Kansas football's offense needs these 5 players to step up in 2024, including Jalon Daniels

LAWRENCE — There will be a lot of eyes on Kansas football’s offense this season.

Andy Kotelnicki is no longer the Jayhawks’ offensive coordinator, as he left to take a job on the coaching staff at Penn State. KU head coach Lance Leipold hired Jeff Grimes, most recently on staff at Baylor, as the new assistant head coach/offensive coordinator. It’s a side of the ball that’s garnered a lot of praise across the past couple years, rightfully so.

And Kansas will need to continue to deliver if the team is going to reach its goals in 2024.

But while there are a number of players who’ll be relied upon to step up over the course of the season, five stand out. They are names fans will know well, and surely will receive a lot of attention during Big 12 media days July 9-10 in Las Vegas. They could finish the year with All-Big 12 Conference recognition if things go right for the Jayhawks.

Here are those five:

Jalon Daniels, quarterback

Jalon Daniels hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent seasons, but the redshirt junior is poised to return as Kansas’ starter this year. He’s shown the heights he can help the Jayhawks reach when healthy, and has the talent to lead a team expected to be Big 12 contender. It’s just a matter of staying healthy, because while redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Ballard isn’t inexperienced it might be a year too soon for him to be relied upon in the way Jason Bean was in 2022 and 2023.

Devin Neal, running back

Devin Neal has already proven to be one of the most accomplished running backs in program history, and he’s returned for his senior season with a chance to add to his legacy. Of course, the man who’s led the team in rushing yards and rushing scores the past three years has his sights set on more than just individual success. But what he’s capable of, especially in a duo with redshirt junior running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., is a critical piece of the offense.

Logan Brown, offensive lineman

Logan Brown transferred from Wisconsin to Kansas ahead of the 2023 season, but this will be the first campaign he’s relied upon in a significant way. Brown, a redshirt junior, is in line to be the Jayhawks’ starting left tackle and therefore a key individual in the task of protecting Daniels. Brown is replacing Dominick Puni, a third round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Quentin Skinner, wide receiver

Quentin Skinner is one part of a trio of senior wide receivers, alongside Luke Grimm and Lawrence Arnold. All three of them are important to Kansas’ potential success on offense this year. The more Skinner can continue to develop, the more versatile the Jayhawks can be. His combination of size and speed make him someone who can be tough to defend.

Trevor Kardell, tight end

With Mason Fairchild’s college career coming to an end, and the injury to redshirt senior DeShawn Hanika, senior Trevor Kardell’s emergence among Kansas’ tight ends is a significant need for the Jayhawks. Kardell has played in double-digit games each of the past three seasons, but not produced much in terms of receiving statistics. It’s not as if he has to lead his team in receptions and receiving touchdowns, but this needs to be a breakout year.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.