CFB Awards: LSU's Jayden Daniels Takes Heisman for a Grand Slam
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels made it a Grand Slam Saturday when he added the 2023 Heisman Trophy to his awards, which also include the Associated Press Player of the Year, Walter Camp national player of the year and the Davey O'Brien Award as the top quarterback in college football.
Daniels overcame his team being outside the playoff race with a prolific season individually that Heisman Trophy voters could not ignore. He became the first player since 2016 to win college football’s most prestigious player-of-the-year award as part of a team that did not play for a conference championship. The fifth-year player, who transferred from Arizona State to LSU in 2022, received 503 first-place votes and 2,029 points.
“This is a dream come true,” Daniels started his acceptance speech.
Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was the runner-up with 292 first-place votes and 1,701 points and Oregon’s Bo Nix was third (51, 885), putting transfer quarterbacks in each of the top three spots. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished fourth (20, 352).
Daniels, a graduate of Cajon High in San Bernardino, is the fifth quarterback in the last seven seasons to win the Heisman after transferring, joining former LSU star Joe Burrow in 2019 and USC’s Caleb Williams last year.
“I want to thank all my teammates, from Arizona State to LSU,” Daniels said. “You’re my brothers. You work so hard every day, inspiring me to be my best.”
He is also LSU’s third Heisman winner overall, along with running back Billy Cannon in 1959.
Winners of other major CFB award include Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. winning the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's best all-around player, while Payton Wilson of North Carolina State won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player as well as the Dick Butkus Award as the top linebacker.
Daniels led the nation in total offense this season with 4,946 yards in 12 games (412.2 yards per game). He passed for 3,812 yards, third nationally, and his 40 touchdown passes tied him for first with Oregon QB Bo Nix, who played in one more game than Daniels.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs. His 50 touchdowns rushing and passing combined, along with a two-point conversion on a passing play, made him responsible for a nation-high 302 points.
Penix led the Huskies into the College Football Playoff after passing for 4,218 yards with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Wilson was involved in 138 tackles for the Wolfpack, with six sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
LOOKING AT ALL WINNERS DURING CFB AWARD WEEK
Air Force's Trey Taylor won the Jim Thorpe Trophy for nation's best defensive back. Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II won the Doak Walker Award for outstanding running back. Texas' T'Vondre Sweat won the Outland Trophy for outstanding collegiate interior lineman. And Miami (OH)'s Graham Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top placekicker.
Previously, Notre Dame's Xavier Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the top defender in college football.
Here's a complete list at the winners of major individual awards for the 2023 college football season:
—Maxwell Award (best player)—
Winner: Michael Penix Jr., quarterback, Washington
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. won the Maxwell Award.
Penix powered the Pac-12 champions to a 13-0 record and spot in the College Football Playoff with his pin-point passing. He threw for a nation-leading 4,218 yards and added 33 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He completed 65.9% of his passes.
—Walter Camp Player of the Year—
Winner: Jayden Daniels, quarterback, LSU
Daniels tied with Bo Nix to lead the nation in touchdown passes, with 40 (and had just four interceptions), and was third behind Nix and Penix Jr. in passing yards (3,812). The dual-threat QB added another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
—Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback)
Winner: Jayden Daniels, LSU
—Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (best upperclassmen QB)
Winner: Jayden Daniels, LSU
—Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)
Winner: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
The son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer is pegged to be one of the top picks in next year's NFL draft, and it's easy to see why. Harrison earned top receiver honors after pulling down 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
—Doak Walker Award (best running back)
Winner: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Gordon led the nation with 1,614 rushing yards, and his 20 rushing touchdowns was second behind Michigan's Blake Corum.
—John Mackey Award (best tight end)
Winner: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Another player who will likely hear his name called high in the 2024 NFL draft, Bowers takes home the Mackey Award for the second consecutive season. Bowers battled through injury this season, which cost him a few games, but he still finished with 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns.
—Outland Trophy (best interior lineman)
Winner: T'Vondre Sweat, Texas
The 6-foot-4, 362-pound Sweat was a standout on the Longhorns' defensive line. Texas allowed just 80 rushing yards per game, third-best in the nation.
—Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player)
Winner: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish safety led the nation with seven interceptions.
—Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)
Winner: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
Wilson stuffed the stat sheet for the Wolfpack this season. He finished fifth in total tackles (138) and tied for sixth in tackles for loss. He added six sacks and hauled in three interceptions.
—Butkus Award (best linebacker)
Winner: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
—Lombardi Award (best lineman)
Winner: Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu had a nation-leading 21.5 tackles for loss and tied for fourth with 13 sacks. The Bruins allowed the fewest rushing yards in the nation this season.
—Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end)
Winner: Laiatu Latu, UCLA
—Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back)
Winner: Trey Taylor, Air Force
Taylor picked off three passes, taking one to the house, and made 71 tackles.
—Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player)
Winner: Travis Hunter, Colorado
The former top recruit followed coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Boulder, and he really did it all for the Buffaloes. Hunter played both ways, finishing with 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver and three interceptions as a defensive back in nine games.
—Rimington Trophy (best center)
Winner: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Powers-Johnson was the man in the middle for the nation's No. 2 offense.
—Lou Groza Award (best kicker)
Winner: Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)
Nicholson was nearly perfect this season, connecting on 26 of his 27 field goals (and 35 of his 36 extra-point tries).
—Ray Guy Award (best punter)
Winner: Tory Taylor, Iowa
Taylor excelled this season, which was good for Iowa since the Hawkeyes' awful offense gave him plenty of opportunities. He punted 11 more times than the next-closest punter and is on the verge of an NCAA record with 4,119 punting yards. His average of 47.9 yards per punt was third-best in the nation.
—Burlsworth Trophy (best player who began career as walk-on)
Winner: Cody Schrader, Missouri
The Tigers' running back rushed for 1,499 yards, third-best in the nation, and 13 touchdowns. He walked on at Mizzou in 2022 after playing at the Division II level.
—William V. Campbell Trophy (top scholar athlete)
Winner: Bo Nix, Oregon
The Ducks quarterback shined on and off the field, finishing with 4,145 yards and 40 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He completed 77.2% of his passes.
—Wuerffel Trophy (community service)
Winner: Ladd McConkey, Georgia
McConkey, an underrated piece of Georgia's back-to-back title teams, had 29 catches this season in eight games. He finished with 456 yards and two touchdowns.
—Home Depot Coach of the Year
Winner: Kalen DeBoer, Washington
The second-year Huskies coach guided his team to a perfect regular season and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
—Broyles Award (top assistant coach)
Winner: Phil Parker, Iowa