Former Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels got an extra opportunity to showcase his talents at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, where the 2026 Pop Warner Award winner put together a decent highlight package as he prepares for April’s NFL Draft.
A dual-threat “gadget” player, Daniels has league-ready speed (4.58, 40-yard dash) and is a capable passer, but his decision-making is far from what defined his college career. Daniels has not publicly worked out for any specific franchises yet, but will likely be back in Lawrence for pro day, typically scheduled for mid-to-late March.
Daniels, coming off his sixth and final year of eligibility for Lance Leipold and Kansas, caught waves with his deep ball in the practice sessions leading up to the game itself with a bullseye completion to Lake McRee of USC. He hits quite the pocket.
On Tuesday, Daniels completed eight of his 14 attempts (57%) for 52 yards, and put East’s first points on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He split snaps with former Baylor quarterback Kyron Drones (3-8, 22 yards, 1 TD) for East in a 21-17 loss to West at the practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys.
Daniels looked in step with what’s largely considered his best season of college football in 2025, even as Kansas finished 5-7 (3-6 Big 12) overall for a second straight season. The Jayhawks dropped three of their last four games last year, and ultimately missed bowl eligibility with Daniels at the helm of the offense.
Recurring injuries will give any scout concern, and Daniels is busy mitigating those doubts among league reps – but the fact remains, there are significant holes in Daniels’ career at Kansas, holes he’s having to answer for in a very short window.
INJURY TIMELINE
While Daniels has three 2,000-plus yard seasons on his college resume, his time in Lawrence was littered with injury and a rocky return as Kansas’ starter in 2024.
Let’s break down the timeline:
2022: After a 5-0 start in Leipold’s second season as coach, Daniels suffers a shoulder injury against TCU in the College Gameday game in Lawrence. He’d miss four games but ultimately return for a record-breaking game against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.
2023: Kansas starts the season 4-0, including a 38-27 win over BYU, but Daniels misses the Texas game due to a persistent back injury. Jason Bean starts in Austin and finishes out a 9-4 season with a 49-36 win over UNLV in the Rate Bowl.
2024: Daniels and Kansas get off to a 1-5 start in his return as the starter, but win four of their last six games; Daniels records 2,452 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions in his fifth year of college football.
2025: Daniels and Kansas finish the non-conference slate 3-1, but the team struggles to finish out games in the Big 12. After a runaway loss in Lubbock, Daniels and Kansas are humiliated at the booth in a 42-17 loss to 3-4 Kansas State. Daniels finishes his sixth season with a career-high 2,531 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 7 interceptions (four of which came in his final two games against Iowa State and Utah).
THE DRAFT BUZZ
There’s countless NFL Draft blogs and X accounts more than happy to hype up whoever the hell for clicks these days, but there are a few reputable spots that are giving Daniels an honest look at his potential, whether as a draft pick or an undrafted free agent.
Both, Draft Nation and NFL Draft Buzz, list arm strength and speed as upsides for Daniels, with concern largely relating to his undersized frame and pocket discipline. Both profiles make note of his extended time away from the field with just 36 career games at the college level.
Matty Breisch, Clutch Points: 5th Round, Philadelphia Eagles
Charles North, Stadium Rant: 6th Round, Philadelphia Eagles
Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire: 6th Round, Minnesota Vikings
