Jayden Daniels Heisman Season Recap

Erik Trosclair • December 23, 2023

What a season it was!


Coming into the 2023 college football season, Jayden Daniels' odds to win the Heisman Trophy were somewhere in the top five depending on what site you looked at. If you are anything like me, you were cautiously optimistic about this coming into the season. Statistically, in the season opener against Florida State, the season got off to a pretty good start as Jayden accounted for over 400 total yards, but the Tigers lost by 21 points. The following week against Grambling State, Jayden basically did anything he wanted to do, throwing for five touchdowns. The following week against Mississippi State is when Jayden started to turn a few heads, throwing for over 300 yards while only throwing four incomplete passes. Also, he gained over 400 total yards. The next game, in a real nail bitter, Jayden threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Tigers to an exciting win over rival Arkansas. The following week against in a crazy game against SEC West foe Ole Miss, Jayden would throw for 414 yards (the most he would throw for all season) and four touchdowns, while rushing for 99 yards and another score. The Tigers would head up to Missouri in a 11 AM kickoff, Jayden would throw for 259 yards and three touchdowns, while running for 130 yards and finding the end zone on the ground, at this point it is beginning to sound like we are following stats from a video game. LSU would return to Death Valley to take on SEC West rival Auburn, Jayden would gain a total of 418 and three touchdowns. The Tigers would stay home the following week to take on Army, Jayden would account for 285 total yards and four touchdowns, keep in mind he would exit this game early. The next week, Jayden would lead the Tigers into Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide, this game Jayden would put on a show for the nation to see, Jayden racked up 382 total yards and three scores, he would take a huge hit which forced him to leave the game early. At this point, many sportsbooks would remove Jayden's name from the Heisman odds. The following week, in my favorite game of Jayden's season, the Tigers would take on the Florida Gators in Baton Rouge, Jayden would the for 372 yards and three scores while adding 234 rushing yards and two scores. Jayden had an 85 yard run in this game where he just made it look easy. It was a something special. In the final two games of the season, head coach Brian Kelly basically made it his mission to get Jayden to New York to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The following week Georgia State would come to Death Valley to play the Tigers. Jayden would put up over 500 yards and eight, yes eight, touchdowns. It was at this point, Jayden Daniels' Heisman odds were just behind Bo Nix of Oregon. For the final game of the regular season, LSU would welcome the Texas A&M Aggies into Baton Rouge, the Aggie offense would have possession for nearly 37 minutes, only letting the Jayden and the entire Tigers offense to have the ball for just over 23 minutes. That would not hold Jayden from putting up 355 total yards and 4 touchdowns. It was shortly after this game that LSU would go on full attack mode to get Jayden the Heisman. LSU launch the "That Kid Jayden" campaign, creating a website, mini series, and putting up a billboard in Las Vegas. Then on December 9th, Jayden's amazing season recognized as he would take home the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels' 2023 season will now forever be remembered as one of the greatest season in college football history.


Jayden Daniels 2023 Award Recap

AP Player of the Year

Walter Camp Player of the Year

Davey O'Brien Award Winner

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner

First Team All American - AP, FWAA, Sporting News, and AFCA

Second Team All American - Walter Camp

First Team All SEC - AP and SEC Coaches

Manning Award Finalist

Maxwell Award College Player of the Year Finalist

Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week vs Florida

Maxwell Award National Player of the Week vs Florida

Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week vs Florida

SEC Offensive Player of the Week vs Georgia State, Florida, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi State


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