Kansas QB Jalon Daniels’ ability to react to mistakes is fueling his hot start

For a moment, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels stared at the blue and white end zone inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Then, he turned and leisurely jogged off the field. His head remained high.

He’d just made his first mistake of the season. Daniels lofted a ball into the end zone with his intended wide receiver sandwiched between two Wagner defenders. Defensive back Jayden Brown snagged the ball for Daniels’ first interception of 2025.

It was a spectacular play, but Daniels’ face remained stoic. He wasn’t worried. He didn’t slam his helmet or even look remotely concerned. Daniels waited for his turn. His arm did the rest.

The very next drive, Daniels connected with wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for a 62-yard passing touchdown. It was his last throw of the night. It was also his best one.

He finished that night 18-of-25 passing for 280 yards with four passing touchdowns and one interception, as KU improved to 2-0 in a blowout win.

More important: Instead of letting a mistake frustrate him or balloon into another, Daniels remained composed. Through three games, the sixth-year quarterback has exuded a level of self-assuredness that was missing last season.

The result is the best start Daniels has had to a season since his name was brought up in early Heisman conversations in 2022. Through three games, Daniels has thrown for 679 yards with nine touchdowns to two interceptions.

“He’s (never) not been confident,” offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski said. “You feel it the way he’s walking or even after that fumble (a week later vs. Missouri). … He’s always shown the ability to bounce back, but not consistently.”

So what’s changed?

“I think he knows what’s happening, what I’m calling, what’s going to come next,” Zebrowski continued. “I think that kind of helps, too. … He knows he’s going to get another chance.”

So far, Daniels looks in total control. He’s not forcing balls into tight windows. He’s going through his progressions. He knows when to test his arm as compared to using his legs or checking down.

It’s precisely the kind of start he needed for his NFL dreams. It’s the type of play KU fans have been hoping to see.

It’s a night-and-day difference from last season.

Daniels struggled in the first half of 2024, throwing eight interceptions in KU’s first five games. He finished the year with 12 interceptions, the most he’s ever thrown.

Also, Daniels threw just 14 touchdown passes last season. He’s already more than halfway there.

The sixth-year senior attributes his hot start to his trust in Zebrowski. After all, the pair have worked together going on five years.

Zebrowski was Daniels’ QB coach before earning the promotion to OC this offseason; former offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes departed for Wisconsin.

“First of all, it’s about your confidence level, being able to realize about what’s coming next,” Daniels said. “What is Coach Z calling this exact play for? Why are we going through that scenario? … There is a lot of not even pre-snap communication, but pregame communication when it comes to me and Coach Z.

“I feel like a lot of things we do, we’ve been on the same page a lot.”

Zebrowski also noted Daniels’ demeanor after a bad play has improved. He’s even emphasized that in coaching the talented QB.

The message?

“Just play free and fast,” Zebrowski said. “Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. The play is going to be called, you’ve got six seconds. Give me the best six seconds of your life. Enjoy it. Love it. Just do everything you can. After it, take a deep breath and let’s go do it again.”

Daniels has exemplified that mentality thus far in 2025. Naturally, coach Lance Leipold has seen it too, even while pointing out some learning moments from the last game before Big 12 play begins Saturday.

“A couple of times in the last Missouri game, he tried to do a little bit too much again, but all in all I think he’s continued to play confidently within himself and not try to put everything on his shoulders,” Leipold said. “His maturity and understanding — he’s been that way all the way through. He doesn’t show frustration and panic in what he’s doing.

“This team is going to need that throughout conference play.”

Shreyas Laddha

The Kansas City Star

Shreyas Laddha covers KU hoops and football for The Star. He’s a Georgia native and graduated from the University of Georgia.