Jayden Daniels is one of the most-hyped quarterbacks in the nation heading into Week 10, and there's plenty of reason for that. The LSU signal-caller stands strong in the conversations about both the 2023 Heisman Trophy and the 2024 NFL Draft.
One of the most intriguing things about Daniels is not only the meteoric rise he's had over the past couple of seasons since transferring from Arizona State, but also some of the Joe Burrow comparisons he's drawn.
Let's get into that.
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Jayden Daniels stats 2023
Daniels has been nothing short of impressive on the stat sheet with numbers that reflect his improvement that is just as evident in the film. To this point in the season, Daniels has completed 73.1 percent of his passes for 2,573 yards with 25 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
On the ground, he has 521 rushing yards on 91 carries with five touchdowns. One of the biggest questions surrounding Daniels when he originally transitioned from Arizona State was whether he could consistently be relied upon to score through the air or if it had more to do with Sun Devils' offense and situation there than anything else.
He left ASU with 32 passing touchdowns over three seasons, though throwing just five touchdown passes in 2020. He totals 42 passing touchdowns over two seasons at LSU, showing mechanical improvement that has led to more accuracy.
| Game | Comp | Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
| vs. Army | 11 | 15 | 279 | 3 | 0 |
| vs. Auburn | 20 | 27 | 325 | 3 | 1 |
| vs. Missouri | 15 | 21 | 259 | 3 | 0 |
| vs. Ole Miss | 27 | 36 | 414 | 4 | 0 |
| vs. Arkansas | 20 | 29 | 320 | 4 | 1 |
| vs. Mississippi State | 30 | 34 | 361 | 2 | 0 |
| vs. Grambling State | 18 | 24 | 269 | 5 | 0 |
| vs. Florida State | 22 | 37 | 346 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 total (8 games) | 163 | 223 | 2,573 | 25 | 3 |
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Joe Burrow stats 2019
The 2019 LSU team that won a national title wasn't just littered with talent, it was arguably the best overall squad in college football history. Even with that, it is hard to see a scenario in which the Tigers could have gone undefeated and won it all without elite quarterback Joe Burrow.
There was much discussion about the year-over-year jump in Burrow's stats from 2018 to 2019, though it should be noted that the receiver drop rate significantly improved, giving support to the idea that Burrow was even better than it seemed on the surface in 2018.
Note that at this current point in LSU's championship season, Burrow was 205-of-260 passing (78.8 percent) for 2,805 passing yards with 30 touchdowns through the air and four interceptions.
| Game | Comp | Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
| vs. Auburn | 32 | 42 | 321 | 1 | 1 |
| vs. Mississippi State | 25 | 32 | 327 | 4 | 0 |
| vs. Florida | 21 | 24 | 293 | 3 | 0 |
| vs. Utah State | 27 | 38 | 344 | 5 | 1 |
| vs. Vanderbilt | 25 | 34 | 398 | 6 | 0 |
| vs. Northwestern State | 21 | 24 | 373 | 2 | 1 |
| vs. Texas | 31 | 39 | 471 | 4 | 1 |
| vs. Georgia Southern | 23 | 27 | 278 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 total through 8 games | 205 | 260 | 2805 | 30 | 4 |
Jayden Daniels Heisman odds
Daniels has been among the strongest frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy during the 2023 season, with some of his biggest competition presented in Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
With some of the ups and downs and unexpected down games mixed in for both Williams and Penix, the road for Daniels to take the honor back to Baton Rouge, La., has become even more plausible. Plenty has changed in the race since the beginning of the season in what's been a highly competitive one on the quarterback front.
BetMGM currently has Daniels listed at +450 odds to win the Heisman. That puts his behind only Penix (+275) and Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (+300).
It's anyone's game and the final part of the back end of the season is going to mean everything to the outcome.
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Jayden Daniels vs. Joe Burrow scouting comparison
Despite the fact the numbers align almost eerily closely, Daniels and Burrow are different quarterbacks who have used different skillsets to reach their current level of success (though there are some comparisons within).
Perhaps the most key difference is pure running ability. Daniels reigns superior over Burrow in this category, while Burrow's mental processing is an elite, rare category that Daniels (and several other quarterbacks for that matter) haven't fully scratched the surface of.
While Burrow wasn't as highly touted for his efforts with his legs the same way Daniels has been, he ran smartly, effectively and with grit, becoming more careful with sliding while also showcasing a level of underrated speed. All of these things played a critical role in moving the chains for LSU.
Early into his transition at LSU, Daniels had issues bailing from the pocket too early in situations in which he should have stood in and made the throw. And while that issue still rears its head on occasion, he's grown immensely in this area and is the better athlete between the two. Daniels has also proven himself to be a quarterback who not only has incredible mobility, but also has shown to be a true improvisor, the more important trait between the two at the next level.
The same type of growth goes for inconsistent ball placement and reading defenses as Daniels has solidified himself as a whole new way as a passer, though it can definitely be argued Burrow still has the more consistent release.
LSU vs. Alabama from a Joe Burrow-Jayden Daniels perspective
Joe Burrow had made his case clear before Alabama, but the now Tiger-turned-Bengal quarterback truly cemented it when he took down the Crimson Tide, 46-41, in 2019.
Burrow was exceptional both through the air and on the ground in a way he said he'd always been known as "sneaky fast." He finished the contest 31-of-39 passing for 393 yards with three touchdowns, adding 64 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Daniels had the chance to play Alabama for the first time in 2022, completing 22-of-32 passes for 182 yards with two touchdowns. He wowed with his legs in that one, carrying the ball 18 times for 95 yards with one rushing touchdown.
Those numbers obviously aren't quite as impressive as Burrow's as a passer, and this Alabama team is one of the shakier ones we've seen throughout recent history. But having a big game through the air against Nick Saban's team would bolster Daniels' status in a notable way.
How he builds upon his last performance will be one of the most important things across college football to watch on Saturday, Nov. 4.
