Take Cam Newton Over Jayden Daniels, and Here's Why

It’s hard not to admire former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and current LSU signal caller Jayden Daniels. Although different body types, they are both run-pass signal callers that have created havoc for opposing defenses.

Newton won the Heisman Trophy and there’s a good chance that Daniels came away with the 2023 Heisman. That being the case, which quarterback has shown to be truly better?

The answer was and continues to be Newton. To give a full dichotomy of why Newton should have been anyone’s choice that’s seen both play, here were the statistics for Newton and the numbers through 10 games of the 2023 season for Daniels. Then, a short testimony, as to what my own eyes saw from the Jordan-Hare stands, when Auburn hosted LSU in 2010. Here we go.

Can Newton’s 2010 season will go down in history as a special performance because he often carried that Auburn team to victory, including the 24-point comeback against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Yes, the 2010 Auburn national championship does not even remotely have a chance to take place unless Newton went off as he did.

Running around, through, and even sometimes over the opposing defense, Newton stockpiled 264 carries, 1,473 yards, a 5.6 average, and 20 scores on the ground. His up-and-over lunges into the end zone were and continue to be legendary, much like Bo Jackson’s “Bo Over the Top” play versus Alabama.

Even LSU’s vaunted defense, which held Newton and the Auburn passing attack to 86 yards on that 2010 Saturday afternoon was demolished by Newton on the ground.

He rushed 28 times for 218 yards, a 7.8 average, and 2 touchdowns. That LSU defense still finished at the #42 rushing defense in the country despite that performance and had four NFL Draft picks the next April in Patrick Peterson (CB), Kelvin Sheppard (LB), Drake Nevis (DL), and Lazarius Levingston (DL).

When he passed the football, Newton was clutch all season long, too.

Newton’s passing numbers were 185 of 280, 66.1%, 2,854 yards, 10.2 per attempt, 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Now for an overview of the incredible 2023 season that Daniels has had to date.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy race took a hard turn towards Baton Rouge with Jayden Daniels destroying the Florida Gators this past Saturday night.

He rolled up 372 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air and completely shellacked the Gators with another 12 carries for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. When combining passing attempts and rushes, Daniels averaged 15.9 yards per play.

With that performance, Daniels was placed into college football lore as the only quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and rush for over 200 yards. Think about Daniels having been the one to have accomplished that feat. Hats off to Mr. Daniels for what he did.

He’s been magnificent this season. Daniels has rushed 114 times for 918 yards, an 8.1 average, and 8 scores. Not a power runner like Newton, Daniels’ speed has left SEC defenders looking slow, and we all know that’s not the case. Daniels has shown his tremendous speed and playmaking skills all season long. That speed and elusiveness helped him be a tremendous passer because he’s bought more time to throw the ball down the field.

Daniels has connected on 195 of 273 passes for 3,164 yards, an 11.6 average, 30 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. To say that he obliterated the majority of defenses he faced this year would be an understatement.

Now, here’s my take on why Newton still deserved the nod over Daniels. It’s partly an eye test, and still a statistical fact as well when considering size.

Seeing that 2010 game between Auburn and LSU, there was no doubt that the fellas from Baton Rouge had more top-to-bottom roster talent. Despite that point, Newton consistently made LSU’s defenders look bad in space – even when going against defensive backs weighing under 200 pounds – to give Auburn a chance to win.

When the Tigers needed a short-yardage run, every competent person inside Jordan-Hare knew that the play call would be turning to Newton and his 6-foot-6 and 250-pound frame for the knockout punch.

His frame and power, and a whole lot of determination, helped Auburn’s offense win several short-yardage plays that at the time I’d never seen before. Combined with Newton’s speed to the perimeter, he bullied past the LSU defenders during enough plays to help Auburn win 24-17.

That’s the one thing Daniels has not and cannot consistently accomplish, plowing over defenders because he's about 6-foot-3 and roughly 200 to 210 pounds. If a person wanted to argue that Daniels has been more spectacular, sure, you could’ve certainly done that. It would have been at least plausible.

However, Daniels has never been the bulldozer that Newton was. That’s been the difference for me when discussing these two all-time great SEC-great quarterbacks.

Regardless of what any college football fan thinks when comparing Newton and Daniels, there has been one item everyone should have agreed upon. They’ve both provided incredible highlights that will never be forgotten. I’ll still take Newton though, and you should, too.