LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas redshirt senior Jalon Daniels is one of 67 nominees for the ninth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the organization announced on Tuesday, awarded to honor exemplary leadership by a college player.
The members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Daniels is a four-time team captain for the Jayhawks, becoming the first four-time captain in program history. Daniels, a native of Lawndale, California, is now in his sixth season at Kansas and is the only Power 4 quarterback to start at least one game in all six seasons.
Daniels has gotten off to a hot start to the 2025 season, completing 85-of-127 passes for 1,262 yards and 16 touchdowns. Daniels’ 16 passing touchdowns are the second most in all of college football this season. Last week against Cincinnati, Daniels threw for 445 yards and rushed for 55, totaling 500 yards of total offense, the most in a single game in the country this season.
Daniels is one of Kansas football’s most productive quarterbacks in school history, ranking second in Kansas football history in career passing yards (8,013), career completions (621), and career passing touchdowns (61). Daniels has the 8th-most career passing yards amongst all FBS quarterbacks and is one of three Power 4 quarterbacks with 55+ passing touchdowns and at least 7,000 passing yards at one school.
As impressive as Daniels is on the field, he is as equally impressive off the field. Daniels was recently named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy – awarded the top college football player with the best combination of academics, leadership, and on-field performance. Prior to the 2025 season, Daniels was named to the Walter Camp Award Preseason Watch List and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List entering the 2025 season. In 2022, Daniels was named an Academic All-American.
Daniels is also very involved in the community, serving as an offseason captain and leading teammates to participate in community service initiatives within the Lawrence community. Daniels has also started the "Mom2JD6" Foundation committed to supporting single mothers raising athletic children by providing financial aid, mentorship, sports training, and community resources.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tues., October 14. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, December 15. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
Last year, J.J. Weaver of Kentucky won the eighth annual award. The first seven Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year awards were presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017, D’Cota Dixon of Wisconsin in 2018, Trey Smith of Tennessee in 2019, Sam Ehlinger of Texas in 2020, Joshua Paschal of Kentucky in 2021, Deslin Alexandre of Pittsburgh in 2022 and Mike Hollins of Virginia in 2023.
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player’s leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football’s most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.