LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins 2023 Manning Award

LSU Quarterback Jayden Daniels has been selected as the winner of the 2023 Manning Award, which is presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl to the top quarterback in the nation. Daniels is the 5th straight quarterback from the SEC to earn the honor. He is also the 3rd from LSU, the most of any university.

The Manning Award was created to honor the college football accomplishments of Quarterbacks Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl and playoff performances in their balloting. The award is voted on by a panel of local and national media, as well as each of the Mannings.

LSU Jayden DanielsPhoto byon3.com

Daniels had an incredible 2023 season, leading the nation in total offense with 4,946 total yards, ranking 2nd in passing touchdowns, and 5th in passing yards and topped all quarterbacks with a total of 1,134 rushing yards. His 412.2 total yards per game were more than 85 FBS teams and his 50 total TDs were more than 91 teams scored this year. Daniels also joined Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the only 3,500-yard passers and 1,000-yard rushers in SEC history. Daniels completed 236 of 327 passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. He reached the 100-yard mark in rushing four times, rushing and passed for a TD in seven games this past season.

In consecutive weeks in November, Daniels set the SEC record for total yards (606) against Florida, passing for 372 yards and rushing for 234 yards. He became the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and rush for 200 yards in a game. The following week, Daniels tied LSU's record for TDs in a game with eight (6 passing, 2 rushing) in their win over Georgia State.

Daniels accounted for at least four TDs in nine games and joined Joe Burrow as the only players in LSU history to reach the 500-yard mark three times in a season. Daniels had 513 yards against Ole Miss and 509 yards against Georgia State. In all Daniels topped the 400-yard mark six times in 2023.

Daniels also won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. In December, he opted out of playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.