Lightning In a Bottle: Jalon Daniels, QB, University of Kansas

First Round Mock’s William Yanish is impressed by Jayhawks’ quarterback (QB) Jalon Daniels.

Winning.

This is what the game is all about – to score more points than the other team.

It’s simple and it’s fair.

If you win, you will always have a job. If you don’t, you will be shown the door. Just ask Raiders’ quarterback (QB) Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been in about every game situation that you can find.

When I look at QBs there are a few things that I can not stress enough. My BIG Three, if you will.

1. Heart. Can they overcome adversity? Are they capable of putting their team on their shoulders? Do they believe in themselves and do their teammates believe in them?

2. Tight-ends (TE). How do they utilize them? Do they know where they are on the field and don’t look to them as a last option?

3. Footwork. The most underrated metric of a QB. Footwork provides rhythm, timing, tempo, mechanics, throwing power, accuracy, scrambling, and escape ability.

When it comes down to it, it’s surprising how many do not possess all three.

However, Kansas QB Jalon Daniels certainly does. At 6-foot-0 and 215 pounds he just keeps getting better and better.

Background

“Diamond in the Rough” is a good way of explaining him. Without 2021 starting QB Jason Bean getting injured, he might still be riding the pine waiting for a chance. Before the 2021 season started, Daniels lost the QB competition to Bean. After that injury, he took the reins and never looked back.

This is a college offense as simple as it is and they run a few different dual TE sets. Being a TE enthusiast, my interest has certainly been piqued. The star, TE Mason Fairchild, is a soft-handed monster, at 6-foot-5 and 261 pounds. The second TE is Jared Casey coming in at 6-foot-0 and 255 pounds. Slot wide receiver (WR) Luke Grimm can hold his own. These are weapons that Daniels is honing.

That is what great QBs do.

The Yanish Report

Slower, high release. Proper footwork could correct a lot. Mechanics need to match his game speed. Improv is off-the-charts. In tune with receivers. Chemistry is there. Adequate arm strength. Throws with a soft touch. Works eyes downfield. Proper leadership. excellent workmanship. Has football IQ. Always a QB first. Knows the field. Methodical. Poised. Accuracy and ball placement are improving. Will lock on to targets. Run-pass option (RPO) is on-point. Moves like the wind. Acceleration is possibly the best I’ve ever seen. Patient. Picks up tough yards on the ground. Has that shake and bake.

For the win

The 2024 QB draft class is men versus boys when compared to last year’s class. I already have five with first-round grades. Daniels is not a day-one prospect in my eyes at this point, but the potential is there. I will repeat myself, the name of the game is winning. That is the epitome of this Kansas QB.

Turning Kansas into a winner?

Fuggedaboutit!

I love what this team is doing. This is a team and Daniels is the commander. Kansas is your underdog story for next season. Remember that.

On a personal note, I cannot wait to see Daniels and Kansas go head-on with QB John Rhys Plumlee and UCF on October 7th. Tune in. It will be fire.

My BIG three questions

1. Will his shoulder injury affect his performance in 2023?

2. How high is his ceiling?

3. Will he be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy?

How Daniels stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: Second-Round

Game Film Evidence

(Jersey No. 17)

Kansas State ‘21

Texas ‘21

(Jersey No. 6)

Duke ‘22

TCU ‘22

Kansas State ‘22

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.