LAWRENCE, KS – Quarterback of Kansas Jalon Daniels is one of 63 quarterbacks on the list of nominees for the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, announced Wednesday by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

This is the fifth preseason watch list of the 2024 offseason for Daniels, who previously won the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Comeback Player of the Year Award, and Davey O’Brien Award. This is the second consecutive season he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

The Golden Arm Award is given each year to the best quarterback in the senior class or high school who graduates with his class. The award’s namesake has a colorful history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year NFL veteran and played his college career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing numbers include 2,830 completed passes for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and one touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

Daniels returns to Kansas for his fifth season in 2024 after throwing for 705 yards and five touchdowns in three games last year. Daniels was a breakout player in 2022, leading the Jayhawks to a 5-0 start and the program’s first bowl game appearance since 2008. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team after completing 66.1 percent (152 of 230) of his passes for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns. Daniels capped his sophomore season with a record-setting performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, completing 37 of 55 passes for 544 yards and five touchdowns while also running for a touchdown.

Daniels, of Lawndale, Calif., begins the season ranked No. 9 in school history with 4,297 passing yards and No. 5 with 31 passing touchdowns. With his current career completion rate of 63.6 percent (365 of 574), Daniels would surpass the previous school record of 63.3 percent set by Todd Reesing from 2006-09.

This year’s honoree will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The preseason watch list, semifinalists, finalists and honoree are selected by the esteemed Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players.

2024 Kansas Football Preseason Watchlists:

Maxwell Award – QB Jalon DanielsRB Devin Neal

Patrick Mannelly Award – LS Luke Hosford

Bronko Nagurski Prize – CB Cobee Bryant

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – CB Cobee Bryant

Allstate Würffel Trophy – TE Jared Casey

Walter Camp Award – QB Jalon Daniels

Doak Walker Award – RB Devin NealRB Daniel Hishaw Jr.

Comeback Player of the Year – QB Jalon Daniels

Biletnikoff Prize – WR Lawrence Arnold

Davey O’Brien Award – QB Jalon Daniels

Chuck Bednarik Award – CB Cobee Bryant

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award – QB Jalon Daniels