As a mother or father and coach, I used to be blown away by the teachings I discovered from a university QB

Editor’s notice: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk masking management, private growth and success via the lens of sports activities. Comply with Peak right here.

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels arrived in Texas this July with a novel distinction: It was his fourth time representing his faculty at Huge 12 media day. It’s not precisely Archie Griffin’s two Heismans, however the Kansas star figures within the NIL and switch portal period, nobody will duplicate his feat.

“I attempted to inform Commish (Brett Yormark), ‘You may as properly go forward and put a banner: JD up right here 4 years in a row, child!’” Daniels stated, laughing.

It was the kind of levity and self-awareness that comes from a participant who has skilled nearly all the things a quarterback can have thrown at him.

Two years in the past, Daniels wore a silver go well with with a purple tie and an Apple Watch pendant round his neck that displayed his 2022 highlights on a loop. As exceptional as among the footage was, or as glitzy as the jewellery regarded, probably the most spectacular factor was his phrases. He informed a narrative again then that wasn’t nearly how he’d arrived at this second. He additionally gave among the finest classes in parenting I’ve ever heard.

I’ve been a sportswriter twice so long as I’ve been a mother or father. I’ve coached my son in soccer for the final 5 years. Youth sports activities will be wonderful. It may also be mind-numbing, irritating and baffling, particularly in case your child loves it much more than you do.

It’s human nature for teenagers to match themselves to others their age. Their mother and father usually are responsible of doing it too (I’m responsible of this). Each follow can really feel like a defining second (responsible of this, too). Solely it isn’t.

However the extra I discovered about Daniels, the extra insightful and relevant his story turned to me — and hopefully will probably be for different mother and father and younger athletes as properly.

Daniels’ profession is a testomony to taking part in the lengthy recreation, one thing that will get more and more more durable to do on this period of on the spot gratification and on-line rankings. Listed here are my 4 favourite classes I discovered from his story.

Lean in your assist system early

Daniels was a part of one of the crucial stacked quarterback recruiting courses to return out of 1 space in current reminiscence.

He graduated in 2020 from Lawndale Excessive in Southern California, not removed from the place the nation’s high two general recruits, Bryce Younger and D.J. Uiagalelei, additionally performed. Fellow five-star QB C.J. Stroud was from the world. Daniels was ranked behind 22 different quarterbacks within the state of California alone and didn’t actually have a recruiting profile, a lot much less any stars, till simply earlier than his senior season.

How precisely did a younger Jalon keep grounded and never get discouraged?

“Actually, I did have that perspective even again then,” he stated. “My freshman yr humbled me for actual. Going into freshman yr, I did assume I used to be the very best. That humbled me a lot as a result of then I noticed D.J., balling (as a) freshman. I’m barely taking part in as a freshman. He received affords; I don’t. Bryce Younger’s ballin’ on varsity as a freshman. He received affords; I don’t. What am I doing improper? I’m not in the identical scenario.”

Daniels credit his mother, Star, for instilling in him a drive and willpower to remain on the trail.

“I can’t even think about how it’s for a mother or father seeing your baby doing as a lot as they will, as a lot as they’re keen to do to attempt to get to the place they’re going, and issues aren’t taking place,” he stated. “I simply have to present props to my mother and stepdad for with the ability to hold me grounded. Now that I’m wanting again on it, it’s really easy to get arduous on your self about stuff like that.”

Discover the optimistic in your scenario

The low level for Jalon and Star got here throughout his sophomore yr of highschool. His coach informed him, relying on how this follow goes, that he’d both get to maneuver as much as the junior varsity crew or keep on the freshman squad for one more yr.

A couple of hours later, Daniels received again into his mother’s automobile and slunk into the seat.

“He’s making me do freshman (soccer) once more,” he informed his mother.

Star’s coronary heart broke for her son. “You could possibly inform that he needed to cry,” she stated.

She wasn’t about to start out the 20-minute drive dwelling till his perspective modified.

“When Jalon is in his head about one thing, we cease and we take care of it proper then and there,” she stated. “When he’s having these moments, I would like Jalon to see my face. I would like him to see the place I’m as a result of if I’m keen about what it’s that you really want, I would like you to not lose that zeal.”

She made certain he understood the scenario as she noticed it. He was nonetheless small and hadn’t but hit his development spurt. These children on JV had been large. Possibly the coaches didn’t assume he was bodily prepared to maneuver up. Additionally, she informed him, maybe the coaches thought he would have the ability to encourage the brand new children who is perhaps scared coming onto the freshman crew, since Jalon was a great chief.

“You recognize what it’s wish to play in these Thursday video games,” she stated. “Use that to your benefit!”

After quarter-hour, Star felt Jalon had acquired the message, and he or she was prepared to drag out of that parking zone.

“By then, all that negativity and doubt was gone,” she stated. “By the point we received dwelling, he was placing his plan into motion, desirous about what he can do.”

On the finish of that season, Daniels not solely moved as much as JV however was one among a handful of sophomores who joined the varsity crew at Narbonne Excessive when it performed for the state title. He even received into the sport for a snap.

Star informed him, “Do you see what persistence and perseverance can get you?”

Comparability is the thief of pleasure

As a sophomore, Daniels was the third-string quarterback behind two proficient athletes: Jaylen Henderson, who’s now at West Virginia, and Kyle Williams, who now performs for the New England Patriots.

It wasn’t simply his mother and father’ assist that helped drive him. Daniels’ teammates additionally noticed how properly he performed when he received the prospect to start out on the junior varsity crew. Simply hold doing what you’re doing, they inspired. You’re gonna be OK, they stored telling him.

“I’m like, ‘All proper, guess! Maintain taking part in,’” Daniels stated. “I made an entire lot of highlights with some guys … after which Jake Garcia transferred in.”

Garcia, now at Michigan after going from Miami (Fla.) to Missouri to East Carolina, was one other Southern California five-star QB on the time. Daniels determined to guess on himself and transferred to Lawndale for his junior yr.

“Should you’re ok to play at that subsequent degree, any person’s going to search out you and also you’ll have the ability to put your abilities at that subsequent degree,” Daniel stated. “So it was now not nearly making an attempt to match myself to Bryce, D.J. or C.J. as a result of on the finish of the day, comparability is a thief of pleasure.”

The web can be a thief of pleasure, as Daniel was reminded of earlier than his junior season.

“I sort in J-A-L-O-N Daniels in Google,” Daniels remembered, “and Jayden Daniels (one other blue-chip QB from Southern California who was a yr forward) got here up, and I assumed, ‘Nicely, I will refill this web page someday.’”

‘You by no means lose. You both win otherwise you be taught’

Daniels acquired just a few affords from mid-major packages and dedicated to Center Tennessee the week earlier than his senior season. It wasn’t till the very finish of that season that he lastly acquired that one elusive Energy 4 supply. Daniels guess on himself once more and flipped to the Kansas Jayhawks.

Daniels began six video games as a 17-year-old freshman in 2020 underneath coach Les Miles. The next offseason, Miles was fired and changed by Lance Leipold, who took over a dreadful program that hadn’t gained greater than three video games in a season in a dozen years.

The Jayhawks began 1-8 in 2021, however then Daniels led them to a surprising 57-56 upset of Texas, snapping this system’s 56-game street shedding streak. He threw 4 touchdowns and no picks.

In 2022, Daniels sparked Kansas to its first bowl recreation in 14 years and was a second-team Educational All-American. The 2023 season, although, introduced extra psychological challenges. He performed in solely three video games due to a again harm. In 2024, Daniels was wholesome, however he and the offense struggled. Daniels threw 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The crew misplaced 5 of its six video games determined by six factors or much less.

It led to some trustworthy conversations with Leipold.

“He was proper,” Daniels stated. “Early on, I used to be urgent. I used to be making an attempt to make up for misplaced time. I used to be making an attempt to do as a lot as I can to have the ability to get the blokes round me to the NFL as an alternative of specializing in profitable the sport proper now.”

Leipold stated Daniels is similar individual he was 4 years in the past when Leipold first arrived in Lawrence.

“He’s as optimistic a teammate as you would ask for,” Leipold stated. “He’s only one hell of a child. He’s humble. He’s hardworking. He doesn’t make excuses. He walks round with the identical smile on his face. And he’s by no means as soon as made an excuse or deflected something that hasn’t gone his manner.”

Once more, Daniels credit his mother for that mentality.

“Most of life is a psychological recreation,” he stated. “While you lose, it hurts you mentally greater than anything, however one factor my mother informed me is, ‘Son, you by no means lose. You both win or be taught.’ ”

After I requested what recommendation he’d give his youthful self or every other child, Daniels began to reply earlier than I completed the query.

“I’m telling my 13-year-old self to remain the course,” he stated. “Keep affected person. Every thing’s going to occur the way in which it’s purported to. Ensure you consider in God as a result of there’s going to be checks.

“There’s going to be trials and tribulations that attempt to knock you off your pivot and attempt to make you are feeling much less assured than you already are. Keep assured since you’re in that scenario for a cause.”

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; James Black/Icon Sportswire / Getty Photographs)