There is much debate about who the second-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft is, with Caleb Wiliams being the favorite. LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels demonstrated last year that he has all the physical tools needed to be a top prospect, and his college stats showcase how good he truly was in college.
Jayden Daniels Makes ASU History in Freshman Year
No true freshman had ever started a season-opener for the Arizona State Sun Devils until Jayden Daniels arrived in Tempe in 2019. Establishing himself in his first campaign with the program, he led the school to a Sun Bowl Victory over the Florida State Seminoles to conclude an impressive debut season.
Additionally, he was the third freshman quarterback in school history to win his first career start and helped the Sun Devils finish with an 8-5 overall record.
Daniels set the tone early that while working through his accuracy inconsistencies, he had a nose for the end zone, and his mobility helped him make highlight-reel-worthy plays.
Completions: 205
Attempts: 338
Yards: 2,943
Comp. %: 61%
TDs: 17
INTs: 2
Rush Attempts: 125
Rush Yards: 355
Rush TDs: 3
Daniels’ Sophomore Season Shortened
The emergence of a global pandemic made the 2020 college football season look very different. The Sun Devils only played four games during Daniels’ sophomore campaign, finishing the year with a 2-2 record.
Daniels continued his success from his freshman year, scoring nine touchdowns and gaining just under 1,000 yards through the air and on the ground. His legs did a lot of damage, allowing him to create big-yardage plays while escaping contact.
Completions: 49
Attempts: 84
Yards: 701
Comp. %: 58%
TDs: 5
INTs: 1
Rush Attempts: 33
Rush Yards: 223
Rush TDs: 4
Daniels’ Final Season at Arizona State
Arizona State performed well in the 2021 campaign, hitting the eight-win mark for the second time in three years. The team would finish the season with a 20-13 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Inconsistencies with accuracy resulted in a mixed bag of results for Daniels, including a higher completion rate but more turnovers. He threw 10 touchdowns but matched them with 10 interceptions, as his passing yards (2,381) and average yards per pass (7.9) dropped from 2019.
One positive was Daniels was a more dangerous dual threat than ever before, rushing for a career-high 710 yards and six scores.
Completions: 197
Attempts: 301
Yards: 2,381
Comp. %: 65%
TDs: 10
INTs: 10
Rush Attempts: 138
Rush Yards: 710
Rush TDs: 6
Tigers See True Potential in Daniels’ 2022 Season
A move to the SEC can be seen as a big jump from the Pac-12, but Daniels thrived with LSU, hitting big numbers to start his tenure with the program. He won 10 games for the first time in his career, leading the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game — losing to the Georgia Bulldogs. The Tigers would finish the year on a high note, blowing out Purdue 63-7 in the Citrus Bowl.
Daniels put up passing numbers similar to those of his freshman year at Arizona State. The Tigers utilized his running abilities, hitting a career-high with 855 yards and 11 scores. After an impressive debut, Daniels was considered a potential contender for the Heisman Trophy heading into the 2023 college season.
Completions: 266
Attempts: 388
Yards: 2,913
Comp. %: 68.6%
TDs: 17
INTs: 3
Rush Attempts: 186
Rush Yards: 885
Rush TDs: 11
Heisman Trophy Highlights Daniels’ Final Year in College
Despite having one of the top five offenses in college football, the Tigers did not finish the season as they would have liked. LSU finished the regular season with a 9-3 record but featured one of the best offensive performances in college football, led by their quarterback.
Daniels’ filled his personal trophy case during the 2023 season as he won the Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the Heisman Trophy. He also earned first-team All-American and All-SEC honors.
KEEP READING: LSU Tigers’ Top 10 Returning Players in 2024
His yardage through the air and on the ground is impressive, but it was his accuracy, completing 72% of his passes and only four interceptions, that sticks out. Daniels’ decision-making and play-making abilities should see him selected as a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Completions: 236
Attempts: 327
Yards: 3,812
Comp. %: 72.2%
TDs: 40
INTs: 4
Rush Attempts: 135
Rush Yards: 1,134
Rush TDs: 10
Daniels’ Final College Stats
Completions: 953
Attempts: 1438
Yards: 12,750
Comp. %: 66.3%
TDs: 89
INTs: 20
Rush Attempts: 617
Rush Yards: 3,308
Rush TDs: 34
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