KU Football Headlines: Daniels Returns, Coordinators Depart
It was a big news weekend for the Kansas football program, which saw both the offensive and defensive coordinators depart but also saw their veteran starting quarterback announce his return.
Jalon Daniels, who started all 12 games for the Jayhawks under center in 2024 after missing most of the last two seasons due to injury, took to social media to declare that he would return to Lawrence for his final year of college eligibility.
Love Me Or Hate Me, I’m Finishing Where I Started… pic.twitter.com/dKlDQ69HCi
— (@JalonDaniels6) December 7, 2024
Daniels has played in 37 career games in his Jayhawk career, debuting as a 17 year-old freshman in 2020. He has thrown for 6,751 yards and passed for 45 touchdowns (second in school history in both categories) while rushing for 19 more.
Both offensive and defensive coordinators will be different for the Jayhawks in 2023 after their 5-7 finish this past season. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who replaced Andy Kotelnicki on the KU staff for the 2023 season, is leaving to take the same position at Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Brian Borland, who had been the defensive coordinator at KU since 2021, is stepping down from his responsibilities.
The Jayhawks are elevating Jim Zebrowski to the offensive coordinator role. Zebrowski had been the quarterbacks coach and served as co-offensive coordinator with Grimes this past season. He has been with the Jayhawks program since 2021. Kansas football made that promotion official on Saturday.
Coach Z leading the charge
Coach Leipold has elevated Jim Zebrowski to Offensive Coordinator
→ https://t.co/qZ4nbklnMe pic.twitter.com/0FjL1hOoD1
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) December 7, 2024
Multiple reports say that KU will also promote internally to replace Borland. D.K. McDonald, who coached defensive backs and was the co-defensive coordinator in 2024, is expected to be the new DC for the Jayhawks. McDonald joined the KU staff in 2024 from the Philadelphia Eagles, and has previously been a college assistant on Matt Campbell’s staffs at Toledo and Iowa State.