Jayden Daniels' breakout season with Washington is no surprise to those who knew him before the NFL

 Jayden Daniels has t given much thought to how he has handled half a season playing quarterback in NFL.

"I still have some ways to go," he said. "I’ll sit back and reflect after my rookie year is done."

That's OK. rest of sport has plenty to say about Daniels taking league by storm, leing Washington Commanders to ir first 7-2 start since 1996 and becoming t only favorite to be AP Offensive Rookie of Year but putting himself firmly in MVP conversation.

“You guys got to stop calling him a rookie quarterback," veteran tight end Zach Ertz said. "He may be a rookie quarterback in terms of years in this league. But his maturity, his poise is that of a 10-year vet.”

Daniels' breakout season has come as surprise to those who knew San Berni, California, native during stints at Arizona State and n LSU, where he blossomed into 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and second pick in draft . Teammates turned friends and coaches over years have seen a player determined to be best and a person humble eugh to make se past nine weeks look like just start of a lengthy career with limit on what Daniels could accomplish.

Inheriting pressure of being Washington's face of franchise for an organization deces removed from its glory days did t seem to get to Daniels, who teammates have said has h same approach since first day of offseason workouts through throwing a Hail Mary touchdown pass to ah Brown in Week 8 to beat Chicago .

That is one of his first 163 completions on 228 attempts — a success rate of 71.5% that ranks among best QBs in NFL of any experience level. He has thrown for nine touchdowns, run for four more and has just two interceptions.

“He doesn’t turn ball over a lot,” said Herm Edwards, who coached Daniels for three seasons at Arizona State. “That isn’t part of his DNA. That’s t what happens. You never worry about that as far as him with football in his hand, wher he’s throwing it or running. He’s become a smarter runner, obviously, and that’s needed in this league."

biggest blip for Daniels came when he injured his ribs getting tackled and landing awkwardly at end of a long run. He left that game — a 40-7 rout of Carolina — and might have played if stakes were higher, n he was right back on field a week later.

Daniels, even with sore ribs , has thrown for 535 yards and three TDs and ran 16 times for 87 yards.

"It’s t a surprise to me," said San Francisco receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a teammate of Daniels' at Arizona State. “He’s just nice. He’s real good. He’s just always been that good.”

Malik Nabers heard chatter about Daniels when he was transferring to LSU in 2022, and that first season finished with some great numbers: 17 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 10-4 record. n, after training with C.J. Stroud and ors in California, Nabers ticed a shift in Daniels' mindset and demear.

“He was just like picking defenses apart,” said Nabers, sixth pick in draft and w . 1 receiver for NFC East-rival New York Giants. "He was working extra, staying extra long, making sure we got plays after practice. He was ultimate leer. I think that’s what he changed: He became like ultimate leer and started leing by example, leing by vocalness and just taking offense over.”

Daniels led country with 40 TD passes in 2023, ran for 10 more and won Heisman as final accomplishment of his college career. But arriving early and staying late did t stop, from walkthroughs in team's practice bubble before spring workouts with rookie receiver Luke McCaffrey to nights coach Dan Quinn observed Daniels studying film well after dark during Commanders' week in Arizona between games.

“It’s t any magic that’s going into this. ... He really puts in work,” Quinn said. “re’s magic pixie dust that we’re throwing into him. It is absolutely grinding, working, and a lot of confidence comes from that.”

It's t just sweat equity. At LSU, Daniels underwent cognitive processing tests on a computer, and with school's director of performance invation, Jack Marucci, developed a program with a virtual reality heset to work on his anticipation.

“You could see his efficiency and speed improving and how he was scanning," Marucci said, pointing out it was like Daniels got ar 250 snaps a week and 2,600 over course of a season. “It’s kwing and anticipating where he’s going to end up and w you have to hit a spot on field.”

Daniels still uses VR device, which offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is “all-in on.”

“It’s been a great tool, t just for me, but or quarterbacks — guys that want to use it to get an edge and get reps without having to go out re and physically do stuff,” Daniels said.

Kingsbury interviewed for multiple jobs around NFL. After coaching Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, Kyler Murray with Arizona Cardinals and n (as an viser) with Caleb Williams at Sourn California, chance to work with Daniels — who was drafted a few months after he was hired in Washington — and Commanders me too much sense.

“Kliff Kingsbury is an outstanding fit for him," LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “And kind of offense that y run, it’s something that I think is seamless for him."

Cam Taylor-Britt derided it as “simple” and a “nice college offense.” Daniels burned Cincinnati Bengals cornerback and his teammates on 21 of 23 passing for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-33 victory in prime time on “Monday Night Football."

When Bears-Commanders game was flexed to national TV, it provided Daniels' signature moment so far when he scrambled for nearly 13 seconds and lofted up a pass that sailed 65 yards in air before tipping up and into Brown's hands in end zone.

Edwards, who still texts Daniels on a regular basis, almost foreshowed it talking about 23-year-old two weeks before Chicago game.

“He has ability to extend plays, and what he does — and people can alrey see it and it’s t luck — he can throw deep ball,” said Edwards, who's w an ESPN analyst. “He can throw it with accuracy on run or from pocket. He has a feel for throwing ball down field.”

Hail Mary exemplified what everyone around Daniels raves about: his poise under pressure. Edwards calls it Daniels' “ability to keep his composure when lights got brightest.”

Terry McLaurin, who has been Washington's top receiver since being drafted in 2019, said Daniels came into league more rey than most rookies at most important position in sports.

That has been obvious even to opponents. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson after outdueling Daniels said his counterpart has been proving himself and playing amazing.

“Washington is in good hands with him,” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said “He’s truth."

Only Jackson, Buffalo's Josh Allen, Mahomes and Detroit's Jared Goff have shorter MVP odds on BetMGM Sportsbook, which w has Daniels at 10-1. Nabers, who initially me a friendly $10,000 bet with Daniels about which one would be AP Offensive Rookie of Year before canceling it, said his friend's success stems from a desire to win that he doesn't see in many ors.

“I kw when he is in that moment, he’s t scared of it,” Nabers said. "He’s t scared of hype, big plays to be me. If it is crunch time, he wants to ball.”