Jayden Daniels latest LSU quarterback to win the Manning Award

NEW ORLEANS – The Manning Award is the only annual award given to a quarterback that takes into account post-season performance.

But Jayden Daniels didn’t need a post-season performance to win the Manning Award for the 2023 season.

Daniels sat out LSU’s 35-31 victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s to concentrate on preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft and still won the award over nine other finalists.

“It’s usually a little closer call,” said Cooper Manning, who represented the Manning family at the awards ceremony Thursday at Club XLIV.

But Daniels made the selection easy for a committee comprised of local and national media as well as each member of the Manning Family. The Allstate Sugar Bowl established the award 20 years ago to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie and Cooper’s brothers, Peyton and Eli Manning.

Daniels also won the Heisman Trophy – joining Joe Burrow (2019) as LSU quarterbacks to win both honors in the same season. LSU has had the most winners of the Manning Award (three) of any school. JaMarcus Russell won it for the 2006 season.

“To join this fraternity means a lot to me,” said Daniels, who also was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Louisiana Player of the Year and was selected to four All-America first teams.

Daniels, who’s projected to be one of the first players drafted next month, led the nation in total offense (4,946 yards) last season, was second in touchdown passes (40) and was fifth in passing yards (3,812). He also led all quarterbacks in rushing yards (1,134).

“His statistics are hard to believe,” Cooper Manning said, adding that Daniels’ “remarkable rise” from a good first season with the Tigers to an award-winning one in his second season was reminiscent of Burrow’s.

Daniels, who transferred from Arizona State just as Burrow transferred from Ohio State and led LSU to the 2019 CFP championship, credited his teammates and head coach Brian Kelly and his staff for his standout season.

It has been a busy week for Daniels, who attracted coaches, scouts and general managers from throughout the NFL to the LSU Pro Day on Wednesday in Baton Rouge.

Daniels skipped the NFL Combine last month Indianapolis in order to lure the NFL teams to Tiger Stadium so that his primary draft-eligible teammates could share in the opportunity to impress prospective employers.

The quarterback’s two favorite targets at LSU – wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. – took advantage of the opportunity and both are projected to be first-round picks.

“Those are good friends to have,” Manning said, adding that Daniels’ poise when things are going well as well as when they’re “crazy” helped make him a leader on the Tigers’ team.

“Quarterbacks come in all sizes and shapes,” Manning said. “But they all have to lead one way or another. His quiet confidence is contagious.”

Manning also noted Daniels’ engaging personality and recalled the quarterback’s time as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux.

After the award ceremony Daniels, who watched in person as the LSU women’s basketball team advanced out of the Baton Rouge regional in the NCAA Tournament last weekend, was scheduled to go across the street to watch the New Orleans Pelicans game against the Milwaukee Bucks inside the Smoothie King Center.

He said the next few weeks will be more football oriented as he has meetings with individual NFL teams and prepares for his rookie season – wherever that may be.

Daniels is the fifth consecutive SEC player to win the Manning Award, joining Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Bryce Young (Alabama), Mac Jones (Alabama) and Burrow.