LSU’s Heisman Trophy winning senior quarterback Jayden Daniels and nine other members of the Tiger squad were named to the 2023 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana college football team.
The team was voted on by an LSWA panel of football media along with the sports communications/media relations staff members of the state colleges and universities.
Daniels was a unanimous selection for both the first team quarterback and as Offensive Player of the Year. He also garnered the majority of the sport’s major awards in 2023 including the Heisman, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O’Brien and Walter Camp Awards as well as Player of the Year as selected by the Southeastern Conference and the Associated Press.
Joining Daniels on the first team were offensive linemen Will Campbell and Emery Jones; wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.; and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.
Four Tigers were selected on the second team: offensive lineman Charles Turner IIII; linebacker Greg Penn III; defensive back Andre Sam; and, kicker Damian Ramos.
The voting panel selected two 11-player teams on both offense and defense as well as a group of three specialists for each team (kicker, punter, return specialist).
Daniels led the nation in nearly every category dedicated to a quarterback for the Tigers, who will face Wisconsin in the Jan. 1 ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. He became the only QB in FBS history to rush for 200 yards (234) and pass for 350 yards (372) in the same game against Florida. He finished the year with 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 rushing yards with 40 passing touchdowns and 50 total scores.
The senior from San Bernadino, California became the third Heisman Trophy winner in LSU Football history joining Billy Cannon (1959) and Joe Burrow (2019).
Campbell, Jones and Turner played on the offensive line for the Tigers that was named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. Campbell was a first-team All-SEC selection with 731 snaps and no sacks allowed. Jones was a Second Team All-SEC selection and was in on 634 snaps at right tackle, while Turner played 689 snaps, starting all 12 games at center. He was the Outland Trophy National POW versus Auburn.
Nabers, a first-team All-America and Biletnikoff Finalist, had a tremendous year catching 86 balls for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the nation in receiving yards and was number two in touchdown receptions. He led the SEC in total receptions and had nine 100-yard games, including the 13-catch, 239-yard, 2-TD effort in the win over Mississippi State. The Lafayette product led the nation in plays of 20+ yards (34) and 30+ yards (17).
Thomas also had an outstanding year at receiver with 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn second team All-SEC honors. His 15 touchdowns led the nation and he had six 100-yard games with a career best of 150 yards versus Florida. The Walker, Louisiana junior had a career high three scores against Ole Miss.
After a second-team selection last season, Perkins elevated his game to the first team in 2023. Perkins earned second-team All-SEC honors for a season with 71 tackles, including 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The sophomore from New Orleans had eight tackles in the win over Florida and an interception versus Missouri that helped turn the game in LSU’s favor.
Penn had 83 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. He had a career best 12 tackles and a sack in the win over Arkansas. Against Texas A&M, he had eight tackles, a sack and a game-turning interception in the win.
Sam in his first year at LSU had 74 total tackles and three interceptions for the Tigers, leading the team in pickoffs. The Iowa, Louisiana product had 14 tackles at Ole Miss and 10 tackles versus Alabama for his high totals.
Ramos connected on 12-of-15 field goals, including a season-long of 48 yards in the 49-39 win over Missouri, and all 72 of his point-after attempts. He ranked fifth in the SEC in scoring with 108 points. He posted multiple field goals in five games.
LSWA All-Louisiana College Football
First Team Offense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
OL/Mark Barthelemy, Nicholls/Sr./Opelousas, La./SLC Offensive Lineman of Year
OL/Will Campbell, LSU/So./Monroe, La./First Team All-SEC
OL/Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane/Sr./Pearland, Texas/First Team All-AAC, HM CFN A-A
OL/Emery Jones, LSU/So./Baton Rouge, La./Second Team All-SEC
OL/Cameron Wire, Tulane/Sr./Gonzales, La./First Team All-AAC
TE/Neal Johnson, Louisiana-Lafayette/Sr./Mesquite, Texas/29 rec., 5 TDs, 3rd Team All-SBC
WR/Malik Nabers, LSU/Jr./Lafayette, La./86 rec., 1,546 yds, 14 TDs, First Team A-A
WR/Brian Thomas, LSU/Jr./Walker, La./60 rec., 1,079 yds, 15 TDs, Second Team All-SEC
RB/Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls/Jr./Kenner, La./833 yds, 11 TDs, All-SLC First Team
RB/Makhi Hughes, Tulane/Fr./Birmingham, Ala./1,290 yds, 7 TDs, Frosh A-A, AAC Rookie of Year
QB/Jayden Daniels, LSU/Sr./San Bernadino, Calif./3,812 pass, 1,134 rushing yds, 50 TDs, Heisman winner
First Team Defense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
DL/Sundiata Anderson, Grambling/Sr./College Park, Ga./60 tackles, 11.5 TFL, First Team All-SWAC
DL/CKelby Givens, Southern/So./Shreveport, La./61 tackles, 7 sacks, First Team All-SWAC
DL/Darius Hodges, Tulane/Jr./Montgomery, Ala./25 tackles, 7.5 sacks, HM A-A, First Team All-AAC
DL/Patrick Jenkins, Tulane/Jr./New Orleans, La./32 tackles, 5.5 sacks, First Team A-A, AAC POY
LB/Micah Davey, McNeese/So./Baton Rouge, La./153 tackles, 2.0 sacks, First Team All-SLC
LB/Jesus Machado, Tulane/Jr./Miami, Fla./98 tackles, 1 Int., HM A-A, AAC LB of Year
LB/Harold Perkins, LSU/So./New Orleans, La./71 tackles, 5.5 sacks, Second Team All-SEC
DB/Ian Conerly-Goodly, Southeastern/So./Covington, La./109 tackles, 1 Int., First Team All-SLC
DB/Tyler Morton, Nicholls/Jr./St. Rose, La./63 tackles, 4 Int., First Team All-SLC
DB/Lance Robinson, Tulane/Sr./New Orleans, La./39 tackles, 4 Int., HM A-A, AAC CB of Year
DB/Willie Roberts, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Fort Worth, Texas/38 tackles, 12 PBU, 1 int.
First Team Special Teams
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
K/Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana-Lafayette/Jr./Clute, Texas/13-14 FGs, 46 Long, 46-47 PAT, T6 NCAA FG Pct.
P/Blake Ochsendorf, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Savage, Minn./45.7 average, 15th NCAA, 17 punts 50 or more
RS/Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech/Sr., St. Francisville, La./283 PR yards, 1 TD, C-USA Leader
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jayden Daniels, LSU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
Voting: Jenkins 17, Micah Davey (McNeese) 6, Logan Brimmer (La. Christian) 2; Willie Roberts (LA Tech) 2, Perkins (LSU) 1
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Makhi Hughes, Tulane
Voting: Hughes 21, Michael Richard (LA Tech) 7
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Pat McQuaide, Nicholls
Voting: McQuaide 11, Myles Heard (LA Tech) 9, Taevion Cunningham (La. Christian) 5, Shedro Louis (Tulane) 3
COACH OF THE YEAR: Willie Fritz, Tulane
Voting: Fritz 14, Drew Maddox (La. Christian) 7, Tim Rebowe (Nicholls) 5, Brian Kelly (LSU) 2
Second Team Offense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
OL/John Allen, Southeastern/Sr./Jackson, Miss./First Team All-SLC
OL/AJ Gillie, Louisiana-Lafayette/Jr./Natchitoches, La./Third Team All-SBC
OL/Cole LeClair, McNeese/Jr./Middleburg, Fla./Second Team All-SLC
OL/Evan Roussel, Nicholls/Jr./Lutcher, La./First Team All-SLC
OL/Charles Turner, LSU/Sr./Canton, Ohio/Started all games at center
TE/Jacob Ganote, La. Christian/Sr./Montz, La./30 Rec (team leader), 4 TDs, First Team All-SAC
WR/Chris Brazzell II, Tulane/Fr./Midland, Texas/44 rec., 711 yds, 5 TDs, Third team All-AAC
WR/Smoke Harris, LA Tech/Sr./St. Francisville, La./83 rec., 796 yds, 4 TDs
RB/Devin Briscoe, La. Christian/989 yds, 9 TDs, First Team All-SAC
RB/Jaylon Spears, Nicholls/So./New Orleans, La./753 yds, 6 TDs, SLC POY
QB/Michael Pratt, Tulane/Jr./Boca Raton, Fla./2,406 yds passing, 27 total TDs, AAC Off. POY
Second Team Defensive
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
DL/Logan Brimmer, La. Christian/Sr./Boutte, La./40 tackles, 9.0 sacks, SAC Defensive POY
DL/Devean Deal, Tulane/So./El Paso, Texas/40 tackles, 4.0 sacks, HM All-AAC
DL/Adin Huntington, ULM/Jr./Stafford, Va./63 tackles, 8.5 sacks, Second Team All-SBC
DL/Arlen Williams, Southeastern/Sr./Boothville, La./40 tackles, 6 sacks, First Team All-SLC
LB/Jeslord Boateng, LA Tech/Sr./Dublin, Ohio/93 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 sack
LB/Herman Christophe IV, Southeastern/Sr./Plaquemine, La./85 tackles, 4 TFL, First Team All-SLC
LB/Greg Penn, LSU/Jr./Baltimore, Md./83 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 int.
DB/Jordan Carter, Southern/Grad./Bryans Road, Maryland/63 tackles, 4 int, First Team All-SWAC
DB/Jarius Monroe, Tulane/Sr./LaPlace, La./48 tackles, 3 int, First Team All-AAC
DB/Kam Pedescleaux, Tulane/Sr./Houston, Texas/52 tackles, 2 int, AAC Safety of the Year
DB/Andre Sam, LSU/Sr./Iowa, La./74 tackles, 3 int
Second Team Special Teams
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
K/Damian Ramos, LSU/So./Baltimore, Md./12-15 FGs, 72-72 PATs
P/Austin Dunlap, Southeastern/Sr./Slidell, La./43.9 avg., 13 punts 50 yds or more
RS/Darius Lewis, Southeastern/Jr./New Orleans, La./221 PR yardage, long 44, First Team All-SLC PR
Honorable Mention
Offense
OL – Rashad Green (Jr., Baton Rouge, La.), Tulane; Bert Hale (Jr., Epps, La.), LA Tech;
TE – Lee Negrotto (Jr., Pass Christian, Miss.), Nicholls
Defense
LB – Andre “Bubba” Reed (Sr., Basile, La.) La. Christian
DB – Pop McGhee (Jr., Opelousas, La.) La. Christian; Kendarius Smith (Jr., Meridian, Miss.) Nicholls
Special Team
RS – Zylan Perry (Fr., Franklin, La.) Louisiana-Lafayette
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