The Kansas Jayhawks have been turning the football program around the past several seasons, and the star player that has been the driver of the transformation received a major honor.
Junior quarterback Jalon Daniels has been named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Daniels becomes the first Preseason OPOY winner in the history of the program, and joins Dorance Armstrong as the only two to be named a preseason individual award winner by the Big 12.
Daniels had a breakthrough season in 2022, leading the Jayhawks to their first 5-0 start since 2008. He finished with 2,014 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes, despite missing four games due to injury, and was named Second Team All-Big 12.
Daniels took the country by storm in the Liberty Bowl, completing 37 passes for more than 560 yards of total offense and six total touchdowns in a triple overtime loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks. He is considered a Top 20 quarterback in the country by many, and is even considered a sleeper contender for the Heisman trophy entering the 2023 season.
