Brian Kelly reacts to Jayden Daniels winning Heisman Trophy: 'It's emotional'
Brian Kelly was in attendance on Saturday night as LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was officially named the winner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy.
For Kelly, Daniels becomes the 1st player to win the Heisman under Kelly’s tutelage during his head coaching career. The 2023 season was Kelly’s 21st season as a head coach at the FBS level.
After Daniels made his speech, ESPN’s Holly Rowe caught up with the LSU head coach to get his reaction.
“I’m just so thrilled that I could see a young man develop like this in such a very short period of time,” Kelly said. “And look, the football is amazing, right? That’s how you win this. But off the field, his leadership, what he’s done to touch this program and the state of Louisiana … they’re probably celebrating [this] as much in Louisiana as they are a championship. It’s emotional. So, thank you.”
Here’s video of Kelly’s remarks:
1st Heisman winner for Coach @CoachBrianKelly
He is SO proud. @LSUfootball @HeismanTrophy pic.twitter.com/rTKq7YPGBM— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) December 10, 2023
Daniels became LSU’s 3rd Heisman Trophy winner in program history on Saturday night. He joins Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow’s as the school’s only winners of college football’s most prestigious individual award.
Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. finished in 2nd place behind Daniels in what was the closest Heisman Trophy vote since 2018.
LSU will close out the 2023 season against Wisconsin on Jan. 1.