Jayden Daniels details life as a Heisman Trophy winner

On Dec. 9, Jayden Daniels became the second LSU quarterback in the past four years to win the Heisman Trophy. Since then, 22 days have passed. Daniels claimed the three-week period has been a whirlwind.

“It’s been a blessing but it also been crazy,” Daniels said in a sideline interview during LSU’s matchup against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. “Everybody is trying to talk to me and stuff like that. People were telling me my life would change after winning that trophy. I’m just blessed to be a part of a fraternity like that.”

Daniels earned it. The fifth-year senior led the nation in total offense, averaging 412.2 yards per game — which was 64 more than the second-highest average. He threw for 3,812 yards, rushed for 1,134 and had 50 total touchdowns — 40 passing and 10 rushing. That made him the first quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 since Jalen Hurts did so.

While the award comes with its fair share of chaos, it always gave Daniels opportunities to meet other athletes he looks up to.

“The coolest thing I’ve done was just being able to meet different people that I never thought I’d meet before, like Ja Morant. I was able to meet Jerry Rice, just people that I never thought I’d be able to meet,” Daniels said.

At this rate, Daniels will be a player others are excited to meet soon. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Daniels as the No. 4 overall player and the No. 3 quarterback in his NFL Big Board. Due to his high draft stock, Daniels opted not to play in LSU’ bowl game. Nonetheless, the California native will always appreciate what LSU did for him.

“It means a lot,” Daniels said. “It’s really changed the trajectory of my life and others too. To be able to come here and meet some of my closest friends and just really be bless — God put me in a position like this.”

A long road for Jayden Daniels

Daniels started his career at Arizona State and spent three years under then-coach Herm Edwards. He threw for more than 6,000 yards and 32 touchdowns during that span, but after the 2021 season, entered the transfer portal and joined LSU. Clearly, Daniels’ decision paid dividends.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Daniels said after he won the Davey O’Brien Award. “Everything I’ve been through — the good and the bad, the highs and the lows. You’ve got to fight through adversity as a quarterback and as a human being. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”