LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins Heisman Trophy, joining rare group
After a remarkable 2023 campaign, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was voted the 2023 winner of the Heisman Trophy Saturday at the Lincoln Center in New York.
Daniels joins a rare group of Heisman winners, becoming only the 16th player to earn the award during a season in which their team lost three or more games.
Coincidently, along with Daniels, the last five have been QBs, including Caleb Williams (USC, 2022), Lamar Jackson (Lousiville, 2016), Robert Griffin III (Baylor, 2011) and Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007).
Up against stiff competition in Michael Penix Jr. (Washington, QB), Bo Nix (Oregon, QB) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State, WR), many believed the Tigers' three losses in 2023 would come back to haunt Daniels in the Heisman voting, and they nearly did.
This year's race was the tightest since 2018 when Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray beat out Alabama's Tua Tagovailo.
Daniels received 503 first-place votes (2,029 points), ahead of second-place finisher Penix (292 first-place votes, 1,701 points), the only player among the four to lead his team to the College Football Playoff.
Daniels has had an electric season, recording 40 touchdowns and four interceptions while winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top underclassman QB.
However, despite his accomplishments, many will hold the three losses against him regarding who should've walked away with the most hallowed individual honor in college football. The argument on the surface holds water, but when looking deeper, it only proves Daniels even more worthy of the accolade.
In LSU's three losses, Daniels threw for 979 yards and rushed for 326 more while adding nine touchdowns and only two interceptions against opponents who combined to go 33-3 this season. Furthermore, the LSU offense averaged 33.7 points and 524.7 yards, while their defense allowed 45, 55, and 42 points.
Daniels becomes only the third LSU player to win the Heisman, joining Billy Canon (1959) and Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (2019), who he'll play alongside on Sundays soon.
After No. 13 LSU plays in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on Jan. 1, the next stop for Daniels will be the NFL Draft in April.
More must-reads: