Connor O’Gara from Saturday Down South’s new article

quote:

---

3. 2023 Jayden Daniels

You’re gonna tell me that I’m being a prisoner of the moment. Fine. I’m gonna tell you to look beyond the 3 losses, wherein LSU’s defense allowed at least 42 points, and look at just how remarkable Daniels was. He currently has the best quarterback rating ever for an FBS player (208), he hit 50 touchdowns in just 12 games and he averaged more total yards/play (10.7) than any player in the Playoff era. Only 4 Power 5 players have ever had 40 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions or fewer in a season, and Daniels (along with Bo Nix) is set to join that club. Mind you, he’s a 1,000-yard rusher who is No. 2 in the SEC in that department. None of those other guys hit 700 pre-Heisman rushing yards.

If you want to find a negative for Daniels, it’s that he lost the 2 biggest games on his schedule. Jordan Travis indeed outplayed him in the second half of the season opener in Orlando, but Daniels “losing to Alabama” was also the byproduct of him taking a violent hit and getting knocked out of the game in the 4th quarter. He’s worthy of being on the shortlist for best Heisman winners of the Playoff era.

---