Tim Tebow: Jayden Daniels can 'make a statement' in Heisman race against Texas A&M
Consider Tim Tebow a fan of LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, as the former would welcome the latter into the Heisman fraternity with open arms.
Daniels has been incredible this season. Through 11 games this season, he’s completed 72.6 percent of passes for 3,577 yards. Daniels also has 36 touchdown passes to only four interceptions. On top of that, he’s rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Still, he’s not the runaway Heisman favorite, due to LSU’s losses on the season. While it’s far from his fault, Tebow wants to see Daniels make his final statement an epic one on Saturday, as the Tigers face the stingy Texas A&M defense.
“It is ridiculous. 13 touchdowns in two games is silly. But he’s really been doing it all year, and he’s getting better every single week. Some of the things that you watch him do is, this guy gets skinny in the pocket, and then he accelerates. … There’s a lot of quarterbacks that get credit for their ability to escape, none better right now than Jayden Daniels. But also look at his velo. The velocity with that arm, it’s silly. He’s doing it over and over. Maybe what I like most that doesn’t get talked about, his touch and anticipation. Come on. … He’s doing it over and over and over again.
“This is a kid who’s getting better every single week. But he’s also going up against one of his toughest tests this afternoon in Texas A&M, who’s got the eighth best defense in college football. It’s going to be a great test. If Jayden wants to make a statement, he’s got a shot.”
Will a huge game against the Aggies be enough? It remains to be seen, but that’s where Jayden Daniels must go if he’s to bring the Heisman back to Baton Rouge in 2023.
Paul Finebaum reveals why LSU’s Jayden Daniels has a ‘disadvantage’ vs. fellow Heisman contenders
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum argued that Daniels is the best player in the country and deserving of that kind of recognition during an appearance on First Take. However, he also admitted that other players like Bo Nix are going to have better opportunities to stand out.
“I think Jayden Daniels is the best player in the country,” Paul Finebaum said. “If he was playing on a team with one or two less losses, it would already be over. I mean, nobody has ever put up numbers like this.”
“… I talked to Brian Kelly yesterday and listen, of course, he’s supporting his player, but he said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ Quite frankly, I haven’t either.”
However, Paul Finebaum did explain that Jayden Daniels has a disadvantage compared to other Heisman contenders. The Tigers are 8-3 and out of contention in the SEC. That means, at this point, other Heisman contenders who are still in contention are going to get more attention because they’re playing in bigger games.
“He’s not off-Broadway at LSU, but they’re playing in a game this Saturday up against Ohio State and Michigan. People are not going to be paying enough attention. Then, he won’t be playing the next week when Bo Nix will be playing. So, I think that’s the disadvantage for him but he is the best player in the country.”
The Heisman Trophy is supposed to go to college football’s most outstanding player, regardless of position. The reality is that it almost always goes to a quarterback on a contending team. LSU isn’t that and it could easily hurt Daniels.
On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.