Jalon Daniels says he’ll return to Kansas in 2024 after injury-plagued season

Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels announced on social media that he’ll return to Lawrence for the 2024 season on Thursday.

The junior from Lawndale, California was the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year before getting hurt in the third game of the season, a 38-27 win over BYU.

Daniels was 56-75 for 705 yards and five touchdowns with one interception, and added 74 yards as a rusher. All three starts were wins over Illinois, Nevada, and BYU.

It’s a huge return for the Jayhawks and head coach Lance Leipold, who is likely to be a hot name for teams in search of a new leader this offseason. Kansas has continued to outperform historical expectations, as the former Buffalo head man and five-time D3 national champion at Wisconsin-Whitewater will take KU to consecutive bowls for only the second time in program history, and the first since 2008.

If Leipold were to leave, it would certainly give Daniels the opportunity to change his mind; the transfer portal opens December 4, but doesn’t close until January 3, 2024.

Daniels has played just three games in 2023, and will be eligible for a medical redshirt as long as he doesn’t return and play a fifth game at any point.