LAWRENCE — The conversation about Kansas football’s quarterbacks room starts, understandably, with redshirt junior Jalon Daniels.

Daniels is in line to once again be the Jayhawks’ starter. For a team with high expectations in 2024, a lot of the responsibility for reaching them seems to be placed on his shoulders. And, as the team makes it way through spring ball this year, Daniels continues to make his way back from an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2023 campaign.

Head coach Lance Leipold told reporters when spring practices in March he was happy with how Daniels threw the ball, and that they’re taking things day-by-day. Co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski told reporters later on during spring ball that it’s been fun to see Daniels throw a football again, and that whether Daniels gets a live rep or not Daniels is still learning the offense and they’re moving forward at a good pace. Redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Ballard told reporters whenever Daniels is back to 100%, he wants to be there pushing him to be better.

But there is an air of optimism that seems different, compared to parts of last fall. The conversation wasn’t all about recovery, with Zebrowski mentioning Daniels’ development will include a continued emphasis on decision-making. And redshirt junior running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. aired that optimism well.

“He’s Jalon Daniels,” Hishaw said recently. “So, he’s a great dude. He’s electric. He’s fun to be around. He’s just always stayed the same, been Jalon the whole time.”

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Here are a few things to think about with the quarterback position as spring ball continues:

Cole Ballard continues his development

Kansas had to thrust Ballard into action as a true freshman because of injuries to Daniels and Jason Bean, the latter now pursuing a professional career. Ballard acquitted himself well coming in off the bench against Texas Tech, and as the starter against Kansas State. Those games didn’t end in wins, but he certainly played well enough to give the Jayhawks a chance.

Leipold has said this spring Ballard had an outstanding offseason. There’s a maturity that Ballard has that’s beyond his age, and a swagger as well that Leipold loves. It’s part of why Leipold feels great about where the room is heading.

Ballard said his game’s grown in his decision-making. The biggest things he took away from last season were the pace of play at this level of college football, where he needs to place the ball for his receivers and the size and speed of his opponents. In terms of what thought he did well last year, he highlighted extending plays.

Isaiah Marshall joins the team

Isaiah Marshall enrolled early and is a freshman at quarterback for Kansas. A 247Sports Composite three-star prospect out of high school, he arrived on campus with a lot of excitement surrounding his potential in Lawrence. And he’s routinely received praise as spring ball has continued.

Leipold praised Marshall’s composure multiple times. Zebrowski highlighted how important getting these reps in practice is for Marshall, and how intelligent Marshall’s been while learning a complicated offense. Offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Jeff Grimes told reporters early this spring Marshall was held up a little in the offseason due his hamstring, but also mentioned when Marshall is confident in what he’s doing you can see he has what they’re looking for.

Kansas’ quarterbacks could do more under center this season

With the arrival of a new offensive coordinator comes new wrinkles in Kansas’ offense, and one of those wrinkles could be more of an emphasis on the quarterbacks playing under center. Grimes mentioned it’ll be a piece of what they do. It’s something he’s done more or less in the past depending on the personnel of the team.

Zebrowski, who works with the quarterbacks, seemed excited about the prospect of doing it more and noted he’s coached it in the past. He pointed out that offenses at the next level do a lot of different things, including working under center, so this’ll be helpful in the quarterbacks’ development. And while it’ll take time to teach, he thinks the players are excited.

Ballard acknowledged it’s been different because they haven’t done a lot under center in the past, so working with the centers will be important. But speaking generally about Grimes’ arrival, he also used the word excitement. He said he can’t even explain how bought in he and his teammates are to running the new things they well this season.

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.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here's what you need to know about Kansas football's quarterbacks room