BATON ROUGE – It took 60 years for LSU Football to win its second Heisman. Only four years later, Jayden Daniels took home the school’s third, as the senior quarterback was named the winner of the 89th Heisman Memorial Trophy, which was presented on Saturday night in New York City at Jazz in the Lincoln Center.
Daniels joins the late Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow as LSU’s winners of the most prestigious award in college sports – the Heisman Trophy. Cannon won the award in 1959 with Burrow winning in 2019.
The Heisman Trophy caps a week that has seen Daniels win the Davey O’Brien Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Daniels claimed 2,029 points including 501 of 870 first-place votes to win the Heisman, finishing ahead of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Daniels, from San Bernadino, Calif., won the award is much of the same fashion as Burrow as he put together a record-setting season with the Tigers in his second year with the program. Daniels joined the Tigers in 2022 after three years as the starting quarterback at Arizona State. Burrow spent two years with the Tigers after transferring from Ohio State.
In 12 games in 2023, Daniels was magnificent with both his arm and his legs as he accumulated 4,946 total yards, averaging a nation’s best 412.2 total yards of offense per game. He accounted for at least four touchdowns in nine games and he topped the 400-yard mark on nine occasions. Daniels also led the nation in passing TDs (40), total TDs (50) and his 208.01 passer rating is the highest in FBS history.
His 412.2 total yards per game were 74 yards per game more than the nearest competitor – Drake Maye of North Carolina, who averaged 338.1 yards a contest. His 412.2 total yards per game ranked higher than 75 FBS teams.
The Moment.
The quarterback from LSU is the Heisman Trophy Winner. pic.twitter.com/nV9pkFEECr
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 10, 2023
2023 Heisman Memorial Trophy Voting
Number of ballots received and tabulated – 891 of 928
Edit Rank Player Pos. School 1st 2nd 3rd Points 1 Jayden Daniels QB LSU 503 217 86 2029 2 Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington 292 341 143 1701 3 Bo Nix QB Oregon 51 205 322 885 4 Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio St. 20 78 136 352 5 Jordan Travis QB Florida St. 8 19 23 85 6 Jalen Milroe QB Alabama 4 8 45 73 7 Ollie Gordon II RB Oklahoma St. 1 2 24 31 8 Cody Schrader RB Missouri 1 2 22 29 9 Blake Corum RB Michigan 3 2 15 28 10 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan 1 7 4 21
For the season, Daniels passed for 3,812 yards, which ranked No. 3 nationally, and rushed for 1,134 yards, the most by an FBS quarterback. His 1,134 rushing yards ranked 22nd among all players in college football.
Daniels, a LSU team captain and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, joined 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the only players in SEC history to pass for 3,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
When asked about his “Heisman moment”, Daniels cited the Florida game when he broke the SEC record for total offense with 606 yards in the 52-35 LSU victory. Daniels rushed for 234 yards and passed for another 372 against the Gators becoming the first player in FBS history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 350 yards in the same game.
A week after breaking the SEC record for total offense, Daniels put on a show against Georgia State, tying the LSU record for touchdowns with eight (6 passing, 2 rushing).
In his Tiger Stadium finale, Daniels threw three fourth quarter touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 42-30 win over Texas A&M. The three fourth quarter touchdowns pushed his season total to 50 as he became only the fifth player in SEC history to account for 50 TDs in a season. He joined a group that included four Heisman Trophy winners – Joe Burrow (63), Tim Tebow (55), Cam Newton (51) and Bryce Young.
Daniels’ 50 TDs were more than 91 teams in college football scored this year.
In LSU’s win over Missouri, Daniels played through badly bruised ribs and a swollen hand to lead LSU to a 49-39 win over the now-Top 10 Tigers. Daniels threw three TD passes and rushed for another as LSU came back from a double-digit deficit for its biggest win of the season. Daniels, a five-time recipient of SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, rushed for 130 yards and passed for 259 yards in the win over Missouri.
Daniels had three 500-yard games in 2023, joining Burrow as the only players in SEC history to top the 500-yard mark three times in a season. He had 513 total yards at Ole Miss and 509 against Georgia State.
Daniels was joined on the list of Heisman finalists by Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Following Saturday’s announcement, Daniels will be honored at the Heisman Gala on Sunday night at the Marriott Marquis in New York. He will appear on the NFL Today on CBS on Sunday morning.
LSU’s Highest Heisman Trophy Finishes (All-Time Top 10 in Voting Results)
1st – 2023 Jayden Daniels, quarterback (2,029 points)
1st – 2019 Joe Burrow, quarterback (2,608 points)
1st – 1959 Billy Cannon, halfback (1,929 points)
2nd – 1962 Jerry Stovall, halfback (618 points) – lost by 79 points
3rd – 1958 Billy Cannon, halfback (975 points)
4th – 1972 Bert Jones, quarterback (351 points)
5th – 2011 Tyrann Mathieu, safety (327 points)
5th – 1978 Charles Alexander, running back (282 points)
6th – 2015 Leonard Fournette, running Back (110 points)
9th – 1977 Charles Alexander, running back (54 points)
9th – 2007 Glenn Dorsey, defensive tackle (30 points)
Jayden's Speech
Jayden's Family Interview
Heisman Trophy Winners
Edit Year Name School Pos. Class Points % of Points Possible 2023 Jayden Daniels LSU QB Senior 2,029 75.9% 2022 Caleb Williams USC QB Sophomore 2,031 77.3% 2021 Bryce Young Alabama QB Sophomore 2,311 83.0% 2020 DeVonta Smith Alabama WR Senior 1,856 66.8% 2019 Joe Burrow LSU QB Senior 2,608 93.8% 2018 Kyler Murray Oklahoma QB Junior 2,167 77.8% 2017 Baker Mayfield Oklahoma QB Senior 2,398 86.0% 2016 Lamar Jackson Louisville QB Sophomore 2,144 79.5% 2015 Derrick Henry Alabama RB Junior 1,832 65.7% 2014 Marcus Mariota Oregon QB Junior 2,534 90.9% 2013 Jameis Winston Florida State QB Freshman 2,205 79.1% 2012 Johnny Manziel Texas A&M QB Freshman 2,029 72.9% 2011 Robert Griffin III Baylor QB Junior 1,687 60.7% 2010 Cam Newton Auburn QB Junior 2,263 81.6% 2009 Mark Ingram Jr. Alabama RB Sophomore 1,304 47.0% 2008 Sam Bradford Oklahoma QB Sophomore 1,726 62.1% 2007 Tim Tebow Florida QB Sophomore 1,957 70.5% 2006 Troy Smith Ohio State QB Senior 2,540 91.6% 2005 (vacated) Reggie Bush USC RB Junior 2,541 91.8% 2004 Matt Leinart USC QB Junior 1,325 47.9% 2003 Jason White Oklahoma QB Senior 1,481 53.5% 2002 Carson Palmer USC QB Senior 1,328 48.0% 2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska QB Senior 770 27.8% 2000 Chris Weinke Florida State QB Senior 1,628 58.9% 1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin RB Senior 2,042 73.8% 1998 Ricky Williams Texas RB Senior 2,355 85.2% 1997 Charles Woodson Michigan CB/PR Junior 1,815 65.7% 1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida QB Senior 1,363 49.4% 1995 Eddie George Ohio State RB Senior 1,460 52.8% 1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado RB Junior 1,743 63.2% 1993 Charlie Ward Florida State QB Senior 2,310 83.8% 1992 Gino Torretta Miami QB Senior 1,400 50.8% 1991 Desmond Howard Michigan WR/PR Junior 2,077 75.5% 1990 Ty Detmer BYU QB Junior 1,482 53.9% 1989 Andre Ware Houston QB Junior 1,073 39.0% 1988 Barry Sanders Oklahoma State RB Junior 1,878 68.3% 1987 Tim Brown Notre Dame WR Senior 1,442 45.8% 1986 Vinny Testaverde Miami QB Senior 2,213 70.3% 1985 Bo Jackson Auburn RB Senior 1,509 47.9% 1984 Doug Flutie Boston College QB Senior 2,240 71.1% 1983 Mike Rozier Nebraska RB Senior 1,801 57.2% 1982 Herschel Walker Georgia RB Junior 1,926 61.1% 1981 Marcus Allen USC RB Senior 1,797 57.1% 1980 George Rogers South Carolina RB Senior 1,128 35.8% 1979 Charles White USC RB Senior 1,695 53.8% 1978 Billy Sims Oklahoma RB Junior 827 26.3% 1977 Earl Campbell Texas RB Senior 1,547 49.1% 1976 Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh RB Senior 2,357 75.0% 1975 Archie Griffin Ohio State RB Senior 1,800 57.6% 1974 Archie Griffin Ohio State RB Junior 1,920 59.5% 1973 John Cappelletti Penn State RB Senior 1,057 32.8% 1972 Johnny Rodgers Nebraska WR/RB Senior 1,310 38.8% 1971 Pat Sullivan Auburn QB Senior 1,597 42.3% 1970 Jim Plunkett Stanford QB Senior 2,229 58.8% 1969 Steve Owens Oklahoma FB Senior 1,488 40.9% 1968 O. J. Simpson USC HB Senior 2,853 80.6% 1967 Gary Beban UCLA QB Senior 1,968 63.5% 1966 Steve Spurrier Florida QB Senior 1,679 48.3% 1965 Mike Garrett USC HB Senior 926 26.6% 1964 John Huarte Notre Dame QB Senior 1,026 31.0% 1963 Roger Staubach Navy QB Junior 1,860 55.2% 1962 Terry Baker Oregon State QB Senior 707 21.3% 1961 Ernie Davis Syracuse HB/LB/FB Senior 824 25.2% 1960 Joe Bellino Navy HB Senior 1,793 52.9% 1959 Billy Cannon LSU HB Senior 1,929 53.7% 1958 Pete Dawkins Army HB Senior 1,394 39.0% 1957 John David Crow Texas A&M HB Senior 1,183 31.1% 1956 Paul Hornung Notre Dame QB Senior 1,066 27.0% 1955 Howard Cassady Ohio State HB Senior 2,219 55.9% 1954 Alan Ameche Wisconsin FB Senior 1,068 27.0% 1953 Johnny Lattner Notre Dame HB Senior 1,850 49.1% 1952 Billy Vessels Oklahoma HB Senior 525 14.3% 1951 Dick Kazmaier Princeton HB Senior 1,777 60.0% 1950 Vic Janowicz Ohio State HB/P Junior 633 22.0% 1949 Leon Hart Notre Dame End Senior 995 36.5% 1948 Doak Walker SMU HB Junior 778 28.6% 1947 Johnny Lujack Notre Dame QB Senior 742 74.2% 1946 Glenn Davis Army HB Senior 792 79.2% 1945 Doc Blanchard Army FB Junior 860 33.8% 1944 Les Horvath Ohio State HB/QB Senior 412 18.3% 1943 Angelo Bertelli Notre Dame QB Senior 648 64.8% 1942 Frank Sinkwich Georgia HB Senior 1,059 56.2% 1941 Bruce Smith Minnesota HB Senior 554 50.0% 1940 Tom Harmon Michigan HB Senior 1,303 54.3% 1939 Nile Kinnick Iowa HB/QB Senior 651 31.0% 1938 Davey O’Brien TCU QB Senior 519 29.6% 1937 Clint Frank Yale HB Senior 524 32.9% 1936 Larry Kelley Yale End Senior 219 36.4% 1935 Jay Berwanger Chicago HB Senior 84 43.1%