Tag: Jayden Daniels

Breaking down LSU’s offensive outlook over the next three seasons

LSU hired a coach with a solid offensive track record, and that unit is expected to take a leap forward this year.

There were a number of factors that made former Notre Dame coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] an appealing option in Baton Rouge. His track record of success in South Bend — where he’s the winningest coach in program history with a national title appearance and two College Football Playoff berths — and recruiting ability certainly moved the needle.

Though Kelly is a defensive coach, he has historically had productive offenses. That side of the ball took a step back for the Tigers over the last two seasons, but with an influx of talent paired with the addition of Kelly and offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag], who had a great deal of success with Cincinnati, that could be changing in the near future.

In its power rankings of college football offenses over the next three seasons, ESPN ranked LSU among the top 25, standing at No. 16.

2022 future QB ranking: 16
2021 future offense ranking: 11

Scouting the Tigers: Brian Kelly has produced solid to excellent offenses throughout his coaching career, and aims to replicate his success on the Bayou. His first LSU offense features plenty of talented pieces, but how they come together in Year 1 and beyond will be fascinating. The quarterback room is quite full, as LSU has two veteran options for 2022 in Myles Brennan, who returns from injury, and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels, a three-year starter trying to recapture his 2019 form. The future at QB also looks bright with Garrett Nussmeier and incoming freshman Walker Howard, both ESPN top-65 national recruits in the past two classes. Whoever wins the job this year will throw to one of college football’s best receivers in Kayshon Boutte, who had nine touchdown receptions in only six games last fall. Receptions leader Jack Bech returns as a sophomore, and LSU has several other interesting non-seniors, including Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers. Also, ESPN 300 junior Omarion Miller is committed to LSU.

The big short-term areas of concern are the offensive line and tight end. LSU has some versatile linemen such as sophomore Garrett Dellinger and junior Anthony Bradford, who can play both guard and tackle. Kelly and line coach Brad Davis, a holdover from the previous staff, need transfers Miles Frazier (Florida International) and Tre’Mond Shorts (East Tennessee State) to pan out this coming season. LSU also could get a boost if oft-injured senior Cam Wire stays healthy. There’s good news in recruiting, as LSU added five-star tackle Will Campbell (ESPN’s No. 13 overall recruit) and four-star guard Emery Jones in the 2022 class. Tight ends Kole Taylor and Jack Mashburn both played 12 games last fall but have room to grow, and LSU has a commitment from Mac Markway, ESPN’s No. 121 junior prospect. Running back John Emery Jr. returns after academic issues cost him all of last season. LSU also added Penn State transfer Noah Cain, who rushed for eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2019.

The unit has a lot of potential in 2022 with talent at the skill positions (including one of college football’s best receivers in Boutte). The Tigers have options at quarterback, and if they have a good enough offensive line to keep that passer upright, this could be a group that surprises some folks this season.

Whether that pans out or not, with Kelly’s recruiting and proven aptitude in the transfer portal, this should be an offense set to be among the best in the nation over the next few years, especially with the likely quarterback of the future already on campus in Howard.

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ESPN writer thinks LSU will underperform in 2022

ESPN’s David Hale listed the Tigers as the team most likely to underachieve next season.

Expectations for LSU are about as high as they come for a first-year head coach entering into 2022. Though the team went just 6-7 in a 2021 campaign that resulted in the firing of coach [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag] just two years removed from a national title, fans — understandably — expect better this time around.

The main reason for that is the latest “big fish” that athletics director [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] managed to bring to Baton Rouge: coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

Kelly was the winningest coach in Notre Dame history, and he made the (mostly) unprecedented decision to leave one college football blue-blood for another. He’s coached in a national title game and made the College Football Playoff twice, and he came to LSU to win a championship.

He inherits a roster with some holes but also a lot of talent, and many expect the team to improve quite a bit in Year 1. Many, but not all. ESPN’s David Hale sees the Tigers as a team that is likely to underachieve.

Here’s a stat that shouldn’t be too surprising. In 2019, LSU averaged 3.5 points per drive against Power 5 opponents — essentially a TD every other drive. In no other year since 2014 have the Tigers averaged more than 2.4. Indeed, since 2008, LSU averages just a tick more than 2 points per drive, 2019 excepted. The point here is that the national championship season was an anomaly, and the job Kelly inherits is far bigger than people think. In fact, LSU has been pretty lucky over the past two seasons. Of the Tigers’ 11 wins, six came by a TD or less. Given the tough competition in the SEC West, it’s entirely reasonable to think LSU isn’t going to be much better than last year’s 6-6 regular-season record, which probably isn’t what LSU fans want to hear after hiring Kelly away from Notre Dame.

A lot of Hale’s points make sense. Even a seasoned and successful coach like Kelly can’t fix all of this program’s problems in Year 1, and that national championship season feels like a distant memory.

Still, I would argue this team’s ceiling is a bit higher than Hale intimates. The Tigers have a lot of intriguing options at quarterback, including a pair of players with starting Power Five experience in veteran [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] and Arizona State transfer [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag].

If they can figure it out at that position, the rest should fall into place given the talent at the skill positions. That’s not to say this team has no holes, though. Offensive line and several spots on defense have major question marks heading into next season.

But this team has the talent to be quite a bit better than .500, especially with a number of solid additions through recruiting and the transfer portal. It would be wise to keep expectations in check, but this team should improve in Kelly’s first season.

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What will LSU’s quarterback room look like if Jayden Daniels wins the job?

Myles Brennan could be a transfer candidate if Daniels is able to secure the starting spot.

When [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] announced that he would be returning to LSU, much of the fan base and people that write about the team pegged him as the favorite to win the job, and with good reason.

Brennan is a sixth-year player who has talent and some starts under his belt. It’s not clear what his ceiling is, but his three starts in 2020 showed a solid floor.

With blue-chip recruits like [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] in the room with Brennan, it looked like LSU was fine at quarterback wasn’t going to go after one in the transfer portal.

The Tigers were only going to go get a quarterback if it really liked the guy. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] found that in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. LSU wouldn’t have gone out and got Daniels if it didn’t think he would make the team better.

Does that mean the coaching staff thinks Daniels is better than Brennan? That’s not clear yet, but it’s certainly possible.

Because of the circumstances, it could be assumed that Daniels is the favorite to win this job. Which raises the question, what does Myles Brennan do if he’s the backup?

If spring practice concludes and Brennan senses that the competition is trending in Daniels’ direction, he could still transfer. Even with all the transfer activity that’s already been seen, there’s still another wave to come.

That would probably be Brennan’s last chance at a transfer, and he’s had a lot of them over the years. If he waits until September, it’ll be too late, as he has until May 1 to transfer and play next season.

He could always stay. Just because Daniels wins the job doesn’t mean he’s going to be good. Daniels could struggle and Brennan could take the job that way. At second string, Brennan would also just be one snap away if an injury were to happen to Daniels.

Brennan is out of eligibility after this year. This is it. It’s doubtful that he has any interest in being a backup or sitting out yet another year.

Because of that, it could actually be likely that he transfers after spring. If he doesn’t know that he’s going to win, why risk it if there’s a place he knows he can go, win the starting job, and put something on tape for the NFL?

From LSU’s point of view, Brennan sticking around is ideal. The last couple of years have shown it’s never a bad thing to have more than one option at quarterback.

The writing may be on the wall. Daniels didn’t come here to watch Brennan play, and Brennan didn’t come back to watch a transfer swoop in and start. Something has to give, and an answer might be coming soon.

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CBS Sports highlights LSU’s quarterback competition as one to watch

The addition of Jayden Daniels made an already intriguing quarterback battle one of the top competitions in the country.

While much of the SEC has already started spring camp, the Tigers are set to begin practice a bit later than others on March 24. When LSU takes the field for the first time under coach Brian Kelly, all the eyes will be on the signal-callers.

Kelly already had an interesting quarterback battle on his hands between veteran Myles Brennan, who has been severely limited by injuries the past two seasons, as well as redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and five-star true freshman Walker Howard.

Now, things get even more intriguing as Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels joined the Tigers just a few weeks ago and is set to be on campus for spring practice. Daniels has three years of starting experience in the Power Five, and he will certainly make a strong push for the job in Baton Rouge.

CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson highlighted the Tigers’ quarterback competition as one to watch heading into spring practice. Here’s what he had to say.

Contenders: Jayden Daniels, Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier

The outlook for this competition took a sharp turn earlier this month when Daniels, the former Arizona State quarterback, announced LSU as his transfer destination. Daniels was a three-year starter for coach Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils, emerging as an instant-impact star in 2019 with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions before falling short of matching that high level of play in the following two seasons. Brennan figured to be the leader in this competition prior to that news, as he’s been a steady and reliable option when healthy. However, his injury history brings some concern that may have been a factor in Daniels’ arrival in Baton Rouge. The X-factor here is how new coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock want to run the offense, which in turn might be dependent on who wins this job.

Daniels brings a much different dynamic to the table than the other players in the quarterback room do. His mobility sets him apart, and he’s coming off his most successful season on the ground with 710 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.

However, his passing efficiency dropped off quite a bit this year as he threw as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns. Still, he brings a unique skillset to Baton Rouge, and given Brennan’s inability to stay healthy over the last two years, it’s understandable why Kelly and the Tigers wanted to bring him in.

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247Sports thinks transfer Jayden Daniels will win LSU’s starting QB job

Daniels’ path to the starting job won’t be easy, but he has the most experience in LSU’s quarterback room.

LSU already had one of the most interesting quarterback battles in college football, and on Sunday, the race for the starting job saw a new candidate enter the field.

Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels announced his commitment to the Tigers, adding a player with three years of starting Power Five experience to the group vying for the top spot. It certainly won’t be a cakewalk if Daniels wants to be this team’s starter, though.

He will be competing super senior Myles Brennan, who missed nearly all of the prior two seasons with injuries, promising redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and an uber-talented five-star true freshman in Walker Howard.

However, in spite of the stiff competition, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford thinks Daniels will ultimately be the player to get the nod in Week 1 against Florida State in New Orleans. Here’s what he said about the quarterback competition.

The SEC’s newest quarterback acquisition, Daniels is coming to Baton Rouge from Arizona State, where he was a three-year starter and difference-maker for Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils. He gives the Tigers big-play potential under center and strengthens the quarterback room considerably ahead of Brian Kelly’s first season at the program. Logic tells you LSU likely would not have taken a signal caller two weeks prior to the start of camp unless the Tigers felt the need for another player in the competition. Brennan has starting experience, but has been often injured during his career and Nussmeier appeared in four games as a freshman in 2021.

As Crawford mentions, wanting another starting experience given Brennan’s injury history makes a lot of sense, and Daniels’ dual-threat skillset provides some nice balance for a quarterback room mostly comprised of pocket passers. That’s not to say Daniels can’t sling it, though.

His best season was his true freshman campaign in 2019, when he finished with an impressive 17 touchdowns to two interceptions on a career-high 8.7 yards per attempt. The Sun Devils only played four games in 2020 due to COVID-19, but Daniels was efficient once again with five touchdowns and one interception.

That efficiency took a dive in 2021 as he threw 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, though he did finish with a career-high 65.4% completion percentage and had his best season on the ground with 710 yards and six touchdowns.

He brings a lot of experience to the table, and he’ll certainly have his chance to win the starting spot when he arrives on campus for spring practice.

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Pac-12 QB talent dwindles after Jayden Daniels transfers to LSU

Jayden Daniels is the latest in a long line of Pac-12 quarterbacks to depart for greener pastures this offseason.

The quarterback talent in the Pac-12 conference took a hit on Sunday when it was reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel that former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is planning to transfer east to LSU, where he will immediately compete in spring ball for a chance to start for coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers in the fall.

Daniels is the latest Pac-12 quarterback to leave the conference this offseason, and he’ll likely be replaced at Arizona State by former Alabama backup quarterback Paul Tyson, one of a whopping seven new quarterbacks expected to start for Pac-12 teams this fall.

Some of the “new faces” aren’t new to college football, including Oklahoma transfer Caleb Williams, who is set to replace Kedon Slovis at USC, as well as Purdue transfer Jack Plummer (Cal), and of course Oregon is set to host a battle between Ty Thompson and Auburn transfer Bo Nix to replace Anthony Brown.

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Washington may have a new gunslinger as well, with Indiana transfer Michael Penix competing with returners Dylan Morris and Sam Huard, while Incarnate Word superstar Cameron Ward is the new top dog at Washington State, replacing Jayden de Laura who transferred to Arizona to give the Wildcats some stability under center after last year’s debacle.

All this to say – it’s going to be a wild year for offense on the west coast. The Pac-12 has struggled to retain high level quarterback play in recent years, with Justin Herbert being a notable exception, and the rise of the transfer portal and of course NIL opportunities likely means even more movement is coming in the following years.

Whichever teams are able to adapt to steady change, while acquiring high level talent of their own via the portal, will remain near the top of the standings year in and year out.

Oregon fans will hope that new coach Dan Lanning, who so far looks very willing to adapt, can continue to do so over his first few seasons in Eugene.

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The case for and against Jayden Daniels as LSU’s starting quarterback

Daniels enters a crowded quarterback room in LSU. Will he be able to stand out among that group this offseason?

On Sunday, former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels became the newest member of the LSU football team when he committed to coach Brian Kelly via the transfer portal.

It’s been an offseason that’s seen a flurry of shakeups for the Tigers all around the program. The addition of Daniels could end up making as many waves as any.

By many accounts, Daniels was the top dual-threat quarterback recruit in the class of 2019. He was the starter for all three seasons he was in Tempe, starting the season opener as a true freshman with high expectations.

A lot has happened since then, and three years later, Daniels is headed to Baton Rouge. Getting to this point was a long and winding road for both parties. Let’s look at why there should be optimism surrounding the move, but also the reasons why it’s not something to celebrate just yet.

Next: The case for Daniels

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

SEC Morning Rush: LSU adds former Arizona State quarterback

The SEC gets another talented quarterback transferring into the conference.

The top story in the SEC on Sunday was another quarterback transferring into the conference. When Auburn hosts LSU in the 2022 season, this new quarterback could be under center against the Tigers’ defense.

Over the last several months we have seen plenty of movement as far as quarterbacks are concerned. Max Johnson transferred from LSU to Texas A&M. Zach Calzada left the Aggies for the Plains. Jack Miller III transferred from Ohio State to the Florida Gators. The two biggest moves had to be Jaxson Dart leaving the USC Trojans for Ole Miss and Spencer Rattler transferring from the Oklahoma Sooners to South Carolina.

LSU made some headlines of their own as they added a Pac-12 quarterback to their open competition.

LSU adds former Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels to the roster

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

According to the report from LSU Tigers Wire, new head coach Brian Kelly added another member to the quarterback room. Jayden Daniels, a former four-star prospect, transfers to Baton Rouge to join a quarterback group that includes Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier, and Walker Howard.

Coming out of high school, Daniels was a four-star prospect and ranked as the No. 35 overall player in the country, the No. 2 quarterback, and the No. 3 player in the state of California. He played in 29 games during his three years with the Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona, and has a career 62% completion percentage to go with 6,025 yards with 32 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 143.3.

The Sun Devils finished the 2021 season 8-5 with a loss to Wisconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Kelly has been one of the most active coaches in the country in the transfer portal this offseason, looking for talented athletes to help his first season at LSU be a successful one. He had rebuilt the entire secondary and filled in some questions on the offensive line as well.

This could be an interesting development. If Daniels is able to take the starting role from Brennan or Nussmeier, one would expect that Nuss could be on his way out of Baton Rouge with a lot of talent in the room.

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Former Arizona State quarterback commits to LSU

The Tigers added another layer to the quarterback competition with the commitment of Jayden Daniels through the transfer portal on Sunday.

LSU’s quarterback competition just got a little bit more interesting.

Coach Brian Kelly already had a lot to work with in veteran Myles Brennan, promising redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and five-star true freshman Walker Howard. Now, a player with several years of starting experience in the Power Five joins that group.

On Sunday evening, the Tigers landed a commitment from one of the hottest names in the famed transfer portal this offseason in former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels hasn’t officially announced his transfer destination yet, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that he would be eligible for spring practice and will likely arrive on campus within the next few weeks.

Coming out of high school, Daniels was a four-star prospect and ranked as the No. 35 overall player in the country, the No. 2 quarterback, and the No. 3 player in the state of California. He played in 29 games during his three years with the Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona, and has a career 62% completion percentage to go with 6,025 yards with 32 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 143.3.

The Sun Devils finished the 2021 season 8-5 with a loss to Wisconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Kelly has been one of the most active coaches in the country in the transfer portal this offseason, looking for talented athletes to help his first season at LSU be a successful one. He had rebuilt the entire secondary and filled in some questions on the offensive line as well.

He had a transfer quarterback start for him last year at Notre Dame, as well, in Jack Coan. Coan transferred to South Bend from Wisconsin and he finished with a record of 10-2 on the year. Kelly has found success with transfer quarterbacks before, and hopefully, he can get the best out of Daniels and lead the Tigers back to the promised land in 2022.

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Top available college football transfer portal quarterbacks

Top available college football transfer portal quarterbacks.

We are rolling through the top five at each position in the college football transfer portal and I saved the quarterback position for last. One reason I saved this position for last is that it is typically the most intriguing, and also due to the fact that it is highly unlikely Ohio State tries to snag another gunslinger in the portal.

Ohio State has had good luck with transfer quarterbacks in the past including Justin Fields and Kent Graham, but with C.J. Stroud running the show at such an efficient level, it is unlikely that they pursue anyone in the portal. It is unlikely that any one of these guys would want to come to Ohio State considering they are likely looking for an opportunity to start immediately.

But, it’s still interesting to discuss, so off we go.