Tag: jayden daniels heisman trophy

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels wins 2023 Heisman Trophy

LSU QB Jayden Daniels is the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was announced as the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday in New York.

Daniels bested Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Oregon QB Bo Nix, and Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

Daniels is the third Heisman winner from LSU, joining Billy Cannon (1959) and Joe Burrow (2019).

Daniels, who spent three years at Arizona State before transferring to LSU, threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns against 4 interceptions in 2023.

He also rushed for 1,134 yards — 8.4 ypc — and 10 more touchdowns.

Overall in his college career, Daniels has thrown for 12,750 yards and 89 touchdowns.

He also rushed for 3,307 yards and 34 TDs.

It wasn’t an easy choice as the other three finalists also had tremendous seasons.

Nix, who transferred from Auburn to Oregon, threw for 4,145 yards and 40 TDs against 3 interceptions.

Penix, who transferred to Washington from Indiana, threw for 4,218 yards and 33 touchdowns with 9 interceptions.

He has led the Huskies, who are undefeated to the College Football Playoff. They will meet Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

The only non-QB in the quartet is Marvin Harrison Jr., son of the NFL Hall of Famer who starred for the Indianapolis Colts.

Marvin Harrison Jr., the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner, had 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed twice for 26 yards, including a touchdown.

Watching tape with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels

Before he found that he won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels watched tape with Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

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There are those quarterback prospects who rocket up the boards in their final collegiate seasons to find themselves highly coveted by the entire NFL. We can point to Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Joe Burrow in recent years, and in the 2024 draft, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels might be the one. In four seasons with Arizona State and LSU from 2019 through 2022, he was a good player, but not necessarily a first-round prospect.

Then, 2023 happened, and that all changed. Daniels, who is currently in New York City as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST, completed 236 of 332 passes (71.1%) for 3,811 yards (11.1 YPA), 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 143.7. Add in his 1,250 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on just 65 attempts (10.4 yards per carry), and you’re dealing with a player who seems primed for franchise quarterback status at the game’s most important position.

I was able to speak to the reigning AP College Football Player of the Year on Friday, while he was chopping it up with other Heisman Finalists — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at Raising Cane’s in New York City. Of course, Daniels did win the award on Saturday night.

(From L. to R. — 2023 Heisman Trophy finalists Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix work a shift at Raising Cane’s restaurant in Times Square, New York City. Mandatory Credit: Raising Cane’s

We got into one of Daniels’ best pitches — the deep fade ball. Overall this season, per Pro Football Focus, Daniels completed 35 of 55 passes of 20 or more air yards (63.6%) for 1,347 yards (a ridiculous 24.5 YPA), 22 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 146.8. Paramount among those deep throws are the boundary fades and slot fades that set defenses on edge in the NCAA, and will likely do so in the NFL, given Daniels’ timing, velocity, and accuracy on routes that usually lead to low-percentage plays.

Not in Daniels’ case.