapons around him.
Gone are wide receivers Lawrence Aronold, Luke Grim, Quentin Skinner, and Trevor Wilson. Gone are tight ends Trevor Kardell and Jared Casey. Gone is star running back Devin Neal. All seven of these players have played significant roles in rebuilding this program from the ashes.
Of players still on the current roster, only Doug Emilien, Mack Moeller, and Daniel Hishaw Jr. caught a pass for the Jayhawks last season. They combined for just seven catches, 60 yards, and one touchdown a year ago. That is not a lot of returning production.
KU has added Emmanuel Henderson Jr, an Alabama transfer, but in three years, he caught just five passes for 96 yards for the Crimson Tide. Cam Pickett, who played for Ball State last season, corralled 49 passes for 528 yards and a score. Levi Wentz transferred from Albany, where he produced 40 catches for 621 yards and one touchdown, and he wasn't his school's number one receiver.
Yet another transfer, Bryson Canty, amassed 43 catches, 760 yards, and nine touchdowns for Columbia last season. While he is another veteran addition to the wide receiver room, none of these guys have produced at this level in a major conference, and they are all learning a new offense. They could be spectacular or disappointing. Time will tell.
Kansas does have some in-house redshirt sophomores and freshmen, and a few true freshmen, but it is going to be very difficult to replace the production of those longtime Jayhawks who’ve now moved on.
The running attack should be good enough to take some pressure off Daniels, but it will be hard to replace someone like hometown hero Devin Neal. Redshirt senior Daniel Hishaw Jr. has been very productive backing up Neal over the years, but has suffered plenty of injuries. Despite being the backup and all of his injuries, Hishaw has produced 1,493 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns. If healthy, he is a productive back.
Iowa transfer Leshon Williams will add some much-needed depth for the Jayhawks. He put up 1,323 yards rushing as a Hawkeye.
Daniel is also an effective runner himself. He has 1,041 rushing yards to go along with 19 rushing touchdowns. That is impressive, too. It shows just how versatile Daniels is.
Daniels is ranked second in Kansas football history in passing yardage and in touchdowns. Though he has no chance of catching Todd Ressing in either category, a good season will solidify Daniels as the second great quarterback in the history of the school. Like Reesing, he will be instrumental in turning around a moribund program and making it relevant again.
Fans should hope for Daniels to be healthy and for his receiving corps to be ready to produce at a high level. If things play out that way, Daniels should have a very successful final year at Kansas.