Jayden Daniels Reveals He Had A Great Night With His Heisman Trophy

DETROIT – Thursday is big for Jayden Daniels because he's obviously going to be selected in the first hour of the NFL draft, and perhaps as early as the No. 2 pick. 

So the anticipation of that might make Wednesday night kind of tough on him.

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep," Daniels said Wednesday afternoon.

Well, maybe Daniels should try something that's proven to get him a good night's sleep: Maybe Daniels should take his Heisman Trophy to bed.

Again. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers takes a "selfie" with The Heisman Memorial Trophy at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 09, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

In Bed With The Heisman

Daniels was on an Arizona State team that played only four games during the 2020 pandemic season. Then he struggled in 2021 while throwing 10 TDs and 10 interceptions.

It didn't look tons better in 2022 after Daniels transferred to LSU. But after offseason work with his receivers, Daniels threw 40 TDs and only four interceptions and in December 2023 became only the 89th person to win the Heisman. 

When the award ceremony was a memory and Daniels had reflected on his journey to the prize, he celebrated to his heart's content. At the end of the evening, he went to his New York hotel room and took the trophy to bed with him.

Literally.

"After I won the Heisman, for sure," Daniels said Wednesday. "Night of. For sure. I'm pretty sure Caleb [Williams] did the same thing. You should ask him that. 

"But when I won it, I went to sleep with the Heisman in bed right next to me. It's an experience. It's surreal. I didn't believe I just won the Heisman, and it didn't hit me until I lay down and the Heisman is there right next to me, for sure."

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 25: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies after a game at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Daniels Draft Expectations High

Daniels carried the Heisman back with him to Baton Rouge the next morning. He was on a private jet supplied by LSU so it's not as if he was treating the Heisman like ordinary carry-on luggage.

But the excitement of having the award still hadn't worn off.

"It was," he said, "just great."

The expectation is that Daniels could be just great for his future employer. The Washington Commanders are expected to select him with the No. 2 overall pick and if they don't, the New England Patriots will be next in line to make the selection.

All this comes after Daniels suffered something of a scare early on in his draft process when questions arose about the status of his right elbow – which happens to be his throwing elbow.

(USA Today)

Daniels Had To Clear Up Elbow Photo

A photo of his right elbow looking as if it was dislocated or otherwise part of some alien anatomy went viral on the internet in March.

Daniels assured reporters Wednesday that his elbow is fine. He also previously reached out to teams to make sure their medical people understood he's fine.

This just in: He's fine. 

No team is expected to ding him for a bout of what is commonly believed to be inflammation caused by bursitis.

"I had to clear some stuff up," Daniels said. "Obviously didn't want that stuff flowing around that I have a messed up elbow. I 100% don't. 

"People just trolling on the internet. That's pretty much it. They're having fun with it. It is what it is."

Having fun with it? Wait until people start sending Daniels memes of himself and the Heisman Trophy in bed.