Leipold, speaking at Big 12 media days at AT & T Stadium on Wednesday, was asked during a press conference whether Daniels would serve as the starter for the Sept. 2 opener against Tennessee Tech at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Daniels finished last season in that role, forgoing a redshirt opportunity to do so, after helping the Jayhawks to a surprising 57-56 overtime win at Texas on Nov. 13. North Texas transfer Jason Bean, who started first nine games, was unable to play against the Longhorns because of an unspecified injury.

“I jokingly say I haven’t named Devin Neal the starting running back, either,” Leipold said. “I think your question is very good and very valid, but I think it also goes back to … embracing competition and doing things.

“I think our program knows. I think Jason Bean understands his role and where it’s at right now. Jason Bean has, I think, had a very good spring and took steps, as well, and he will continue to get better as well. But we know right now where Jalon is and what we expect him to do in August and as we get ready for Game 1.”

Daniels completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 860 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions while starting the final three games. A further sign of his role on the team was evident by the fact that he joined senior safety Kenny Logan Jr., sixth-year senior left tackle Earl Bostick Jr. and sophomore running back Devin Neal at the event.

“This is my first year where I’m able to go into the next season with that same offense, so I definitely was able to get more comfortable with everything that’s going on,” Daniels said.

Although Leipold didn’t make a definitive statement about Daniels, the quarterback made one himself.

He wore a pair of red velvet slip-on shoes for his half-hour media session that he said he found while shopping back home in Los Angeles.

“We started searching for some suits, but then we’d seen these shoes out there and I was like, ‘I like those. I’m not going to lie. We’re going to have to find a suit for those shoes,'” said Daniels, wore a navy suit with a matching red shirt and a gold chain with his No. 6 on a pendant.

Baseball still in Neal’s future

Neal said he plans to continue playing baseball at Kansas even though Ritch Price retired in May.

Neal appeared in seven games as a freshman, had six at-bats and did not get a hit. Price, who was at Kansas for 20 seasons, was replaced by former LSU assistant coach Dan Fitzgerald last month.

“I’m going to keep going until my heart’s not in it anymore with both sports,” Neal said. “I’ve always told myself that if I’m not happy with something, don’t force yourself to do it. If I’m not happy with doing either/or, I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Neal compared the baseball coaching change to what he experienced with football, as he committed to Kansas to play for coach Les Miles before he resigned in March 2021 and Leipold was hired as his replacement.

He also said he hasn’t had a chance to have a substantive conversation with Fitzgerald, though he has had spoken with some of the assistant coaches.

“It was just about personal stuff — not really anything about baseball yet,” Neal said. “Just introduction-type conversations. They’re pretty outgoing guys. I like them.”

Jayhawks find inspiration

Leipold said he’s not big into slogans but that if he had to offer one this season, it would simply be, “Believe.”

“I hate to say it — it might be too much ‘Ted Lasso’ or something — but you’ve got to believe,” Leipold said.

“I think there are some things that when you go with not having a lot of success, you’ve got new people in the room coaching you, you’ve done those things, where is your confidence level? And with confidence, where is your belief level? … I do think if there are slogans, there’s kind of a ‘we will’ in there. ‘We will win someday.’ How soon and how often? We’ve got to get to work and make that happen and time will tell.”

Realignment ‘crazy’ to Daniels

As someone who grew up in the shadow of USC’s campus, Daniels said he was surprised by the decision made two weeks ago to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten alongside UCLA beginning in 2024.

“USC and UCLA moving conferences is crazy to me, especially when the conferences are all the way on the other side (of the country),” Daniels said. “But, you know, I definitely feel like those two teams will be able to compete. Me living 10 minutes down the street from USC, I’ve always loved the Trojans, so I know exactly what they have over there. I have faith in that program, being able to compete with them.”