The top 10 plays of Jayden Daniels' Heisman season
Jayden Daniels has won the Heisman Trophy. It’s a crowning achievement after a season with incredible moments and undeniable statistics, where Daniels consistently put the Tigers on his back and carried them to wins. With 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and only four interceptions in the air, paired with 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, Daniels will go down in the history books as one of the great quarterbacks in SEC history.
With the Heisman in hand, let’s take a look back at the 10 best plays of Daniels’ Heisman campaign.
Honorable Mention
These two plays were too great to not at least mention. These two not making the list should show you how awesome this list is and how much fun it was to watch Daniels play.
Late run vs Missouri…
Look at him go into Superhero mode on a huge third down. Sheds a tackle, hurdles his own man, then outruns the defense for a huge gain.
Deep ball vs. Florida
The Tigers were trying to keep pace with the Gators and Daniels delivered once again with a beautiful deep ball 50 yards down the field!
There are even more that could be put in the Honorable mention section, but we’ll keep it brief. Now, onto the Top 10 now.
10. On the run. On the money.
First, Daniels escapes the free rusher off the edge, then while rolling out with defenders closing in, and without breaking stride, he lifts a perfect ball up to Brian Thomas to lead him to the end zone. A broken play by both Daniels and Thomas, showing the chemistry, improvisation, and overall talent of both of these players. Just incredible accuracy and touch on this play.
9. Burning Bama
LSU needed points going to halftime, down a touchdowns with under a minute left. Dallas Turner beats Will Campbell off the edge, but Daniels feels it, steps up, then bolts into the open field and turns on the jets for a 40 yard run. A critical third down conversion that eventually led to a touchdown on another incredible Daniels throw to Kyren Lacy to tie it up going to halftime. Let’s not forget how effective Daniels was against the Tide through three quarters.
8. Clutch throw vs. the Hogs
Fourth quarter in a tie game against Arkansas after a shaky first half and Daniels makes an ELITE throw to the back corner perfectly leading Malik Nabers. It might not jump out as spectacular, but the ball placement, the timing, and the situation on a 2nd and 17 to execute that is just tremendous from Daniels.
7. Knifing through the Noles
A designed draw that Daniels just makes a great play with his incredible playmaking. He sheds one defensive linemen, then outruns two Seminoles, then hurdles another before getting taken down for a 40 yard gain. Straight video game mode. In a game where not much came easy, Daniels making plays like this was crucial for the Tigers to have a chance early.
6. The Kid doesn’t miss
The ability to sell the play action going left, then flipping his hips around at mid field and launching a missile perfectly to a streaking Brian Thomas. This is about as good of a throw as you’ll see in college football. Thomas doesn’t have ten yards of separation. In fact, he really doesn’t get the separation until the last second before he’s catching the ball. Add to the throw, the fact LSU was trailing and needed to jump back in front. He’s the best deep-ball thrower in the country.
5. Incredible accuracy
Look at this throw. No, scroll up and really look at it again. Daniels throws this ball from the 35 on the opposite hash mark across the field perfectly placed to where Lacy doesn’t even need to adjust to make the catch. Not to mention the situation, being down 10 points with one minute before the half when LSU’s defense hasn’t gotten a stop all game. This is an unbelievable throw and will be highlighted when he’s a top 10 draft pick.
4. Too good for the Gators
Some of Daniels’ explosive runs are designed draws, but not here. This was pure instincts and superior athleticism. Pumps left, sees a sliver of an opening and takes off, jukes out a linebacker, then outruns the rest of the Gators on the field. It’s truly Lamar Jackson-esque when he won the Heisman and MVP. These top four plays are absurd from Daniels.
3. Willing his team to a ranked road win
This was Daniels first true Heisman moment. Losing to Missouri on the road in the fourth quarter after injuring his ribs and leaving the game, Daniels does this. He’s so injured he can’t get up initially after taking the hit on the goal line. He literally WILLED LSU to this win against a really good Missouri team and this was the play that helped get the Tigers over the hump on a key third down.
2. Staring down the barrel and delivering
Fourth down and four in the third quarter down 10 against an elite defense in the game that decides your Heisman fate. Failing to convert here potentially ends your season on another loss to Texas A&M. It’s a pass play all the way, the Aggies have a spy on Daniels, but it doesn’t matter. the star quarterback takes off for a 48-yard run that puts LSU in position to score a touchdown and seize back momentum en route to a massive win to cap the season.
1. Jayden Daniels’ Heisman moment
This is what separates Daniels from every other player in the country. He displays the speed to outrun defensive backs here, then you pair that with the elusiveness to juke linebackers, the accuracy to pick apart soft zones, the arm strength to burn defenses over the top, and the IQ to get his offense in the right play every time.
There’s not much more that needs to be said. Daniels will go down in history as one of the most electrifying players to play college football and is now a Heisman trophy winner. What a fun two years it’s been.
