Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels set to start season opener. What Lance Leipold said
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has battled back tightness for much of fall camp, is set to start KU’s season opener against Missouri State on Friday.
On Monday, Aug. 7, Daniels was present at practice but didn’t take any reps. He continued to be limited at practice as of a program update on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
“He hasn’t practiced a lot, but he went through everything today,” coach Lance Leipold said Monday while speaking on KU’s depth chart, which lists Daniels as the starter. “We’ll play everyone that’s available.”
Getting Daniels ready for Game 1 has been a balancing act, according to Leipold.
“We are giving him as much work as we can in many different ways,” Leipold said. “He’s been getting work and he’s been doing things. It’s not like he’s never practiced in the last two weeks — (to say that) is not accurate either.
“We’re confident. Unfortunately for him, it is something that he’s gone through a little bit before getting mental reps and doing things (with) where he’s at. But I think we are in a really good spot.”
In his junior season, Daniels missed four games due to a shoulder injury sustained against TCU. He also was limited some during spring ball.
In the nine games he did play, Daniels threw for 2,014 passing yards with 18 passing touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 425 yards and seven more touchdowns.
After a career year, Daniels was honored with an All-Big 12 second-team selection. He led Kansas (6-7, 3-6 Big 12) to its first bowl game appearance in 14 years — a 55-53 triple-overtime loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.
In July, Daniels was named Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, which is the first time a Jayhawk has earned that honor.
The Jayhawks are projected to finish 9th in the conference according to the Big 12’s preseason media poll.
