Jalon Daniels details the areas of his game he's improving on this offseason

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels had a breakout season for the Jayhawks last year, helping lead the team to their best record since 2008 behind his arm and legs. But the dominant dual-threat QB is looking to build off of his stellar season last year, and revealed at Big 12 Media Day which areas of his game he’s been working on improving this offseason.

“For me, my biggest thing that I want to focus on is being able to create extra time,” Daniels said. “Extra time outside of the pocket, being able to extend the play rather than alright there’s a guy that just got into the backfield, now the play is dead. No. I want to be able to make him miss, be able to extend the play for five more seconds, find a receiver downfield, and be able to score.”

If Daniels can buy himself even more time this upcoming season, then the Big 12’s defenses are in for a rude awakening. He threw for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdown passes in his nine starts last season, adding 419 yards on the ground and 7 rushing scores to his stat line as well.

Daniels was able to get it done with his arm and legs last season. But if he’s able to put the two together more cohesively, extending plays and completing passes on the run, then the Big 12’s second-best scoring offense from a year ago could be even more dangerous this upcoming season.

Daniels was also asked about what drills he’s been working on most this year to hone in on his craft, as he detailed the work he’s been getting in this offseason with quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski.

“Ball suddenness, being able to get the ball out. Rapid ball drill is something that Coach Zebrowski our quarterback coach at Kansas really harps on a lot. We’re basically doing rapid ball drill every single day because it doesn’t matter how quick you see it, if you can’t get the ball out fast enough to be able to react to that time then it might be an interception because it’s too late,” Daniels explained.

Daniels was one of the most efficient passers in the country last season, leading all returning college quarterbacks in the nation with an 87.9 QBR a year ago. Additionally, he had just four interceptions last season, two of which were in the Jayhawks’ overtime shootout against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.

It sounds like Daniels has been taking his game from good to great this offseason, focusing on areas of his craft that he’s already proven he can excel in. And if he comes back in 2023 even stronger, the Jayhawks could take yet another big leap this upcoming season.