Kansas' Daniels emerging as a household name

Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels emerging as a household name

By Dan Treacy | Last updated 9/24/22

The top of the Heisman watch list through the first few weeks of the season includes some familiar names, including Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young, and USC's Caleb Williams. Kansas' Jalon Daniels might soon be part of that group.

The Kansas Jayhawks have become the darlings of the college football world after getting off to a 4-0 start. This is already the first time Kansas has won four games since 2009, despite the season being only a third of the way complete. Junior quarterback Jalon Daniels is the beating heart of this Cinderella season.

Through four games, Daniels has completed 71% of passes for 890 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 1 interception through the air. On the ground, he's rushed for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Daniels was impeccable in a win over Duke on Saturday, finishing 19-of-23 for 324 yards and accounting for five total touchdowns.

Jalon Daniels touchdowns today: 4

Jalon Daniels INCOMPLETIONS today: 2 pic.twitter.com/h1bnmdKz9J
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) September 24, 2022

Daniels started to show flashes late last season, playing so well in an upset win over Texas that coach Lance Leipold changed course and allowed him to keep playing rather than redshirt the season to gain extra eligibility down the line.

Putting Kansas' unprecedented success aside, Daniels' numbers are up there with the very best in the nation. The junior's perfect quarterback rating against Duke is enough to at least propel him into the Heisman discussion, and beating a solid Iowa State defense next weekend would only boost his candidacy.

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