Jayden Daniels, the quarterback for the Washington Commanders, led the LSU Tigers to a historic victory in 2023 at a time when many would have preferred to concentrate on the past rather than the present.
The quarterback that could overcome hardship and convert it into success was what the Washington Commanders were looking for going into the NFL Draft. With Jayden Daniels, whom they selected with the second overall pick, they think they have found him.
Even though his Heisman Trophy-winning season and all the highlight videos that came from it will be cited by everyone as a big factor in the Commanders’ decision to select him, the most memorable part of that year was also its lowest point.
Because Daniels responded in a way that made history after LSU was eliminated from the College Football Playoffs after being thrashed by the Alabama Crimson Tide and he was struck late in the game by future NFL edge defender Dallas Turner.
Turner charged into the Tigers’ backfield during LSU’s regular-season game against Alabama, hitting Daniels so hard that he was out for the remainder of the game, which ended up being the team’s third loss of the year. LSU’s hopes of qualifying for the postseason tournament were dashed by the defeat, and Daniels believed, as others did, that he had lost the Heisman Trophy race after being knocked out of the game.
Daniels may have had no more collegiate goals left at that point, and many people in his situation would have switched to self-preservation mode. However, Daniels turned on the show the following week against the Florida Gators, carrying his team to victory and making history as the first quarterback to throw for over 350 yards and sprint for over 200 yards.
Regarding the performance, Locked On LSU anchor Caroline Fenton stated, “I think it shows his relentlessness and he’s tough,” during a recent visit on Locked On Commanders. “‘Tough’ is the best term I could think of to describe Jayden Daniels; you can never count him out.
..Since that was LSU’s third loss of the season, I assumed his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy were over. Quarterbacks with three losses don’t usually win the Heisman Trophy.That being said, I believe it demonstrates his tenacity that he wasn’t counting himself out.
“Perhaps everyone else was. We still had games to play, so perhaps he was thinking to himself, “Well, that individual accomplishment is no longer available to me.” We have games left to win. We still have objectives we would like to fulfill.The fact that he believed he would still do all in his power to support his teammates even if he didn’t win the Heisman Trophy, in my opinion, just goes to highlight his character, his tenacity, and his devotion to his team.”
Daniels’s unwavering attitude, resilience, and capacity for perseverance undoubtedly contributed to Washington’s decision to select him as their next franchise quarterback. And he will need it because the Commanders are expected to face greater difficulty in the AFC South in 2023 advancing up the divisional ladder than their friend C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans did.
Daniels’ tenacity and refusal to give up will be crucial to this rebuilding process, whether or not general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn are able to take charge. And it will be almost just as significant as the obvious physical gifts he offers.