NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State Spartans begin their 2024 season on Saturday in prime time on ABC. They now know which quarterback will lead them into their first ever appearance in the MEAC-SWAC showdown.
Jalen Daniels was named the starter by head coach Dawson Odums at the school's fan fest Sunday at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Daniels is a transfer from Garden City Community College, and was previously a walk on at the University of South Carolina. The 6'5" 202 pound signal caller has been locked in a QB battle with incumbent Otto Kuhns throughout the summer. Daniels threw for 9 touchdowns and over 1200 yards in 8 games with Garden City last season.
"Jalen Daniels is going to start for us, and has done a really good job throughout fall camp, got himself in position to be the starting quarterback. I think it's a good opportunity for him," said head coach Dawson Odums. "Consistency, decision making and doing things the right way. Just having a calmness about him. Even keeled whether something good happened for something bad happened," Odums answered when asked about what Daniels did to win the job.
Odums added that Kuhns will have to sit out the first four games of the season per an NCAA ruling. He also said that process played a part in the team waiting so long to make a decision.
"We were also waiting on some things with Otto to take place, and the ruling didn't come back in his favor," explained Odums.
When asked what the suspension was for, Odums said that "It comes from so many hours that you gotta pass the previous season. We did some things to put him in position to see if we could get that reduced, and it didn't happen for us."
Kuhns was voted to the preseason All-MEAC first team after starting 18 games over the last 2 seasons with the Spartans.