The 2024 Kansas football season didn’t go as planned. After entering the year with the highest expectations in over a decade, the Jayhawks took a major step back, falling short of a bowl game for the first time in two years. The disappointing outcome left fans wondering what the future held for a program that had finally shown signs of life under head coach Lance Leipold.
However, Friday brought Kansas football fans some much-needed good news: quarterback Jalon Daniels, the face of the program, will return for his sixth and final season in Lawrence. The star signal-caller made the announcement on social media, leaving Jayhawks supporters buzzing with optimism for next year:
“Love Me Or Hate Me, I’m Finishing Where I Started…” Daniels posted on Twitter, accompanied by a photo of him in his KU uniform.
Daniels’ decision to return comes as a relief to fans who had wondered whether the 2023 season, marked by injury struggles, would be his last. There had been whispers that he might leave, especially after the team’s underwhelming performance. Yet, the California native proved once again that his loyalty to Kansas and coach Leipold was unwavering, deciding to finish what he started at the university he first chose five years ago.
After missing most of the 2023 season due to a lingering back injury, Daniels made his comeback in 2024. He played all 12 games for the first time in his career, finishing the season with 2,454 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. While those numbers might not have matched the heights of his breakout 2022 campaign, Daniels showed improvement as the season progressed, further proving his resilience and commitment to the program.
Had Daniels not returned for his final year, the Jayhawks likely would have turned to the transfer portal to find a new quarterback. Instead, Kansas now has a familiar face under center, a player who knows the offense inside and out and has a lot to prove in his final college season.
With the Jayhawks losing significant talent to graduation and the transfer portal, Daniels’ return couldn’t come at a more critical time. Kansas will be without star running back Devin Neal, who is expected to declare for the NFL Draft, and all three of their top wide receivers have run out of eligibility. Additionally, a new offensive coordinator will be calling plays, meaning Daniels will have to adapt to changes around him.
Despite these challenges, Daniels’ leadership will be crucial in guiding the team through the transition. He’s shown time and again that he can handle adversity, and with a renewed sense of purpose, his final season could be the catalyst that propels Kansas back to bowl contention.
As Daniels enters spring practice, the Jayhawks will look to rebuild their offense around him. The potential successor to Daniels, redshirt freshman Isaiah Marshall, will likely get his chance to develop, but for now, all eyes will be on JD6 as he looks to end his college career on a high note.
For Kansas football, the return of Jalon Daniels provides hope for a brighter future. With his leadership and the team’s continued development under Coach Leipold, the Jayhawks will be looking to put the disappointment of 2024 behind them and make a strong push in the 2025 season. Kansas fans have plenty of reasons to be excited as they prepare for Daniels’ final ride in Lawrence.
