— KANSAS ATHLETICS RELEASE —
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KUAthletics.com) – Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is one of 63 quarterbacks named to the watch list for the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which was announced Wednesday by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
This is the fifth preseason watch list of the 2024 offseason for Daniels, who was previously listed by the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Comeback Player of the Year Award and the Davey O’Brien Award. This is the second straight season he has earned preseason recognition by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
The Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. The namesake of the award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.
Daniels returns for his fifth season at Kansas in 2024 after throwing for 705 yards and five touchdowns in three games last year. In 2022, Daniels was a breakthrough player as he led the Jayhawks to a 5-0 start and the program’s first bowl game appearance since 2008. He was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection after completing 66.1 percent (152-of-230) of his passes for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns. Daniels capped off his sophomore season with a record-setting performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, when he completed 37-of-55 passes for 544 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for a touchdown.
From Lawndale, California, Daniels enters the season ranked No. 9 in school history with 4,297 passing yards and No. 5 with 31 passing touchdowns. At his current career completion rate of 63.6 percent (365-of-574), Daniels would surpass the previous school record of 63.3 percent, set by Todd Reesing from 2006-09.
This year’s award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, December 6, 2024. The preseason watch list, semifinalists, finalists and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johhny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players.
2024 Kansas Football Preseason Watch Lists:
Maxwell Award – QB Jalon Daniels, RB Devin Neal
Patrick Mannelly Award – LS Luke Hosford
Bronko Nagurski Award – CB Cobee Bryant
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – CB Cobee Bryant
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy – TE Jared Casey
Walter Camp Award – QB Jalon Daniels
Doak Walker Award – RB Devin Neal, RB Daniel Hishaw Jr.
Comeback Player of the Year – QB Jalon Daniels
Biletnikoff Award – WR Lawrence Arnold
Davey O’Brien Award – QB Jalon Daniels
Chuck Bednarik Award – CB Cobee Bryant
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award – QB Jalon Daniels
