Jalon Daniels, Kansas Football News: Draft Scout Player News

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11/05/20 - QB Jalon Daniels, rSr/2026, Kansas

When Jalon Daniels decided late last year to play football at the University of Kansas, the young quarterback from Lawndale, Calif., saw it as an opportunity to do something remarkable. "I've always wanted to be the guy to turn around a program," Daniels said. Even so, the true freshman said he had "no idea" when he arrived on campus that he would get a head start on those endeavors within a few months by becoming the Jayhawks' starting QB. Daniels spoke to reporters on Monday for the first time this season - the Kansas football program typically doesn't make true freshmen available for interviews. Of course, KU didn't give Daniels the keys to the offense right off the bat. When Les Miles' second season with the program kicked off on Sept. 12 versus Coastal Carolina, senior Thomas MacVittie started and rotated in and out of the lineup with junior Miles Kendrick. Daniels was the third QB on the depth chart and made his college debut doing mop-up duty in KU's home loss to Coastal.

Miles knew at the time that Daniels, who didn't turn 18 until this past week, couldn't be asked to take on the task of being a No. 1 QB at that point. "Entering the season, he didn't have enough snaps to get him ready," Miles said. "Period. No matter how you put it." In order for a freshman such as Daniels to start right off the bat, he would have to graduate early and play an entire spring practice schedule to get enough reps, Miles said. But two weeks after this season began - likely out of necessity, with MacVittie hurt and unable to play - Daniels became KU's starting QB as the Jayhawks opened Big 12 play at Baylor. - Lawrence Journal World

rSr/2026