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Herm Edwards on Jayden Daniels' Heisman win: 'He deserves it'

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•12/10/23•

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Dec 31, 2019; El Paso, Texas, USA; L-R Arizona State AD Ray Anderson, head coach Herm Edwards, quarterback Jayden Daniels (5), place kicker Cristian Zendejas (45), Brant Wheaton, Marketing Director of Kellogg U.S. Ready-To-Eat Cereal segment pose for photos after the Sun Devils defeated the Florida State Seminoles 20-14 in the Sun Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Leonel Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Former Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards loved seeing Jayden Daniels, his former quarterback, win the Heisman Trophy Saturday night.

Daniels played for Edwards at ASU before the latter’s transfer to LSU. The pair were together for three seasons (2019-21) before Daniels went to the Bayou.

But despite not finishing his tenure under Edwards, the former head coach saw this coming from his quarterback and Daniels more than deserved college football’s biggest award.

“Well, you could feel it (coming),” Edwards said on SportsCenter. “I had the pleasure of coaching him when he was a young guy, a freshman. Just watching his maturity, not only as a quarterback but as a young man and think about this. He’s played 55 games of college football. That is the number you want to play, in the 50s, because you really get to grow into position. 

“He went down to LSU and won the hardest award you can actually try to win in college football, the Heisman. I feel good for his mom and his dad, just what he’s accomplished after leaving Arizona State, well deserved. He deserves this award. There’s no doubt about it.”

Daniels had a career year, leading LSU to a 9-3 record and becoming only the third quarterback to win the Heisman despite three losses. But he did all he could on the field.

Daniels finished with 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, a 72.2% completion percentage, 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

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He broke out as a freshman under Edwards in 2019, throwing for 2,943 yards, 17 touchdowns, two interceptions, a 60.7% completion percentage, 355 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

The next two seasons, the COVID shortened campaign and an uneven 2021 saw the end of Daniels’ tenure at Arizona State. Edwards, who finished 26-20 at ASU, was fired after three games in 2022, the year after Daniels moved onto LSU.

Their stories are connected since it was an original coach and quarterback combo. Edwards was unceremoniously let go amid alleged recruiting violations. The end of 2021, despite an 8-5 record, saw an exodus of players including Daniels and wide receiver Johnny Wilson (Florida State).

But with Edwards back on television as an analyst, he saw Daniels blossom into a true college superstar at LSU. Now, the quarterback could make quite the impression in the NFL.

The Heisman Trophy was quite the way to cap off a wild college career.