Jayden Daniels’ trophy haul grows again with Manning Award

Add another award to former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels’ trophy case.

The Heisman Trophy winner and projected high first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft was named the 20th winner of the Manning Award, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Tuesday.

“I can’t remember many quarterbacks having a better year than Jayden Daniels this year,” Archie Manning said Tuesday on a media teleconference introducing Daniels as the winner. “One thing that jumps right out at me was 50 touchdowns. We’re very glad to recognize him today.”

Daniels joins JaMarcus Russell and Joe Burrow as former Tigers to win the Manning Award.

“Obviously, it’s a great honor to be the winner of the Manning Award,” Daniels said. “I’m very honored to receive this award. The great quarterbacks that have won this award before me, the third LSU quarterback to win this award, it means a lot.”

Daniels is in southern California in pre-draft training.

“I’m blessed to be in the position I am today,” Daniels said. “Nothing’s a given until I hear my name called. I’m back out here … training, working on the little things to get better.”

Daniels was a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy last summer, where he welcomed the opportunity to visit with Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.

“Getting to get a chance to talk to them, being able to pick their brain,” Daniels said. “They’ve performed at the highest level.”

Daniels opted to sit out LSU’s Reliaquest Bowl victory over Wisconsin to begin draft preparations, but was on the sidelines as Garrett Nussmeier passed for 395 yards and three touchdowns.

“I didn’t have any second thoughts” about sitting out, Daniels said. “One thing I wanted to do, I wanted to be at peace with the decision. (Nussmeier) did a great job, overcoming some adversity. He finally got his opportunity and made the most of it.”

Some have compared Daniels to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“Lamar’s been having a great year, an MVP season,” Daniels said. “For me, I pay tribute to those who came before me, but I want to do it my own way too.

“You’ve got to be able to move out of the pocket. That’s why I believe my game will translate to the NFL. I can’t speak too far to the future. I’ve just got to put in as much work as possible.”

Archie Manning was a mobile quarterback in his time at Ole Miss, but the comparisons end there.

“He does it all,” Manning said. “Everything was really different in my day. I didn’t always want to run a lot but I had to.”

The Sugar Bowl and the Manning family will present Daniels with his award at a private event later this year.