Kansas’ quarterback battle has been framed as a competition, but inside the program, it looks a lot more like a partnership.
That’s the picture Jim Zebrowski painted Saturday morning when the Kansas passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach was asked whether he had an early read on the race between redshirt junior Cole Ballard and sophomore Isaiah Marshall. After four days of preseason camp, Zebrowski said he didn’t have an answer yet. He also said both quarterbacks have been “awesome.”
What stood out most to Zebrowski wasn’t separation. It was the way the two have handled the fight for the job.
“They really pull for each other,” Zebrowski said. “I think what they had learned from is seeing how well Jason (Bean) and Jalon (Daniels) worked together. Jalon used to be just as happy for Jason when he scored as vice versa.
“Yes, you’re competing. Yes, you want to play. Yes, you want that first snap, but you also want the team to be successful.”
That mindset has shaped the way Ballard and Marshall have approached camp, and it has carried well beyond the practice field. The two spend plenty of time together away from football.
They’ve eaten at Lulu’s Latin Food in Lawrence. They’ve also started golfing together after Marshall texted Ballard following a lifting session and asked to join him on his next trip out.
Ballard said yes, and now the shared hobby has turned into something of a bigger dream.
“Our goal is to go play with LeBron (James) one day,” Ballard said with a smile. “Since LeBron got into golfing, if we can ever do that, that’d be awesome.”
Back on the football side, each quarterback has spent the summer attacking a different area of his game. Ballard has been working on his mechanics and his ability to create plays outside the pocket.
“Sometimes you can just revert back to old habits,” Ballard said. “It’s just about continuing to work on being loose, having a fast arm and just being decisive with decisions. I think that goes into preparation, just being ready every day.”
Marshall’s focus has been on what Zebrowski called his “functional intelligence” and the way he processes information. Zebrowski said that was the biggest leap Marshall needed to make, especially after coming from a high school offense that didn’t use much verbiage, motion or movement.
“I think I’ve improved a lot,” Marshall said. “Coach Z talked about being a good traffic cop, so just trying to get the guys in right spots, knowing more than everybody else, because I am the QB. So I think I’ve been doing well with that, taking more control of the offense and demanding more.”
The competition hasn’t kept them from helping each other. They watch film together, compare notes on the sideline and work through the same issues that could eventually decide the job.
Marshall said the relationship has stayed positive from the start.
“Cole and I have no type of hate for each other,” Marshall said. “It’s all love.
From the first day I came, it’s been open arms from Cole. We’ve been doing nothing but building that love and that friendship.
Because at the end of the day, we know it’s what’s best for the team and team goals.”
That attitude has helped the pair block out the outside noise around a quarterback room trying to replace Daniels and an offense that enters the season with plenty of questions. They know there are people who aren’t expecting much from them, or from Kansas, this fall.
Instead of ducking that skepticism, they’ve leaned into it.
And when the starter is finally announced, neither expects the other to disappear. Both said the loser of the competition will support the winner, just as they have throughout camp.
Zebrowski doesn’t subscribe to the old line that if you have two quarterbacks, you really have none.
“There are two types of competitions,” Zebrowski said. “There’s competitions where you have to pick one, and then there’s competitions (with) two guys and we really like both. For the fans out there, you’ve got two really good dudes, really good players that are going to be really good.
“Whoever plays is going to play really well.”
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