TEMPE, Ariz. – The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) today announced that Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is one of seven semifinalists for the 2019 FWAA Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award. The award recognizes the most outstanding freshman player in the FBS ranks.
It was also announced on Monday that the Sun Devils were represented by senior WR/PR Brandon Aiyuk (second team/special teams) on the Phil Steele All-American Teams. In addition, the Sun Devils also had seven players – Aiyuk (first-team offense and first-team punt returner), junior RB Eno Benjamin (first team), redshirt sophomore punter Michael Turk (first team), senior OL Cohl Cabral (third team), redshirt junior Jack Jones (third team), senior LB Khaylan Kearse-Thomas (third team), senior DB Kobe Williams – named to the Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Teams.
Daniels, who last week was named a freshman All-American by ESPN, was named honorable mention for the Pac-12 Conference's Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. Nationally recognized as one of the top freshmen – regardless of position – in the country, Daniels threw for 2,748 passing yards, easily surpassing Rudy Carpenter's previous freshman school record of 2,273 yards. Among FBS players, he sits in the Top-30 in passing efficiency (19th, 153.5), passing yards per game (28th, 249.8), and total offense (24th, 278.1). Currently 15th nationally and second in the Pac-12 in pass yards per completion (14.24), Daniels has a 106.2 NFL quarterback rating, good for 22nd nationally, while his 153.5 NCAA passing efficiency is 19th.
Additional Jayden Daniels accomplishments:
Three finalists will be named after Jan. 1, with the player of the year, most inspirational and breakout players released in New Orleans at the annual FWAA Awards Breakfast on Jan. 13.
2019 Sun Devil Football Postseason Trophy Case
Brandon Aiyuk
AP All-American – All-Purpose
FWAA All-American - All-Purpose
Phil Steele Second Team All-American – Punt Returner
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team Selection – Wide Receiver AND Return Specialist
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team – Wide Receiver AND Return Specialist (Second Team Kick Returner)
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team – Wide Receiver AND Punt Returner
Jayden Daniels
ESPN Freshman All-American
Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
Semifinalist, FWAA Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year
Eno Benjamin
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team Selection
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team
Michael Turk
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team
Dohnovan West
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Third Team – Offensive Guard
Jermayne Lole
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Second Team – Edge Defender
Kobe Williams
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Third Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Aashari Crosswell
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Second Team
Cam Phillips
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
Frank Darby
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Jack Jones
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Khaylan Kearse-Thomas
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Case Hatch
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team – Special Teams/All-Purpose
Cohl Cabral
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
It was also announced on Monday that the Sun Devils were represented by senior WR/PR Brandon Aiyuk (second team/special teams) on the Phil Steele All-American Teams. In addition, the Sun Devils also had seven players – Aiyuk (first-team offense and first-team punt returner), junior RB Eno Benjamin (first team), redshirt sophomore punter Michael Turk (first team), senior OL Cohl Cabral (third team), redshirt junior Jack Jones (third team), senior LB Khaylan Kearse-Thomas (third team), senior DB Kobe Williams – named to the Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Teams.
Daniels, who last week was named a freshman All-American by ESPN, was named honorable mention for the Pac-12 Conference's Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. Nationally recognized as one of the top freshmen – regardless of position – in the country, Daniels threw for 2,748 passing yards, easily surpassing Rudy Carpenter's previous freshman school record of 2,273 yards. Among FBS players, he sits in the Top-30 in passing efficiency (19th, 153.5), passing yards per game (28th, 249.8), and total offense (24th, 278.1). Currently 15th nationally and second in the Pac-12 in pass yards per completion (14.24), Daniels has a 106.2 NFL quarterback rating, good for 22nd nationally, while his 153.5 NCAA passing efficiency is 19th.
Additional Jayden Daniels accomplishments:
- Became the first true freshman quarterback in program history to start the first game of the season.
- His 2,748 passing yards rank 13th in school history with the bowl game remaining.
- Became just the third freshman in ASU history to win his first career start, joining John Walker (1984) and Dennis Sproul (1974) as the only other QB's to win their first career starts as freshmen.
- Only 12 times in ASU history has a freshman quarterback recorded a 300+ yard passing performance, of which Daniels now has five. His five 300+ yard performances are tied with Andrew Walter (2004) and Rudy Carpenter (2005) for the most in a single season in ASU history.
- Daniels' 8.86 yards per pass attempt are 13th in the FBS and third in the league.
- Among quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts, he is tied for the second-fewest interceptions nationally behind Ohio State's Justin Fields with just two – one of which coming on a half-ending Hail Mary attempt against Utah.
- Hasn't thrown an interception in 129 consecutive pass attempts, tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.
- Currently eighth in the country with 15 pass completions over 40 yards this season and 12th in the FBS with 24 passes over 30 yards. His eight completions over 50 yards are 10th.
- Eleven of his 17 touchdowns passes this season have gone for at least 25 yards (64.7 percent).
- Has been exceptional on third downs this season, with his 744 passing yards on third downs good for 17th in the country (despite missing a game). His 160.13 passer rating on third down is 25th nationally.
- Despite missing a game, he has accounted for 784 passing yards in the fourth quarter of games, good for 10th nationally while his 34 passing first downs are also 10th. He has recorded nine fourth quarter passing touchdowns (fourth nationally) to one interception. His 183.84 QB efficiency rating in the fourth quarter is 12th in the country.
- Completed 11 passes of 25+ yards in the fourth quarter of games (tied for 2nd nationally) and his 19 pass completions over 15 yards in the frame is tied for 11th.
- While under pressure this season, he has posted the sixth-highest NFL passer rating of any quarterback in the FBS at 97.2. For reference, the national average is 68.6.
Three finalists will be named after Jan. 1, with the player of the year, most inspirational and breakout players released in New Orleans at the annual FWAA Awards Breakfast on Jan. 13.
2019 Sun Devil Football Postseason Trophy Case
Brandon Aiyuk
AP All-American – All-Purpose
FWAA All-American - All-Purpose
Phil Steele Second Team All-American – Punt Returner
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team Selection – Wide Receiver AND Return Specialist
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team – Wide Receiver AND Return Specialist (Second Team Kick Returner)
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team – Wide Receiver AND Punt Returner
Jayden Daniels
ESPN Freshman All-American
Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
Semifinalist, FWAA Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year
Eno Benjamin
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team Selection
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team
Michael Turk
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 First Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team
Dohnovan West
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Third Team – Offensive Guard
Jermayne Lole
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Second Team – Edge Defender
Kobe Williams
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Third Team
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Aashari Crosswell
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Second Team
Cam Phillips
Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
Frank Darby
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Jack Jones
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Khaylan Kearse-Thomas
Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
Case Hatch
Pac-12 All-Conference First Team – Special Teams/All-Purpose
Cohl Cabral
Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Third Team
