Patriots evaluate dynamic Kansas QB Jalon Daniels, assessing his dual-threat talent and injury history for potential developmental role.
Patriots Give Kansas QB Jalon Daniels a Look Ahead of NFL Draft
The New England Patriots are doing their homework on quarterbacks ahead of the draft, and that includes a visit with former Kansas Jayhawks football standout Jalon Daniels.
According to reports, Daniels is meeting with New England as part of a top-30 visit, giving him a real shot to land on the Patriots’ radar as a developmental option behind Drake Maye.
Daniels’ path to this point hasn’t been perfect, but there’s no denying the production. Across six seasons at Kansas, he threw for over 9,200 yards and 67 touchdowns while adding another 800+ yards on the ground. When healthy, he was the engine that helped bring Kansas football back into relevance.
That said, durability has always been part of the conversation. Shoulder and back injuries limited him at key points in his career, and even late in his time at KU, consistency as a passer was still a question mark.
Still, the traits are there—and that’s clearly what NFL teams are interested in. Daniels impressed during the pre-draft process, including a strong showing at the Shrine Bowl and a 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine. His dual-threat ability and natural arm talent give him a foundation that teams can work with.
For New England, this is about depth and development. With Maye locked in as the starter and Tommy DeVito currently the only other quarterback on the roster, adding another arm, whether through the draft or after, is almost a guarantee.
Daniels likely isn’t a day-one guy at the next level. But situations like this are exactly where he can carve out a role. If he lands in the right system and stays healthy, he’ll get a chance to prove he belongs.
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Kansas Baseball Hosts No. 12 UCF in First-Place Showdown
The Kansas Jayhawks baseball are stepping into their biggest series of the season this weekend, hosting the No. 12 UCF Knights baseball with first place in the Big 12 on the line.
This is as big as it gets in early April. Kansas comes in riding a seven-game win streak, and a strong weekend could finally push them into the top 25 after just missing out the past two weeks. If KU takes two of three, or sweeps, it’s hard to see them being left out again.
Offensively, Kansas has been one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The lineup has depth, with five hitters batting over .310, and they’ve been aggressive on the bases, going 28-for-29 on stolen base attempts. Tyson LeBlanc is coming off a monster week that earned him national hitter of the week honors after putting up video game numbers.
On the mound, Mathis Nayral has started to settle in as the ace. He’s been dominant in his last two outings, giving KU a reliable tone-setter to open the series.
UCF, though, is a different kind of test. The Knights sit at 20-9 overall and 10-2 in conference play, and they haven’t dropped a Big 12 series yet. Their lineup can hit—five guys over .300, led by John Smith III—but the real strength is on the mound.
Camden Wicker anchors a deep pitching staff that includes one of the better bullpens in the conference. That’s where this series could be decided—Kansas’ bats versus UCF’s arms.
If KU can keep swinging it the way they have and get solid starts, they’ve got a real shot to take control of the Big 12 race. But this is easily their toughest test yet.