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Jim Zebrowski Says Friendship Is Fueling Kansas' Quarterback Competition
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- Jim Zebrowski Says Friendship Is Fueling Kansas' Quarterback Competition
(USA TODAY Sports)
Jim Zebrowski Says Friendship Is Fueling Kansas' Quarterback Competition
The battle to become Kansas football 's starting quarterback remains one of the biggest storylines of fall camp, but the competition hasn't created division inside the Jayhawks' locker room. Instead, passing game coordinator Jim Zebrowski says it has strengthened the relationship between Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall.
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With less than a month remaining before Kansas opens the 2026 season against Long Island University on Sept. 4, neither quarterback has officially separated himself in the race to replace longtime starter Jalon Daniels . Redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall continue to split first-team reps as the coaching staff evaluates every aspect of their play.
While quarterback battles often create tension between teammates competing for the same position, Zebrowski said Ballard and Marshall have embraced the challenge together.
"I know they're different, obviously, a year apart, different places," Zebrowski said. "Everyone gets to know each other. I don't know how tight everybody is all the time, but they're all friends, and they care about each other. And then this year has just kind of become, like, really tight, like, Cole might take Zeke [Isaiah] golfing and that kind of stuff. Those true friendship things, like, truly, and they really pull for each other."
The competition remains one of the closest on Kansas' roster. Ballard has appeared in multiple games over the past two seasons, throwing for 445 career yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 209 rushing yards. Marshall saw his first collegiate action in 2025, showcasing his athleticism by rushing for 160 yards while completing three passes for 28 yards.
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Rather than viewing each other strictly as rivals, Zebrowski believes both quarterbacks have learned from the example set by former Kansas signal-callers Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean , who successfully supported one another despite competing for playing time.
"I think what they had learned from, too, and seeing it, is how well Jason [Bean] and Jalon [Daniels] worked together," Zebrowski said. "Like, you know, Jalon was just happy for Jason when he scored, and vice versa. I think they saw how it is. Yes, you're competing. Yes, you wanna play. Yes, you want that first snap. But you also want the team to be successful. So I really think that's how it's kind of progressed."
That dynamic proved valuable during the Jayhawks' rise under Lance Leipold, as Bean and Daniels combined to lead Kansas through multiple winning seasons and bowl appearances between 2021 and 2023. The coaching staff hopes Ballard and Marshall can develop a similar partnership, especially with Leipold already indicating there's a strong possibility both quarterbacks could see action this season.
Kansas enters 2026 looking to rebound from consecutive 5-7 campaigns, making the quarterback decision one of the program's most important. Whether Ballard or Marshall ultimately earns the first snap, Zebrowski believes the relationship between the two gives the Jayhawks a solid foundation at the position.
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Instead of allowing the competition to divide the quarterback room, Kansas appears to have created an environment where two players can push each other while remaining fully invested in the team's success.
