Jayden Daniels officially named starting QB for Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has officially named rookie Jayden Daniels as the starting quarterback for the team heading into the upcoming NFL season.
Washington selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the most recent NFL Draft following his breakout, Heisman-winning season with LSU last year. As he’ll now look to translate his skills to the next level in Week 1 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following an impressive showing in the preseason.
Daniels was a four-star quarterback at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, California where he was ranked the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 50 overall player for the 2019 recruiting class according to the On3 Industry Ranking. A weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Spending three seasons at Arizona State and two at LSU before jumping to the NFL.
He started in 55 games in his college career between his time with the Tigers and the Sun Devils, but his most impressive work was last college football season in The Bayou. Taking home the Heisman Trophy after posting one of the most impressive dual-threat quarterback seasons in college football history. Completing 72.2% of his passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdown passes along with 1,134 yards on the ground and 10 rushing scores.
Listed as 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Daniels is a superb athlete who can get the job done with his arm and legs. Which he displayed in Washington’s two preseason games against the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. Completing all but three of his 15 pass attempts for 123 yards plus 16 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground to mark the first of his NFL career.
“I thought he had another really good outing,” Quinn said after Sunday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. “The accuracy, the decision-making of where to go. He really is a unique competitor.”
“He naturally has a good feel of where to position the ball, whether it’s an in-breaking route, out-breaking route, a ball down the field,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin also said of Daniels. “A lot of the things, he just naturally has the ability to have a feel for the game, which is very unique for any quarterback, but let alone a rookie.”
Daniels will make his NFL regular season debut on Sunday, September 8 on the road against the Buccaneers. A matchup that kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET and will be airing on FOX.