Lance Leipold makes Kansas Jayhawks’ starting QB official, releases depth chart

Jalon Daniels, who engineered Kansas’ 57-56 road victory over Texas last season, opened camp a month ago as likely choice of second-year coach Lance Leipold to be starting quarterback.

He completes the preseason as KU’s No. 1 signal-caller heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. home and season opener against Tennessee Tech.

“Jalon Daniels will be the starting quarterback on Friday,” Leipold said Monday when it was pointed out at a news conference that Daniels was listed No. 1 on the team’s first official depth chart of the 2022 season, which was released to the media and public on Monday morning.

Daniels, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior from Lawndale, California, completed 81 of 117 passes for 860 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions in six games a year ago.

Backup Jason Bean, a 6-3 200-pound redshirt senior from Mansfield, Texas, completed 102 of 182 passes for 1,252 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games. Daniels rushed for 83 yards on 33 carries with three TDs; Bean 400 yards on 92 carries and two TDs.

“I’ll say this … Jason Bean has played some of his best football since he’s been in our program — the month of August here. I don’t want to slight that in any way, but at the same time when you look at it, Jalon’s played very well equally,” Leipold said.

“You look at the body of work in games last year and you stack those things together — and we announced our captains and Jalon was again one of our top vote getters (of players). He’ll be a captain (with Sam Burt, Rich Miller, Mike Novitsky) which also shows how he’s viewed in the locker room in many different ways. We’re not going to ignore that,” Leipold added.

Leipold said he believes he has two outstanding QBs in Daniels and Bean.

“That (QB) position in and of itself is again another one that’s night and day from a year ago where we were at,” Leipold said, “and where we are at in consistency and understanding. I am very comfortable with either one being on the field but Jalon Daniels will be the starter.”

He quickly added: “I am very pleased with Jason Bean and where he’s at. He’s going to help this football team.”

Ex-Louisville O-lineman eligible at KU

Former Louisville offensive lineman Kobe Baynes, a 6-4, 297-pound redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Florida, who announced plans to transfer to KU last week, has received his waiver from the NCAA and is eligible to play for the Jayhawks this season, Leipold said.

“He’s another big body that could play guard and tackle,” Leipold said Monday. “Again, as we’ve talked about that depth and experience (on line), James Livingston (6-7, 290) is a true freshman that’s in the two-deep. We have Joey Baker (6-4, 275) as well (as a freshman). But I think it’s pretty uncommon that in the Big 12 Conference you’re going to take true freshmen and expect them (to play well) without throwing them to the fire, and this gives us a chance to continue to develop and work with other guys and give us one more body.

“I think he should bring another sense of physicality to us. We also know it (his arrival) was late, but he did get the waiver cleared to be eligible and he is eligible to play in games,” Leipold added.

Leipold family starts fund

Leipold and his wife, Kelly, have started the “Lance and Kelly Leipold Graduate Assistant Fund,” at KU, the KU athletic department announced Monday. According to a KU release, “it is an endowed fund that will provide perpetual support for an on-field graduate assistant position with the football program. To assist Kansas Athletics’ strategic plan to build greater representation within college athletics, and in support of the university’s overall desire to establish inclusive communities throughout campus, the fund will look to provide opportunities for individuals whom represent marginalized communities to gain experience in the coaching field.”

KU AD Travis Goff said: “This gift by Lance and Kelly is yet another example of their deep commitment to our University and their passion for positively impacting the many lives they intersect with. We are fortunate to have the Leipolds in Lawrence and are grateful that the University of Kansas has a selfless, dedicated leader at the helm of its football program.”

Deep running back position

Leipold lists four players at No. 1 running back: Devin Neal, Daniel Hishaw, Ky Thomas and Sevion Morrison.

KU football depth chart

OFFENSE

LT — Earl Bostick Jr, Jackson Satterwhite

LG — Dominick Puni or Armaj Reed-Adams

C — Mike Novitsky, Deondre Doiron

RG — Michael Ford Jr, Nolan Gorczyca

RT — Bryce Cabeldue, James Livingston

TE — Mason Fairchild, Trevor Kardell or Jared Casey

RB — Devin Neal or Daniel Hishaw or Ky Thomas or Sevion Morrison

QB — Jalon Daniels, Jason Bean

SLOT — Luke Grimm, Douglas Emilien

X — Lawrence Arnold, Kevin Terry

Z — Quentin Skinner, Steven McBride

DEFENSE

DE — Lonnie Phelps, Hayden Hatcher

DT — Sam Burt, Eddie Wilson

DT — Caleb Sampson, Caleb Taylor or D.J. Withers

DE — Malcolm Lee or Jereme Robinson

LB — Craig Young or Gavin Potter

LB — Rich Miller, Eriq Gilyard

LB — Taiwan Berryhill, Lorenzo McCaskill

CB — Kalon Gervin or Cobee Bryant

S — O.J. Burroughs or Marvin Grant

S — Kenny Logan Jr., Edwin White-Schultz or Jarrett Paul

CB — Mello Dotson, Monte’ McGary or Shaad Dabney

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kickoff — Tabor Allen, Jacob Borcila

PK — Jacob Borcila, Tabor Allen

P — Reis Vernon, Grayden Addison

LS — Luke Hosford, Emory Duggar

PR — Luke Grimm, Devin Neal

KR — Kenny Logan Jr., Luke Grimm

HOLD — Reis Vernon