WEBSTER GROVES •Ìý is a formidable offensive weapon. But his path to the next level could come on the defensive side of the ball.
A senior running back for the , Daniels scored five touchdowns, rushed for 601 yards on 117 carries and caught a team-high 26 passes for 307 yards. He slots in at No. 30 on the Post-Dispatch's Super 30 list of high school football prospects.
At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Daniels is a little smaller and a little slower than most coaches would like for a running back at the NCAA Division I level.
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At least that's what he's been told.Ìý
“(Recruiting has) been really slow. Teams have told me they like the way I play, that I can play anywhere, but speed is a problem,†Daniels said. “They think I'm a little too small to play running back.â€
Daniels' offensive numbers won't bulge anyone's eyes, but the way he accumulated them speaks about who he is and what he is capable of. Webster Groves finished last season 4-7 and was one blown punt by Hazelwood East from being 3-8. For a proud program, it was a frustrating season.
“He had a real good year last year in spite of guys not getting blocked,†Webster Groves coach Cliff Ice said. “Last year we were not multidimensional like we normally are. This year will we be? I think so, eventually. I don't know if we will right off the bat. He's going to be a big piece regardless of whichever way we go.â€
Daniels has offers from Lindenwood University and Culver-Stockton College. He's drawn interest at running back from Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State. They want to see how he plays to start the season before they will decide to make an offer.
There are other programs, like Western Illinois, that like Daniels as an athlete but haven't figured out where he fits in their scheme. To showcase his multitude of abilities, Daniels will shift from safety to cornerback. Last year as a safety he made 26 tackles but finished with five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Daniels hopes the move to corner will drive home the point that, no matter where he plays, he's an asset to a program.
“A lot of teams want me at corner because of my ball skills. I'd rather play offense, but I'll play anywhere they want me to play,†Daniels said. “(At corner) I'll be by myself one on one with receivers, trying to shut down the best players.â€
As frustrating as the recruiting process has been for Daniels, he takes a certain solace in the knowledge he has left no stone unturned. He attended a variety of showcase camps over the summer. He and his brother Aaron, a senior running back at Lindenwood, work out every morning by running around the neighborhood and then up and down hills in Shrewsbury.
Aaron gave Donovan a diet plan that helped him add 10 pounds. It has all been in an attempt to find the right home at the next level.
“That's what my mom keeps telling me, 'Control what you can control,' †Daniels said. “God has a plan, so if it works out it'll work out.â€
Ice said the offensive line will once again be a work in progress, especially early in the season.Ìý
"Our five-step protection left a lot to be desired this summer," Ice said.Ìý
Junior quarterback John Doria returns with a season of varsity experience, and expectations are he'll be more comfortable.
A four-year varsity player, Daniels figures to get plenty of opportunities on both sides of the ball to help his team be successful.
"We don't have a lot of numbers and we're a little small on the line, but I think we'll impress people this year," Daniels said. "We'll be better than we were last year." Ìý