Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels draws comparison to first-round draft pick 

Tony Adame

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Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels draws comparison to first-round draft pick  image

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels has been one of the nation’s best quarterbacks the last two seasons — when he’s healthy. 

Daniels’ game — and injury history — bears a striking resemblance to 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr., who turned his career around with two standout seasons at Washington over the last two seasons. 

ESPN’s David Hale pointed out that Daniels’ last 14 starts against FBS teams — which are spread across three seasons — are comparable to Penix Jr.’s 15 starts in 2023 as he led the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national championship game. 

Daniels was a second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2022 despite missing four games with a shoulder injury and threw for a school-record 544 yards in a loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl and was named Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. 

Daniels went 3-0 as a starter in 2023 before a back injury ended his season but he’s back and healthy for 2024. The Jayhawks open the season on Thursday, Aug. 29, against FCS Lindenwood and open Big 12 play on Sept. 21 at West Virginia.

Tony Adame

Tony Adame Photo

Tony Adame covers the Big 12 Conference for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. He has won APSE Awards for breaking news, games stories and feature writing. He is also the writer and host of the Florida Society of News Editors Award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County for USA Today/Gannett.