The LSU Athletics Department has been the talk of the town in Baton Rouge for the past year, as every sport has achieved notable success. From Jayden Daniels and his teammates making waves in the 2024 NFL Draft, to Angel Reese securing a Top 10 spot in the WNBA Draft, and LSU Gymnastics clinching their inaugural program title, the Tigers have been on a winning streak. Additionally, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews were drafted first and second overall, respectively, in the 2023 MLB Draft. Let’s not forget the LSU Tiger Girls, who also secured a National Championship in dance. With these achievements, LSU has earned the reputation of being an “everything school,” consistently making headlines across various media outlets over the past year.

Just 20 minutes into the NFL Draft, LSU’s Jayden Daniels received the call as he was chosen as the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Commanders. This places him among the elite LSU quarterbacks selected early in the draft, joining the ranks of Joe Burrow (2020), JaMarcus Russell (2007), and Bert Jones (1973), who were either picked first or second. While Burrow and Russell were top picks, Jones was selected second overall by the Baltimore Colts. Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2023, now holds the distinction of being the highest-drafted player in LSU coach Brian Kelly’s 33-year collegiate career. Additionally, Daniels marks LSU’s 50th first-round pick, placing the program at No. 9 among all college programs in terms of first-round selections.

During his two-year tenure with the Tigers, Daniels steered LSU to 20 victories and secured a spot in the SEC Championship Game in 2022. As a fifth-year senior in 2023, he showcased his prowess by leading the nation in various statistical categories, including total offense (412.2 yards per game), points responsible for per game (25.2), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,134), and yards per play (10.71). His exceptional passer rating of 208.0 stands as the highest in FBS history.

Expressing his eagerness moments after his selection, Daniels affirmed, “I’m ready to get to work. (Washington) is going to get everything out of me – a competitor, a hard worker. I can’t wait to get there and meet my new teammates.”

Throughout the 2023 season, spanning 12 games, Daniels demonstrated his versatility by throwing 40 touchdown passes and rushing for an additional 10 scores, thus becoming only the fifth player in SEC history to account for 50 touchdowns in a single season. He concluded his final season with the Tigers by completing 236 out of 327 passes for 3,812 yards. Notably, he joined Johnny Manziel as one of the only players in SEC history to surpass 3,500 passing yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.

Nabers’ selection places him alongside Ja’Marr Chase, who was chosen as the No. 5 overall pick by Cincinnati in 2022, as the only two LSU receivers drafted within the Top 10 of the NFL Draft. Furthermore, Nabers also shares the distinction of being the second LSU receiver selected in the first round by the Giants, following in the footsteps of Odell Beckham Jr., who was chosen as the No. 12 overall pick in 2014.

Nabers and Jayden Daniels, who was selected as the No. 2 overall pick by Washington, make history as the first quarterback-receiver duo from LSU to be chosen within the Top 10 of the same NFL Draft.

Nabers, recognized as a unanimous All-America in 2023, concluded his remarkable career at LSU as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003). He joined Josh Reed as one of the only players in LSU history to achieve back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, accumulating 1,017 yards in 2022 and 1,569 yards in the following year.

Throughout his collegiate journey, Nabers twice led the SEC in receptions, with 72 in 2022 and 89 in 2023. During his junior year, he topped the nation in receiving yards per game (120.7), as well as in plays of 20-plus yards (34) and 30-plus yards (17). Additionally, his 14 touchdown receptions ranked third nationally, trailing teammate Brian Thomas (17) and Jalen Royals of Utah State (15).