Jalon Daniels posed for the cameras, showing off his flexibility, and his back, which has caused him so much trouble in the past couple of years, seemed to move easily in many directions.
This is a positive sign for the 22nd-ranked Jayhawks.
The effort Daniels put into the pregame videos and promotions suggests he might stay healthy this season. If he does, the Jayhawks could improve from being just okay — a big improvement from their previous struggles — to becoming one of the top teams in the new Big 12.
“Shoot, all the stuff they do behind over here,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said, pointing to the photo and video teams at work, “I think we’ve got to have him stretch or something before they do all that stuff they video back there. I go, ‘If he can make it through everything they’re doing to video for pregame stuff, I think he’s going to be fine.’”
Daniels played a key role in helping Kansas go from two wins in Leipold’s first season to six the following year, ending with a bowl game appearance.
Last season, Daniels only played three games before back problems forced him to sit out, while Jason Bean, who has since graduated, led the Jayhawks to nine wins and a Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory.
“Football is one of those sports where injuries happen, and quite frankly, when injuries happen, it’s the next man up,” Daniels said. “I’ve been saying that since I was a third string. It’s the next-man-up mentality in a game of football.”
When healthy, Daniels has shown he can be one of the most exciting playmakers in the country. But to reach his full potential, he needs to be on the field.
