LSU QB Jayden Daniels opts out of Reliaquest Bowl
LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels opted out of the Reliaquest Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day, he announced on Twitter in a video. Check out the full video at the bottom.
Jayden Daniels thrived. He had the best season of his career, completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now he’s expected to be drafted high in the 2024 NFL Draft.
LSU will turn to quarterback Garrett Nussmeier against the Badgers as Nussmeier waited his turn in Baton Rouge to be the starter.
After five college seasons, three of which were with Arizona State before he transferred to LSU, Jayden Daniels will be one of this year’s most interesting draft prospects.
During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, Daniels opened up about his time in college football and what he’s going to look back on, starting with the effort he put into the game and gave to the Tigers.
“I gave college football everything I had, especially at LSU,” Jayden Daniels said. “I poured my heart into this university. I’m excited as the future moves on for my next journey and adventure, but I just love being here. I love building relationships in college football. Those are the times you don’t get back.”
His head coach, Brian Kelly, has been open about how he’d support Daniels either way on whatever he decided to do with his future.
“I’m a fan,” Kelly said. “I’m his coach, but I’m a fan of Jayden Daniels, but he’s got to make a decision and clearly I see both sides of it. So, we’ll provide him with all the things necessary for him to make an informed decision. But he hasn’t got to that level yet.”
Kelly explained that one of the most notable ways that Daniels has grown is as a leader and maturing as a person.
“You hope and you want to design a culture and an atmosphere for your players on a day-to-day basis to be held accountable, to make good choices, and to be surrounded by others to do the same thing,” Brian Kelly said. “I think his time here has allowed him to strengthen his accountability, his choices, and that’s what we have tried to put forth since we got here and I think he’s a product of that, and he’s influenced others around him.”
As a member of the Class of 2019, Daniels was a four-star recruit out of San Bernardino (Calif.) Cajon, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 7 overall prospect in the state, the No. 3 quarterback in the class and the No. 50 overall prospect in the class.
Forever LSU! Thank You!💜💛 pic.twitter.com/4bWi2LleeQ
— Jayden (@JayD__5) December 18, 2023
