Cole Ballard vs Isaiah Marshall: What Both Kansas Football QBs Bring to the Table

Most Kansas football fans aren't exactly thrilled about the ongoing quarterback battle between Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall. Both players have yet to themselves at the Power 4 level, and their performance should have a major impact on what will be a make-or-break season for head coach Lance Leipold.

Neither signal-caller has the arm talent or experience of Jalon Daniels, but there is hope that associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki can revitalize the offense in his return to Lawrence. There's an argument to be made that KU's most successful seasons were a product of Kotelnicki's system just as much as roster talent.

The two quarterbacks bring vastly different skill sets to the table, so let's take a look at the best (and worst) qualities of each candidate.

Cole Ballard

If there's one thing Ballard holds over Marshall, it's experience in the KU offense. He has been with the program since 2023 and started two games in place of Jason Bean as a true freshman walk-on, keeping the Jayhawks competitive in both contests despite ultimately losing both.

At the time, Kotelnicki was still the offensive coordinator before departing for Penn State, whereas Marshall was only a KU commit. There's no doubt that Ballard's familiarity with the system gives him a slight edge in the battle right now.

Ballard is generally considered to have a stronger arm than both Marshall and Chase Jenkins, along with a more fluid throwing motion when he's set. Every quarterback in contention still struggles with accuracy, but Ballard appears better suited for a game-manager role with throws 10 to 15 yards downfield.

Something to remember is that Ballard was the listed backup behind Daniels all of last year. Unless Marshall has performed spectacularly in training camp — which doesn't appear to be the case — it's hard to envision a scenario where he completely ousts Ballard from the quarterback rotation.

Isaiah Marshall

With all that said about Ballard, there's no doubt that Marshall is the more dynamic playmaker with his legs. He averaged more than 10 yards per carry in limited action as a redshirt freshman, rushing 15 times for 160 yards.

There is limited game film on Marshall outside of his time at Southfield A&T, where he led the Michigan school to its first-ever Division 1 state state championship. The Michigan native is at his best when evading pressure and is a far more effective scrambler than Ballard.

Marshall's throwing motion appears more labored than Ballard's, and the biggest question is how he'll hold up over a full game instead of in select packages. The offense will also look different with him under center as it will feature more zone reads and designed quarterback runs rather than longer-developing pass plays.

Leipold mentioned last week that the Jayhawks could potentially use both quarterbacks in different situations throughout games. KU's Week 1 matchup against Long Island University will serve as an audition for both players to make their case as they look to take control of the job.

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