LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins Heisman Trophy

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has won the 89th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy over Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Daniels is LSU’s third Heisman winner in school history and second in the last five seasons. The late Billy Cannon was the first LSU player to secure the award in 1959. He was joined 60 years later by LSU legend Joe Burrow in 2019.

“The platform that LSU brings,” Daniels said when asked about LSU. “You have a lot of greats that came through here. From Joe (Burrow), to Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, Glenn Dorsey and all those guys. Just to be a part of a fraternity like that means a lot to me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

Daniels received 503 of 891 first-place votes with a total of 2,029 points. He edged out Penix Jr. with 1,701 points. Nix was third with 885 points and Harrison Jr. was fourth with 352 points.

This was the closest margin since 2018.

“This is a dream come true,” Daniels said in his acceptance speech. “I want to first give glory to God. He’s my savior and my rock.”

Daniels is LSU coach Brian Kelly’s first Heisman Trophy in 19 years of coaching at the FBS level.

All who follow college football know this was the most exciting player in college football,” Kelly said. “Every player that is in our program knew that we had a special player that was having a special year.”

Daniels joins this exclusive club after a remarkable season where he accounted for 4,946 total yards and 50 total touchdowns - both of which led the FBS by a substantial margin.

To secure this honor, Daniels overcame being on a team that was not a contender for the National Championship. Daniels is the first Heisman winner with three losses in the regular season since Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2016. 

The other three finalists all played for teams with 11 or more wins, which meant to win this award Daniels needed to put together a season that was significantly better than the rest of the country - and he did just that.

He currently leads the FBS in passing touchdowns, QBR and passer rating. His 208.01 passer rating currently stands as the highest mark in FBS history.

His 4,946 yards ties him with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray as the third-most yards of any Heisman winner. His 412 yards per game is the most of any Heisman winner since 1990.

Daniels accomplished these feats with a lot of big plays against top competition. He had 90 plays of 20 more or more yards, which is more than any other team in college football. The next closest team was Liberty with 85 plays.

LSU played against seven teams with top-50 defenses. Daniels had 350 or more yards against every one of those defenses averaging 464 yards per game.

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