Cancelled Event: Women's Swimming and Diving versus Crimson vs. Blue
Cancelled
Women's Swimming and Diving
vs Crimson vs. Blue
Jalon Daniels Named a Semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award
10/14/2025 1:00:00 PM | Football
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas redshirt senior Jalon Daniels is one of 20 semifinalists for the ninth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the organization announced on Tuesday, awarded to honor exemplary leadership by a college player on and off the field.
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Daniels, a native of Lawndale, Calif., is a four-time captain for the Jayhawks, Kansas' first in program history. Daniels was recently named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy - awarded the top college football player with the best combination of academics, leadership, and on-field performance.
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Daniels is having a historic 2025 season, completing 130-of-186 passing for 1,752 yards and 18 touchdowns. Through seven games, Daniels' 18 passing touchdowns ranks second in college football and are tied for a career-high in a single season. Over his career, Daniels ranks among the best quarterbacks in program history, completing 666-of-1,060 passing for 8,503 yards and 63 touchdowns, all of which rank second in school history. Daniels has also rushed for 1,240 career rushing yards and 20 career rushing touchdowns.
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Prior to the 2025 season, Daniels was named to the Walter Camp Award Preseason Watch List and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List entering the 2025 season. Daniels was Kansas's first Big 12 Football Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2025 and is a 2022 CSC Academic All-American. Daniels is also a five-time Academic All-Big 12 member.
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Not only has Daniels been impressive on the field, he has also been very involved in the community, contributing community service to the Lawrence community. Daniels has also started a "Mom2JD6" Foundation committed to supporting single mothers raising athletic children by providing financial aid, mentorship, sports training, and community resources.
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Daniels is Kansas' second Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist in the last two seasons, as Devin Neal was a semifinalist for the award in 2024.
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The full list of semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year includes: CJ Allen (Georgia), Nick Andersen (Wake Forest), Cam Ball (Arkansas), Jude Bowry (Boston College), Deion Burks (Oklahoma), Arion Carter (Tennessee), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Nick Dawkins (Penn State), Aiden Fisher (Indiana), Ernest Hausmann (Michigan), Tyler Martinez (New Mexico State), Devin Mockobee (Purdue), Koa Naotala (Old Dominion), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Michael Taaffe (Texas), Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame) and Tanner Wall (BYU).
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Last year, J.J. Weaver of Kentucky won the eighth annual award. The first seven Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year awards were presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017, D'Cota Dixon of Wisconsin in 2018, Trey Smith of Tennessee in 2019, Sam Ehlinger of Texas in 2020, Joshua Paschal of Kentucky in 2021, Deslin Alexandre of Pittsburgh in 2022 and Mike Hollins of Virginia in 2023.
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The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
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Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
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Daniels, a native of Lawndale, Calif., is a four-time captain for the Jayhawks, Kansas' first in program history. Daniels was recently named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy - awarded the top college football player with the best combination of academics, leadership, and on-field performance.
Â
Daniels is having a historic 2025 season, completing 130-of-186 passing for 1,752 yards and 18 touchdowns. Through seven games, Daniels' 18 passing touchdowns ranks second in college football and are tied for a career-high in a single season. Over his career, Daniels ranks among the best quarterbacks in program history, completing 666-of-1,060 passing for 8,503 yards and 63 touchdowns, all of which rank second in school history. Daniels has also rushed for 1,240 career rushing yards and 20 career rushing touchdowns.
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Prior to the 2025 season, Daniels was named to the Walter Camp Award Preseason Watch List and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List entering the 2025 season. Daniels was Kansas's first Big 12 Football Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2025 and is a 2022 CSC Academic All-American. Daniels is also a five-time Academic All-Big 12 member.
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Not only has Daniels been impressive on the field, he has also been very involved in the community, contributing community service to the Lawrence community. Daniels has also started a "Mom2JD6" Foundation committed to supporting single mothers raising athletic children by providing financial aid, mentorship, sports training, and community resources.
Â
Daniels is Kansas' second Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist in the last two seasons, as Devin Neal was a semifinalist for the award in 2024.
Â
The full list of semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year includes: CJ Allen (Georgia), Nick Andersen (Wake Forest), Cam Ball (Arkansas), Jude Bowry (Boston College), Deion Burks (Oklahoma), Arion Carter (Tennessee), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Nick Dawkins (Penn State), Aiden Fisher (Indiana), Ernest Hausmann (Michigan), Tyler Martinez (New Mexico State), Devin Mockobee (Purdue), Koa Naotala (Old Dominion), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Michael Taaffe (Texas), Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame) and Tanner Wall (BYU).
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Last year, J.J. Weaver of Kentucky won the eighth annual award. The first seven Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year awards were presented to Shaquem Griffin of UCF in 2017, D'Cota Dixon of Wisconsin in 2018, Trey Smith of Tennessee in 2019, Sam Ehlinger of Texas in 2020, Joshua Paschal of Kentucky in 2021, Deslin Alexandre of Pittsburgh in 2022 and Mike Hollins of Virginia in 2023.
Â
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
Â
Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, December 16. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
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