LSU is a quarterback faculty.
Jayden Daniels’ Heisman win on Saturday night time, the second for a Tigers quarterback since 2019, ought to change the notion of this system into one the place a quarterback can thrive.
For years, the Tigers have been higher referred to as “DBU,” or defensive again college, for being the house to a lot of future NFL stars within the secondary, together with Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Tre’Davious White.
It has been referred to as “WRU,” too, for its lineage of excellent extensive receivers, together with Odell Beckham Jr., Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
However QBU? Previous to Joe Burrow’s breakout in 2019, discovering a high quality quarterback down within the bayou was about as uncommon as a rougarou sighting.
A part of that was on account of former head coach Les Miles working some of the quarterback-unfriendly offenses within the nation. It was troublesome for LSU to draw premium expertise on the place when the offense consisted primarily of toss-handoffs to working backs, irrespective of how devastating these had been when Leonard Fournette suited up for the purple and gold.
With the offense way more dynamic – first on the behest of former head coach Ed Orgeron and lengthening into the Brian Kelly period – the Tigers ought to appeal to elite quarterback prospects, each out of highschool and within the switch portal.
Burrow and Daniels not solely received the Heisman but additionally improved their NFL draft inventory whereas at LSU. Burrow wasn’t on many individuals’s radar earlier than turning into the No. 1 general choose in 2020. Daniels could have been a Day 3 choice coming into 2023 however will probably go within the first spherical after his outstanding season.
Neither was a certain factor when becoming a member of LSU, however they excelled when given management of the offense. Burrow barely performed at Ohio State whereas Daniels was inconsistent at Arizona State.
Burrow was a three-star recruit out of highschool and threw 39 passes from 2015-17 whereas in Columbus. Daniels, a former four-star recruit, was wonderful as a freshman with the Solar Devils, throwing 17 touchdowns to solely two interceptions. Two seasons later as a junior, he threw 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Their enhancements will not go unnoticed by recruits, who’re additionally conscious that by coming to LSU they’re assured to play with future NFL expertise on the talent positions. As Daniels said during his charming Heisman speech, a quarterback’s job is simple when his extensive receivers function like a Waffle Home – all the time open.
This system’s come a good distance from Jarrett Lee, Zach Mettenberger and Brandon Harris. With two Heisman wins prior to now 5 years, the usual at quarterback has shifted at LSU.