Jayden Daniels, QB

Measurements:

• Height: 6’4
• Weight: 210lbs
• Classification: Senior
• School: Louisiana State

Testing Numbers:

• Did not participate in the combine

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Prospect Bio

If you ask Jayden Daniels, everything happens for a reason, and much like in life, he’s exactly where he needs to be in terms of his development.

Daniels played his high school ball at Cajon High School; it was here that he became a four-year varsity starter. During his time as a high school athlete, he produced a 44-10 record, including back-to-back seasons with at least 12 wins.

Daniels threw for a record 14,007 yards and 170 touchdowns during a historic four-year career at Cajon; he also added 3,645 rushing yards on 562 attempts and 41 rushing touchdowns. Daniels produced back-to-back 6,000+ all-purpose yardage seasons as a junior and senior (12,487 total). 

Daniels was dubbed a four-star recruit, the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation, and the fifth-best player in California. Daniels would eventually land at Arizona State. It was there that he became the first true freshman quarterback in the program’s history to start the first game of the season.

Things started very well for Daniels through his first season, and he looked to make an even greater impact in year two before COVID disfigured the PAC-12’s season. Arizona State would only play four games that season. While Daniels took a step back from his stellar play during his junior year and final season, off the field, he was able to graduate from Arizona State in just three years.

He began pursuing a master’s degree in liberal arts as he made the transfer to LSU for his final two seasons.

“I don’t regret anything at Arizona State, but coming here and really just believing in myself and my talent, plus the LSU platform, obviously, it goes a long way,” Daniels said when asked about the transfer.

He made the decision to bet on himself during his time in Baton Rouge, and while year one left many with an idea of what could be, year two was everything you could have wanted and imagined.

• Heisman Memorial Trophy Winner 2023 
• Davey O’Brien Award Winner 2023
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner 2023
• Sporting News Player of the Year (2023)
• Walter Camp Player of the Year (2023)
• SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
• First-Team All-SEC (2023)

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Career Stats:

Freshman

• Adj. Completion Percentage: 72.4%
• Yards: 2943
• TDs: 17
• INTs: 2

Sophomore

• Adj. Completion Percentage: 63.4%
• Yards: 697
• TDs: 5
• INTs: 1

Junior

• Adj. Completion Percentage: 75.6%
• Yards: 2375
• TDs: 10
• INTs: 10

Senior

• Adj. Completion Percentage: 77.2%
• Yards: 2913
• TDs: 17
• INTs: 3

Super Senior

• Adj. Completion Percentage: 79.6%
• Yards: 3811
• TDs: 40
• INTs: 4

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Advanced Metrics:

Passing Pressure

• Freshman:

  • Kept Clean: 66.9% dropbacks — 74.1% Adj. Completion — 12 TDs — 1 INT
  • Under Pressure: 33.1% dropbacks — 65.6% Adj. Completion— 5 TDs — 1 INT
  • Not Blitzed: 61.9% dropbacks — 75.7% Adj. Completion — 9 TDs — 1 INT
  • Blitzed: 38.1% dropbacks — 67.5 Adj. Completion — 8 TDs — 1 INT

• Sophmore:

  • Kept Clean: 69.5% dropback — 62.9% Adj. Completion — 5 TDs — 1 INT
  • Under Pressure: 30.5% dropbacks — 65% Adj. Completion — 0 TD — 0 INT
  • Not Blitzed: 30.5% dropbacks — 80 Adj. Completion — 2 TDs — 0 INT
  • Blitzed: 69.5% dropbacks — 56.1% Adj. Completion — 3 TDs — 1 INT

• Junior:

  • Kept Clean: 70.1% dropbacks — 78.5% Adj. Completion (10 TDs — 7 INTs)
  • Under Pressure: 29.9% dropbacks — 62% Adj. Completion (0 TD — 3 INTs)
  • Not Blitzed: 61.3% dropbacks — 77.2% Adj. Completion (6 TDs — 7 INTs)
  • Blitzed: 38.7% dropbacks — 73.3% Adj. Completion (4 TDs — 3 INTs)

• Senior:

  • Kept Clean: 71.1% dropbacks — 78.9% Adj. Completion (13 TDs — 3 INTs)
  • Under Pressure: 28.9% dropbacks — 67.9% Adj. Completion (4 TDs — 0 INT)
  • Not Blitzed: 58.4% dropbacks — 80.2% Adj. Completion (7 TDs — 1 INT)
  • Blitzed: 41.6% dropbacks — 73.3% Adj. Completion (10 TDs — 2 INTs)

• Super Senior:

  • Kept Clean: 74.5% dropbacks — 82.2% Adj. Completion (35 TDs — 4 INTs)
  • Under Pressure: 25.5% dropbacks — 62.8% Adj. Completion (5 TDs — 0 INTs)
  • Not Blitzed: 60.8% dropbacks — 78.9% Adj. Completion (20 TDs — 4 INTs)
  • Blitzed: 39.2% dropbacks — 80.5% Adj. Completion (20 TDs — 0 INTs)

Passing Depth

• Freshman:

  • Behind LOS:

    • 72-83 (86.7%)
    • 24.5% of Attempts
    • -2.6 ADoT
    • 582 Yards

  • Short:

    • 81-123 (65.9%)
    • 36.3% of Attempts
    • 4.7 ADoT
    • 831 yards

  • Medium:

    • 33-60 (55%)
    • 17.7% of Attempts
    • 13.5 ADoT
    • 748 yards

  • Deep:

    • 19-46 (41.3%)
    • 13.6% of Attempts
    • 33.5 ADoT
    • 782 yards

• Sophomore:

  • Behind LOS:

    • 12-12 (100%)
    • 14.3% of Attempts
    • -3.7 ADoT
    • 102 yards

  • Short:

    • 19-31 (61.3%)
    • 36.9% of Attempts
    • 5.5 ADoT
    • 167 yards

  • Medium:

    • 14-22 (63.6%)
    • 26.2% of Attempts
    • 13.2 ADoT
    • 262 yards

  • Deep:

    • 4-17 (23.5%)
    • 20.2% of Attempts
    • 29.5 ADoT
    • 166 yards

• Junior:

  • Behind LOS:

    • 64-71 (90.1%)
    • 23.4% of Attempts
    • -3.4 ADoT
    • 469 yards

  • Short:

    • 84-107 (78.5%)
    • 35.3% of Attempts
    • 4.7 ADoT
    • 782 yards

  • Medium:

    • 32-68 (47.1%)
    • 22.4% of Attempts
    • 14.5 ADoT
    • 560 yards

  • Deep:

    • 17-41 (41.5%)
    • 13.5% of Attempts
    • 30.2 ADoT
    • 564 yards

• Senior:

  • Behind LOS:

    • 43-47 (91.5%)
    • 12.1% of Attempts
    • -3.4 ADoT
    • 206 yards

  • Short:

    • 159-199 (79.9%)
    • 51% of Attempts
    • 4.3 ADoT
    • 1468 yards

  • Medium:

    • 48-85 (56.5%)
    • 21.8% of Attempts
    • 13.3 ADoT
    • 722 yards

  • Deep:

    • 16-42 (38.1%)
    • 10.8% of Attempts
    • 29.2 ADoT
    • 517 yards

• Super Senior:

  • Behind LOS:

    • 44-44 (100%)
    • 13.3% of Attempts
    • -3 ADoT
    • 308 yards

  • Short:

    • 112-148 (75.7%)
    • 44.6% of Attempts
    • 4.6 ADoT
    • 1193 yards

  • Medium:

    • 45-71 (63.4%)
    • 21.4% of Attempts
    • 14.5 ADoT
    • 963 yards

  • Deep:

    • 35-55 (63.6%)
    • 16.6% of Attempts
    • 31.9 ADoT
    • 1347 yards

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Prospect Overview:

Jayden Daniels can be special if given the opportunity. He possesses all the traits and shows all the flashes that a franchise quarterback should at this stage in his progression.

The first thing that should be mentioned when discussing Daniels is his experience. With 55 career starts spanning over five seasons, he’s played a lot of football. This explains his ability to command an offense and dissect a defense from pre-to-post snap. This young man has phenomenal athletic talent. In fact, he is often the best athlete on the field, which is special given that he competed in the SEC. 

He has a second gear. It often seems like defenders don’t believe how fast he truly is until they’re in position. Daniels is able to decelerate and cut at the drop of a dime—the type of guy that makes defenses respect all 11 players. Although, he needs to stop taking so many unnecessary hits at the next level, he has to understand his worth to a franchise.

Despite his magnificent ability as a runner, what often gets lost is his underrated ability as a passer. It’s hard not to appreciate what he does in terms of accuracy. Daniels is so deliberate with his location. He’s a purposeful passer, often trying his hardest to put the football in a spot only his guy can get it. 

He has always excelled as a down-the-field passer, even dating back to his days at Arizona State. He has a legitimate argument that he’s the best in the class in this area.

Daniels has some stand and deliver to his game, which is really good vs. the blitz and particularly when he can see where the pressure is coming from. He has 45 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his career when blitzed, including this past season, where he had 20 touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Daniels is very efficient in the quick game and is often on time and on target with the football. That being said, I wish he’d do a better job keeping his top half and bottom half in sync consistently. 

As a deep passer, everything is typically in sync from top to bottom. But in the quick game and on out-breaking routes, there are times his feet can be a bit stagnant. Whereas when he’s on the run, there are times he doesn’t keep his shoulders square to threaten the defense enough as a passer; he has to learn to maneuver the pocket as a passer and a runner. 

There are also times he leaves a lot of meat on the bone as a passer. I would love to see him become more comfortable in the pocket, going through progressions before bailing. He has a rep vs. Florida where two guys are open across the middle of the field, but he leaves off the progressions too early as his internal clock was ticking in terms of blindside pressure.

I believe the young man just has to figure out how to tie all the elements of his game together. It’s work to be done, but I can see the vision. Welcome to the modern-day QB.

Cover Image Credit: Getty Images