How LSU football QB Jayden Daniels, a West Coast transplant, is getting comfortable in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE - Jayden Daniels had never been to the Deep South before.

He's a California kid who grew up 45 minutes east of Los Angeles in San Bernadino and attended Arizona State for three years — roughly a five-hour drive from LA.

And he was comfortable as a Sun Devil, becoming the starting quarterback as a freshman and being hailed as the prized recruit of the Herm Edwards era. He was the No. 35 prospect and No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite.

That all changed this offseason when Daniels decided to transfer to LSU and join the Tigers' crowded quarterback room with no guarantee to start in this unfamiliar area of the country to him.

"I come out here and I'm seeing a whole different type of environment," Daniels told reporters after practice on Tuesday.

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Getting acclimated to Baton Rouge, with new teammates, coaches and even lifestyle, has been a transition Daniels continues to make as the Tigers inch closer toward the season-opener against Florida State on Sept. 4 — a game he could start in.

"Coming into a new environment, you've got to learn the room, got to learn different types of guys," Daniels said. "At the end of the day, we've got to know each other to trust each other. Right? That's probably the biggest thing for me. It's just coming in and building everybody's trust whether that's in the quarterback room, the offensive line room, the running back room and just the whole team in general."

It was why this summer Daniels invited LSU's receiving corps out to Los Angeles to show them his home. Kayshon Boutte, Kyren Lacy, Jack Bech, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas all made the trip.

"Most of the guys have never been there just like I've never been to the South before," Daniels said. "(It was about) just building that bond and showing those guys a different type of lifestyle."

Daniels hasn't been with LSU long, but he's learned quickly that Louisiana "breeds" receivers. Led by Boutte, LSU's receiving corps will be the deepest and most talented room he's worked with.

The last time Daniels played with to NFL-caliber receivers was in his freshman season at Arizona State. With future first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk and sixth-round pick Frank Darby, Daniels threw for 2,943 yards — still a career high — while averaging nearly nine yards per attempt and only throwing two interceptions.

"Everybody's bigger out here, meaner," Daniels said with a smile. "You can feel the intensity within practice. Those guys care about football. They might've not come from anything. This is their only life, their only way out to get to where they want to be."

It's why Daniels is just trying to stay upright with the likes of Ali Gaye, BJ Ojulari, Maason Smith and Jaquelin Roy, all potential first-round picks, swarming around him at practice.

"I know I just don't want to get caught," Daniels said. "I just don't want to get tackled by those kinds of guys."

How quickly Daniels gets accustomed to life at LSU and in the SEC could be the greatest factor in the Tigers' success in Year One under coach Brian Kelly.

Daniels, because of his starting experience and athleticism, has become the favorite to win LSU's starting job. And if that happens, the chemistry and relationships he has fostered could come into focus in the new-look Tigers offense.

It's a lot to put on the shoulders of a California kid.

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How LSU football QB Jayden Daniels is adjusting to Louisiana, South