Jayden Daniels was picked as the number 2 overall prospect in the 2024 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders. As of the first 12 weeks of the 2024 NFL season, he has thrown for over 2,600 yards while accumulating 556 on the ground with the Commanders. He won the SEC Male Athlete of the Year award in 2024 as well. He was honored with numerous awards in 2023 for his performance, including the Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award, Davey O'Brien Award, SN Player of the Year, Consensus All-American, and SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
Born in San Bernardino, California, on December 18, 2000, Daniels was a four-star recruit who, in 2019, declined 25 college offers to attend Arizona State University. But after three seasons, the quarterback transferred to Louisiana State University in 2022 using the NCAA transfer portal. In his college tenure, the 210-pound, 6-foot-4-inch quarterback took part in 55 games and concluded with a 37-18 record.
Jayden Daniels’ Heisman Trophy Votes
Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy with 503 first-place votes and 2,029 total points. He beat QB Michael Penix Jr. from Washington (292 first-place votes, 1701 in total), QB Bo Nix from Oregon (51 first-place votes, 885 in total), and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State (20 first-place votes, 352 in total). He won the Heisman Trophy after having his best statistical season in 2023 with 3,812 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 1,134 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns. Daniels alone accumulated 4,946 total yards of offense and 50 touchdowns in total.
Daniels became the fifth quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy in the last seven years and the second quarterback in a row to do so. In 2018, Oklahoma's Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy with 2,167 points over Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's 1,871, making Daniels' 328-point win over Penix the closest vote since then, according to ESPN.
Daniels set FBS records for yards per attempt (11.7), passing touchdowns (40), and completions of 20 yards or more (70), and he topped all FBS players in QBR (95.7). In terms of offensive yards per game (412.2), he led the nation with a completion rate of 72.2, 74 yards higher than the next best player.
According to ESPN, just 25 running backs were able to surpass Daniels' yards per game as a rusher, and his 8.4 rushing yards per attempt ranked him fourth among all FBS running backs. Daniels has been a better runner every season since he started college in 2019, more than tripling his total of rushing yards in 2023.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy voting, as per ESPN, is as follows:
| Player | 1st | Total |
| Jayden Daniels, LSU | 503 | 2,029 |
| Michael Penix Jr., Wash. | 292 | 1,701 |
| Bo Nix, Oregon | 51 | 885 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio St. | 20 | 352 |
| Jordan Travis, Florida St. | 8 | 85 |
| Jalen Milroe, Alabama | 4 | 73 |
| Ollie Gordon II, Okla. St. | 1 | 31 |
| Cody Schrader, Missouri | 1 | 29 |
| Blake Corum, Michigan | 3 | 28 |
| J.J. McCarthy, Michigan | 1 | 21 |
FAQ's on Jayden Daniels Heisman Trophy Votes
A. Yes, Jayden Daniels has an older sister named Bianca.
A. Jayden Daniels was born to parents Javon “Jay” Daniels and Regina Jackson.
A. Jayden Daniels' contract with the Washington Commanders is worth $37.75 million, for four years, signed in March 2024.
A. Jayden Daniels is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds.
