LAS VEGAS — There is no must ask Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels how he’s doing. It is a query he is answered daily for months.
“I strive to not ask Jalon Daniels greater than as soon as per week how is he doing as a result of I do know all people asks him that,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold stated. “After all, we preserve sporting out a younger man with these questions.”
For a participant who arrived in Lawrence, Kansas with few provides and little fanfare, adjusting to a whole metropolis obsessing over his nagging again ache was a irritating expertise.
It is simple to see why followers are so involved, although. When wholesome, Daniels has been a game-changing participant at Kansas. Throughout a breakout 2022 season, he scored 25 touchdowns and threw simply 4 interceptions whereas the Jayhawks reached a bowl recreation for the primary time in practically 15 years. For his efforts, Daniels was slotted because the preseason Massive 12 Offensive Participant of the 12 months in 2023.
Then the again points began. For months, Daniels stored quiet about his damage as he tried to heal. Again accidents are notoriously fickle. There was no timeline, readability or understanding, even in-house. One week become two. Then three. Finally, rumors circulated that Daniels was faking, Oor sitting out to redshirt so he might switch to a much bigger faculty.
“I used to be in all probability nearer to it than anybody else,” working again Devin Neal instructed CBS Sports activities. “It harm as a result of I needed to exit and easily say, ‘what you guys are saying is absolutely disrespectful to him, particularly since you simply beloved him.’ I hate when ‘followers’ query folks’s integrity on the sector once they actually simply wish to play ball.”
Final 12 months at Massive 12 Media Days, Daniels sported a flashy chain with a pendant that performed his quite a few highlights. He was the viral focus. This 12 months, Daniels had the same hyperlink chain, however in any other case got here dressed all in black. He was all enterprise.
“He is excited,” Leipold stated. “He would not be right here right now if we did not suppose he was going to be able to go for this season, I can inform you that.”
So how is Daniels doing?
“I am doing nice, man,” Daniels instructed CBS Sports activities. “I am unable to complain. I am blessed to be within the place that I’m right now. I am blessed to have the ability to see right now. It is .01% of people that get to play school soccer and go to the media day for his or her convention. I am blessed to have the ability to be within the state of affairs that I am in right now to have the ability to characterize Kansas soccer and the model.”
When Leipold requested Daniels if he needed to characterize Kansas at Massive 12 Media Days, the star quarterback jumped on the alternative. He needed to reply all of the questions and switch the web page in order that he might transfer on together with his soccer life and look ahead.
“It is clearly going to be laborious as a result of he was gonna be requested lots of questions on one thing that was so detrimental to his psychological well being,” working again Devin Neal instructed CBS Sports activities. “Nobody likes going by accidents, and everybody needs to play soccer like we got here in to do.”
In the end, Daniels is absolutely collaborating in exercises and practices to arrange for the 2024 season. If he comes again wholesome, the Jayhawks rank among the many true Massive 12 title contenders on par with favorites Utah and Kansas State.
“I have never gotten an opportunity to speak to the media since in the course of the season,” Daniels instructed CBS Sports activities. “I do know there’s lots of questions that folks needed answered, and fairly frankly, I’ve the solutions for these questions.”
The Kansas roster has rallied round Daniels. Quite a few gamers turned down NFL or switch alternatives to return in 2024. Preseason All-Massive 12 defensive backs Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson bolster an skilled secondary. Neal was requested by a energy coach: what wouldn’t it really feel like if Kansas made historical past and he was not a part of it? That was sufficient for him to stay round.
“We all know that we did not come this far simply to come back this far,” Daniels stated. “We all know the targets and the targets that we set once we signed these papers to come back to the College of Kansas. And fairly frankly, we’ve got eyes to play within the Massive 12 championship and get to play within the playoff. We all know what’s at stake.”
Optimistically, this time subsequent 12 months, nobody might be asking Daniels how he is doing. They’re going to be asking him how he did it.
