What Kansas Fans Can Expect From the New Starting Quarterback

After a quarterback competition that stretched throughout fall camp, Kansas coach Lance Leipold officially named redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback on Aug. 27.

Marshall opened the season as the team’s main quarterback against Long Island, marking the beginning of a new era for Kansas football following the departure of longtime starter Jalon Daniels.

Leipold said the decision came down to who could make the offense most effective and dynamic.

“We came to the conclusion that Isaiah was that person,” Leipold said.

For Kansas fans, the announcement answered one question but raised another: What can they expect from Marshall as starting quarterback?

According to Leipold, Marshall’s athleticism, burst of speed and vision separates him from many quarterbacks he has seen in a while.

Marshall, who won a football state championship his senior year, arrived in Lawrence as a three-star recruit from Michigan in the 2023 recruiting class. Over the past two seasons, he developed within the program while waiting for an opportunity to lead the offense.

Last season, Marshall appeared in nine games and frequently showcased his ability as a runner. That mobility could become a key component of the offense with Associate Head Coach Andy Kotelnicki back in Lawrence.

Kotelnicki said Marshall’s ability to create plays outside the pocket adds another challenge for opposing defenses.

“Seeing him do some things as a runner, to be able to extend plays, … when you have people who can move and groove back there, it’s harder on the defensive side of the ball,” Kotelnicki said.

While backup quarterback Cole Ballard will serve as a team captain, Kansas’ success this season will largely depend on how quickly Marshall settles into his new role as the team’s starting quarterback.

His next challenge comes immediately.

Kansas will host Missouri on Saturday night in the Border Showdown. It will be the first time since 2005 that the rivalry game has been played in Lawrence.

The matchup gives Marshall his biggest test yet as the face of the Jayhawks’ offense and an opportunity to make an early statement in one of college football’s most storied rivalries.

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