photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas sophomore Jalen Todd eyes a catch during practice Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.

Jalen Todd came to Kansas a year ago as a quiet true freshman with two NFL-bound cornerbacks ahead of him on the depth chart.

Todd didn’t let his youth or the experience ahead of him keep him from earning a regular spot in the cornerback rotation as a freshman. He appeared in 11 of 12 games, mostly playing nickel cornerback, and earned a start near the end of the season.

Now, with a year of experience under his belt, Todd is set to start at outside cornerback.

“Playing a lot last year, it gave me a lot more confidence compared to my first time going out there,” Todd said. “Now, going against the players on our offense, I feel like that’s prepared me for the season.”

This season, the cornerback room has a lot more youth fighting for playing time. Despite only being a true sophomore, Todd has been tasked with being the leader and growing his voice in the locker room.

“He’s more of a quiet kid, but he leads by example,” Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said. “When something needed to be said, Jalen spoke up to the group and said it. He plays with such a high standard, he expects the other guys to do that and that’s what I really like about him.”

McDonald said the cornerback room has had good competition and that he’s excited to see what they can do this year. Overall in the secondary, Todd said the group is hungry and flying around. With new and young pieces, the secondary has worked to build a rapport with film studies and hibachi dinners. With a lack of experience playing together, chemistry off the field and a lot of film sessions help ensure the secondary avoids busted coverages.

The Jayhawks’ first depth chart of the season listed Todd and redshirt freshman Austin Alexander as the top two outside cornerbacks. In the two-deep at those positions, only D.J. Graham II is an upperclassman. Todd’s experience, despite being a sophomore, is a benefit to the young group as they prepare for the season.

The 2024 season gave Todd the confidence to make plays, and the spring and fall camp practices this year have helped his development into one of the team’s top outsides. Todd said quarterback Jalon Daniels has been one of the most helpful members of the team in Todd’s development. Having to practice against him on a daily basis has challenged Todd and made him better.

“Going against Jalon is the biggest help, because I’m going against an NFL-caliber quarterback every day,” Todd said. “We go at it at practice, for sure.”

Where Daniels may have been able to pick on Todd in practices last year, Todd is making it a daily challenge for the quarterback. Battling an experienced quarterback with comfortability in the offense hasn’t been easy, but Todd has risen to the opportunity in practice.

With his experience and increased confidence, Todd is ready to start the season as the team’s go-to guy at cornerback and battle with the opposing teams’ best receivers.

“I’m very excited to go out there and play compared to last year,” Todd said. “I feel a lot better even in the training room, taking care of my body. I feel a lot more comfortable out there.”