THIBODAUX-Heading into 2022, there were many questions about Jayden Daniels.
The questions, however, weren’t about his talent. You could see his tape from Arizona State and knew he was a capable starting quarterback.
The questions were more about could his skill set translate to the conference where it “just means more”?
Daniels set school records for rushing yards by a QB (885) and rushing touchdowns by a QB (11), while also throwing for 2,913 yards, completing 70 percent of his passes, 17 touchdowns, and only three interceptions, and leading the Tigers to a 10-win season and a trip to the SEC Championship game.
He was also an integral part of incredible moments in LSU Football history, including the OT win over Alabama in November.
For good measure, Daniels also caught a five-yard touchdown pass in the Cheez-It Bowl against Purdue.
It is safe to say that those questions have all been answered. But what’s next for Daniels?
First up is developing an even better rapport with his teammates.
“We jelled more as an offensive unit,” Daniels said. “We have so many guys with another year in the system under Coach Denbrock.”
Despite all the success that Daniels and the Tigers had in Brian Kelly’s first year as head coach, there is still more to achieve.
Daniels was one of the many college quarterbacks to be a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy, held annually at Nicholls State in Thibodaux. This event is a great opportunity for Daniels and his counterparts to give back to the kids in high school that look up to them at the next level.
“When you’re a counselor here, you see all the rich tradition of the quarterbacks that came before you,” Daniels said. “It’s a blessing to come out here and represent the Manning family, my family, and my university.”
Currently, Daniels is third in the Heisman race heading into the 2023 season, which is one of the many goals that the LSU signal-caller has for the season. However, the school’s fifth national championship remains priority number one for Brian Kelly’s team.
For Daniels, he knows how important his relationship with Kelly is.
“The quarterback and head coach have to be tight-knit because they have to be on the same page,” said Daniels. “We know what we need to get better at. At the end of the day, he wants to win the national championship, that’s why he came to LSU. I want to win one, too. That’s why I came to LSU.”