LSU QB Jayden Daniels: 'I've Grown As A Whole As A Quarterback'
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has the chance to leave a legacy in Baton Rouge as he enters his second season with the program.
The Arizona State transfer made his way to Death Valley in 2022 and never looked back, earning the starting job, and taking the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game.
Fast forward to 2023 and Daniels enters his final season in Brian Kelly's system.
For the Tigers' QB1, he's taken on a leadership role with this team and feels much more at ease as he gears up for the Top 10 matchup against Florida State.
Daniels has developed on a day-by-day basis, and with the chance to get revenge against the Seminoles, he couldn't be more excited.
He dove into what the offseason looked like over the last few months and where his mind is at ahead of Sunday's showdown in Orlando:
Development As A Quarterback
There were times where Daniels struggled to push the ball down the field in 2022. He didn't quite trust his arm to throw the ball vertically, and heading into a full offseason under quarterback's coach Joe Sloan, Daniels is confident in his abilities.
“I’ve grown as a whole as a quarterback within the system. When those opportunities present themselves I [need] to take them," Daniels said on Tuesday. "We have playmakers on the outside and it’s giving them a chance and throwing them the ball. I feel confident that nine times out of ten they’re going to make the play. We’ve put the work in this offseason, so now it’s time to pay it off.”
Mindset Ahead of Florida State Matchup
Last season's opener against the Seminoles didn't go accordingly for the Tigers. At times, Daniels was running for his life with a lack of protection up front, but the Tigers' signal-caller has trusted the process and is eager to get back in front of LSU fans to redeem himself.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I wouldn’t change the process that I went through this past offseason for anything,” Daniels said. “I live by a code that what happens in the dark always comes to the light. Just the work that you put in and knowing that I have prepared myself for this game and once Sunday morning hits, it is time to go play.”
Jayden Daniels-Malik Nabers Connection
The Daniels-Nabers connection has been on full display all offseason, and as Nabers looks to take that next step in 2023, he'll have a quarterback looking to do the same.
To say Nabers dominated during Fall Camp would be an understatement. LSU's WR1 was a force on each snap and Daniels continued looking to his top wideout.
Daniels spoke on Nabers' success and how lethal he's going to be this season.
“Just his confidence level. He’s going out there and dominating. He’s one of the best receivers in the country and that’s the mindset you have to have at receiver, that nobody can guard you," Daniels said. "Come Sunday I’m excited to see what he does. Once I get the ball in his hands he’s very dangerous after the catch. Just give him a catchable pass and let him do his thing.”
Youngsters Emerging
The true freshmen the Tigers attain have taken this program by storm over the last few weeks. From Zalance Heard to Shelton Sampson Jr. to Kaleb Jackson, LSU is in good position moving forward, but Daniels has been impressed with what the youngsters can do on Day 1.
As the freshmen continue jumping hurdles and improving on a day-by-day basis, their growth has impressed Daniels.
“The ups and downs that they’ve had. In the spring the early enrollees came in and they were very confident, then fall camp comes and it’s a different beast. You’re here all day and all night, so adjusting to that, there’s been some good talks with them, especially me mentoring Rickie," Daniels said. "Him going out there in the spring and getting a lot of reps, then come fall we have to prepare and he gets minimal reps, that was a transition for him. Coming from high school being that guy to now waiting his turn. Me being able to be there for him was big.”
