Jayden Daniels on Heisman Trophy race: 'Hopefully I can be next'

Andy Staples and Jesse Simonton React To CFP Rankings | Florida State Drops | 11.21.23

LSU knocked off Texas A&M 42-30 in the regular season finale at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, and quarterback Jayden Daniels put the finishing touches on his Heisman Trophy campaign.

Daniels finished with four total touchdowns, all through the air, in another fantastic showing.

Enough to win the Heisman? That remains to be seen.

“It would mean a lot,” Daniels told ESPN’s Kris Budden after the game. “Growing up watching college football for all those years, 22 years of my life, wanted to be like those guys. RGIII, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson. Seeing those guys win the Heisman, hopefully I can be next.”

In his last outing before the Heisman Trophy voting fires up, Daniels went 16-of-24 passing for 235 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 11 carries for 120 yards on the ground.

Most importantly, he helped LSU earn its ninth win after a pesky Texas A&M team kept it close for the majority of the game.

Daniels was helped out considerably by his receivers, with Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers and finally Kyren Lacy all making spectacular touchdown catches in the second half. Lacy was visibly emotional after his touchdown catch on Senior Day.

“We just kept going. At the end of the day we had guys like him making plays,” Jayden Daniels said. “But coaching staff, we just adjust. We just kept going and we got in a rhythm and we went from there.”

LSU was actually outgained in the contest by Texas A&M, 390-389. The game was competitive throughout until Daniels and the Tigers started to create some distance in the fourth quarter.

While he’ll almost certainly have a trip to New York City coming up in a couple weeks for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Daniels seemed intent on soaking up the atmosphere in Tiger Stadium one last time following the win.

An Arizona State transfer, he has quickly become royalty for the LSU faithful.

“It’s meant the world. It’s meant a lot for me,” Jayden Daniels said. “Honestly just coming here, not knowing what I was going to get myself into. Now my last game in Death Valley, it means a lot. Lot of mixed emotions, but I’m happy to go out with this group of guys.”