Jayden Daniels calls 2022 tape ‘heartbreaking’ seeing missed opportunities

Jayden Daniels still hasn’t gotten over LSU’s 24-23 loss to Florida State last season. Luckily for the LSU quarterback, he has a chance to avenge that loss Sunday night. Ahead of the two programs’ matchup on Sunday, Daniels revealed his feeling about the disappointing defeat in 2022.

“I watch it a lot, going out there and just to get a grasp of how they played us last year. But, we’re night-and-day better than what we were last year at this time,” Daniels said. “Going back and watching the tape is kind of heartbreaking.

“It’s disheartening seeing how many plays we left out there. How we could have really adjusted and played better but that’s what you learn from and now we’re going in more prepared.”

Although LSU didn’t win the game, Daniels posted a solid performance. The 6-foot-4 quarterback completed 25-of-34 pass attempts for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Further, Daniels led the team in rushing with 114 yards on the ground.

The season-opening performance was a preview of the future. Daniels finished 2022 with 2,913 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Additionally, he tallied a team-high 885 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs.

Fueled by Daniels’ leadership, LSU finished the season with a 10-4 mark and a berth in the SEC Championship Game. Ranked at No. 5 in the AP Top 25, the Tigers expect even more from themselves this season.

However, they weren’t the only ones who have improved from last season. FSU comes in at No. 8 in the Top 25. The team returns the most production in the country as Mike Norvell enters his fourth season at the helm of the Seminoles.

Brian Kelly’s expectations for Jayden Daniels

Despite the Seminoles’ imposing talent, LSU head coach Brian Kelly expects big things from Daniels in the team’s season opener and 2023 campaign.

“We’ve seen his growth off the field in terms of his work in the community, his ability to lead; he’s been named captain,” Kelly said during an SEC teleconference in late August. “He’s developed in a manner that, when you see his work in practice, you see a more complete quarterback. And those are the things that we’re mapping out. He’s stronger physically. He’s put on the right weight. He’s healthy in all those areas.” 

“Now, it’s about flipping that switch and going from all this preparation to performance. And my experience tells me if you’ve prepared the right way in all of those facets, the performance kind of takes care of itself. So now it’s just a matter of waiting for that opportunity and then taking advantage of it.”

LSU and FSU will collide at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.