Legacy Cemented: LSU QB Jayden Daniels Leaves Lasting Impact in Baton Rouge

It took 60 years for LSU Football to win its second Heisman. Only four years later, Jayden Daniels took home the school’s third, as the senior quarterback was named the winner of the 89th Heisman Memorial Trophy, which was presented on Saturday night in New York City at Jazz in the Lincoln Center.

Daniels joins the late Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow as LSU’s winners of the most prestigious award in college sports – the Heisman Trophy. Cannon won the award in 1959 with Burrow winning in 2019.

The Heisman Trophy caps a week that has seen Daniels win the Davey O’Brien Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Daniels claimed 2,029 points including 501 of 870 first-place votes to win the Heisman, finishing ahead of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Daniels, from San Bernadino, Calif., won the award is much of the same fashion as Burrow as he put together a record-setting season with the Tigers in his second year with the program. Daniels joined the Tigers in 2022 after three years as the starting quarterback at Arizona State. Burrow spent two years with the Tigers after transferring from Ohio State.

In 12 games in 2023, Daniels was magnificent with both his arm and his legs as he accumulated 4,946 total yards, averaging a nation’s best 412.2 total yards of offense per game. He accounted for at least four touchdowns in nine games and he topped the 400-yard mark on nine occasions. Daniels also led the nation in passing TDs (40), total TDs (50) and his 208.01 passer rating is the highest in FBS history.

His 412.2 total yards per game were 74 yards per game more than the nearest competitor – Drake Maye of North Carolina, who averaged 338.1 yards a contest. His 412.2 total yards per game ranked higher than 75 FBS teams.

2023 HEISMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY VOTING

Number of ballots received and tabulated – 870 of 928

For the season, Daniels passed for 3,812 yards, which ranked No. 3 nationally, and rushed for 1,134 yards, the most by an FBS quarterback. His 1,134 rushing yards ranked 22nd among all players in college football.

Daniels, a LSU team captain and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, joined 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the only players in SEC history to pass for 3,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

When asked about his “Heisman moment”, Daniels cited the Florida game when he broke the SEC record for total offense with 606 yards in the 52-35 LSU victory. Daniels rushed for 234 yards and passed for another 372 against the Gators becoming the first player in FBS history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 350 yards in the same game.

A week after breaking the SEC record for total offense, Daniels put on a show against Georgia State, tying the LSU record for touchdowns with eight (6 passing, 2 rushing).

In his Tiger Stadium finale, Daniels threw three fourth quarter touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 42-30 win over Texas A&M. The three fourth quarter touchdowns pushed his season total to 50 as he became only the fifth player in SEC history to account for 50 TDs in a season. He joined a group that included four Heisman Trophy winners – Joe Burrow (63), Tim Tebow (55), Cam Newton (51) and Bryce Young.

Daniels’ 50 TDs were more than 91 teams in college football scored this year.

In LSU’s win over Missouri, Daniels played through badly bruised ribs and a swollen hand to lead LSU to a 49-39 win over the now-Top 10 Tigers. Daniels threw three TD passes and rushed for another as LSU came back from a double-digit deficit for its biggest win of the season. Daniels, a five-time recipient of SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, rushed for 130 yards and passed for 259 yards in the win over Missouri.

Daniels had three 500-yard games in 2023, joining Burrow as the only players in SEC history to top the 500-yard mark three times in a season. He had 513 total yards at Ole Miss and 509 against Georgia State.

Daniels was joined on the list of Heisman finalists by Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Following Saturday’s announcement, Daniels will be honored at the Heisman Gala on Sunday night at the Marriott Marquis in New York. He will appear on the NFL Today on CBS on Sunday morning.

LSU’s Highest Heisman Trophy Finishes (All-Time Top 10 in Voting Results)
1st – 2023 Jayden Daniels, quarterback (2,029 points)
1st – 2019 Joe Burrow, quarterback (2,608 points)
1st – 1959 Billy Cannon, halfback (1,929 points)
2nd – 1962 Jerry Stovall, halfback (618 points) – lost by 79 points
3rd – 1958 Billy Cannon, halfback (975 points)
4th – 1972 Bert Jones, quarterback (351 points)
5th – 2011 Tyrann Mathieu, safety (327 points)
5th – 1978 Charles Alexander, running back (282 points)
6th – 2015 Leonard Fournette, running Back (110 points)
9th – 1977 Charles Alexander, running back (54 points)
9th – 2007 Glenn Dorsey, defensive tackle (30 points)