Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels, returning for his sixth season of college football, underwent a procedure earlier this month that will affect his availability during spring practices, providing opportunities for others on the QB depth chart.
Latest Jalon Daniels Injury Update
On Feb. 6, it was reported that Daniels had a minor knee surgery and will be limited during spring practice, which began on March 2.
While the Jayhawks QB has shown his talent and ability across 33 starts, his career has been littered with injuries.
He missed four games in 2022 due to a shoulder injury, ten games in 2023 because of a back issue, and now this knee issue, which will lead to his limited participation in the spring for the second consecutive offseason.
It’s a disappointing development for a player whose athleticism is one of his best traits. He’s run for 19 touchdowns in his career in addition to throwing for 45 scores. The 2024 season was Daniels’ healthiest to date, as he started all 12 games for Kansas.
After coming in with high expectations in the new era of the Big 12, the Jayhawks began the season 1-5, digging themselves a hole they could never dig out of.
They put together a three-game win streak to finish the season — notching wins over three-straight ranked opponents — but a blowout loss in the season finale to the Baylor Bears ended their hopes of playing in a bowl game.
Despite staying healthy throughout, Daniels didn’t have a great season, throwing 14 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions.
Now, a pre-spring ball knee surgery puts his availability in question for the near future.
Kansas QB Depth Chart
Soon-to-be redshirt sophomore Cole Ballard is expected to be the backup and receive a majority of the starting reps in spring practice while Daniels recovers.
The Westfield, Ind., native has appeared in seven games across two seasons, throwing for two touchdowns and three interceptions on 42 passing attempts. Following his first fall camp with Kansas, head coach Lance Leipold lauded Ballard for his ability to earn respect in the locker room early on.
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Behind Ballard, sophomore Mikey Pauley and freshman Isaiah Marshall are expected to compete for the third-string spot. With the absence of Daniels, each will likely get an extended look.
Overall, the outlook at the quarterback position beyond Daniels is unproven and largely inexperienced. As far as the future goes for Jayhawks football, the limits the sixth-year senior has during spring practices may serve the program well in the long run, proving an opportunity for others to step up and gain more reps.
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