Jayden Daniels received his first national honor on Thursday, being named the winner of the 2023 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Daniels was called by the son of the legendary Baltimore Colts quarterback, John Unitas, on Thursday morning and told of the news.
The Golden Arm Award is presented each year to the nation’s best quarterback who exemplifies character, scholastic, and athletic achievement. The Unitas Golden Arm Award is one of three national quarterback awards, joining the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien, both of which Daniels is a finalist for.
Daniels joins Joe Burrow as the only other LSU quarterback to win the award, with Burrown taking it in 2019 during the magical national championship season. He is also the third Tigers quarterback to win one of the three national awards, with Burrow winning all three and capturing the Heisman in 2019 and JaMarcus Russell winning the Manning Award in 2006.
Daniels has had a record-setting season in 2023, leading the nation in total offense (412.2), touchdown passes (40), TDs responsible (50), and rushing yards by a QB (1,134). His pass efficiency rating of 208.0 is the best in FBS history.
He has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week five times during the season and is one of only two players in SEC history to having 3,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, joining Johnny Manziel, who did it in 2012.
Daniels is one of five players in SEC history to account for 50 touchdowns, joining Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Bryce Young, and former Tiger Joe Burrow. All of the previous four went on to win the Heisman.
Daniels became the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and rush for 200 yards when he set the SEC record with 606 total yards in a 52-35 win over Florida. A week later, he tied the LSU record for touchdowns in a game with eight when the Tigers took down Georgia State. He tied Burrow’s mark that was set against the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff in 2019.
Daniels had led the LSU offense that is leading the nation in both total offense and scoring. The Tigers are the only team this season to average 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing a game. LSU is also in the Top 10 in both passing yards per game (4th) and rushing yards per game (7th).