Herm Edwards leaned over to his true freshman quarterback, attempting to be heard over a buzzing Michigan State crowd. “We need to put some points on the board. We’re running out of time.” Jayden Daniels glanced over with a grin: “I got it, Coach.” Arizona State had managed just 157 yards after 54 minutes. No matter. Daniels delivered a 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive.

Later in the year, Arizona State attempted to snap a four-game losing streak while hosting No. 6 Oregon. The Sun Devils saw a 24-7 second-half lead dwindle to 24-21. That’s when Daniels launched an 81-yard shot down the left sideline to Brandon Aiyuk for yet another game-winning score. Edwards struggles to describe that throw even now: “What do you say about that one?” Edwards told 247Sports. “It’s one of those plays you go, ‘Uh oh.’ Who does that? Well he does that.”

Daniels, the No. 35 overall player in the 2019 247Sports Composite, led four game-winning drives during his freshman season. Cool play in stressful moments plus consistency in all aspects led to an offseason conversation between Edwards and Daniels that will define the next few seasons of Sun Devil football.

“I’m going to build it around you now,” Edwards told Daniels. “You’ve earned my trust. We’ve got to get you some guys that can help us on the perimeter as well as in the backfield, and I think we’ve got to shore up the offensive line for you.”

Edwards, a 65-year-old former NFL head coach, is saying this to a just-turned 19-year-old college freshman. That’s the type of belief the Sun Devils have in their starting quarterback. Daniels was exceptionally efficient as a true freshman, throwing for 2,943 yards and 17 touchdowns against just two interceptions. No quarterback with 300-plus attempts nationally tossed fewer picks than Daniels.

The third highest-rated recruit to sign with Arizona State in the 247Sports era, Daniels had the potential to alter Arizona State’s ceiling early in Edwards’ tenure. Daniels is already realizing that promise.

Arming Daniels’ offensive arsenal is the next step for the Sun Devils, and they did so through the 2020 class. Arizona State signed one of the nation’s most prolific skill groups, inking a trio of four-star receivers (Johnny Wilson, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Chad Johnson Jr.) and a pair of four-star running backs (Daniyel Ngata, DeaMonte Trayanum).

That represents a significant talent jump. Last year, the Sun Devils had only two four-star skill talent players (Eno Benjamin, Ryan Newsome) on their roster. Edwards and his staff more than doubled that one recruiting cycle. Given that Benjamin (1,083 yards, 10 TDs) and Aiyuck (1,192 yards, 8 TDs) depart, the 2020 class will be counted on immediately. That’s part of how the coaches sold that group on Arizona State. As for Daniels’ role in aiding skill talent … that didn’t really need to be said.

“I already knew what Jayden could do, and the coaches knew I knew,” Bunkley-Shelton said.

Edwards knows the Sun Devils must protect Daniels better. Arizona State started a true freshman left tackle and right guard last season. PFF College ranked the Sun Devils’ o-line as the 89th best in the country, and they allowed the 102nd-most sacks nationally. Help is on the way. Arizona State lost three starters, but it has already added a pair of graduate transfers in Henry Hattis (Stanford) and Kellen Diesch (Texas A&M) to fortify the unit.

Daniels’ college window is short. He’ll only have two to three more years in Tempe. Edwards is doing everything possible to turn Arizona State into a contender in that timeframe. The NFL might have a salary cap, free agency and the NFL Draft. But when it comes to accenting the best traits of an elite quarterback, what Edwards is doing in college mirrors what he’d attempt in the NFL.

Making Daniels the centerpiece of the Sun Devil master plan also involves shaping the offense around the young quarterback.

Edwards parted ways with offensive coordinator Rob Likens following a ho-hum offensive effort in the regular season. The Sun Devils finished 73rd national in yards per play despite Daniels’ strong first-year effort. Edwards tabbed Boise State offensive coordinator Zak Hill to replace Likens. Hill led the nation’s No. 19 scoring offense last season despite starting three different quarterbacks due to a rash of injuries.

Opening up the offense is one of Hill’s mandates. Boise State averaged 457.6 passes a season during Hill’s three-year run as solo OC with the Broncos. Arizona State threw it just 383 times last year. Hill will bring a passer-friendly offense to Tempe. That’s by design.

“I think most people think there’s a system, Edwards said. “Well no, the system is built around the player, especially when it comes to quarterback. Even in the National Football League, 90 percent of quarterbacks are system needy. They need a system built around their talent and what they do well. If you do that you have a chance to win. If you put a quarterback in a system that doesn’t fit what he does, you’re going to fail. I’m smart enough to know that being in that league that long watching guys who failed and had success.

"It’s always, 'What system can we build around Jayden where he’s comfortable and doing the things he can do?' After a year of playing you kind of figure that.”

Part of that process is giving Daniels more responsibility at the line. Like most freshman, Daniels had to earn the ability to check in and out plays. That trust was earned as the weeks cascaded and Daniels rarely made a big mistakes – one of his two INTs came on a Hail Mary.

Hill’s system will be “built around” Daniels. That means Daniels will have the ability to do more at the line – change players, read defenses, set protections – than he did a season ago. Those tools, in addition to an continued usage of Daniels’ mobility (three Boise State QBs had 25-plus rushes last year), place far more responsibility with Daniels.

That’s exactly how Edwards wants it to be.

“(He) gives you hope, Edwards said. “He provides excitement. If you’re a fan of Arizona State, you want to come watch him play. … We’ve played in a lot of close games. Now that’s not the intention. But it has kind of worked out that way. When he has the ball at the end, I think any fan would say, ‘We have a chance to win with this guy.’ He just kind of does it. It’s not too big for him.”