by Sports Xchange

Daniels has played in a variety of roles for the Badgers. He competed on special teams and at quarterback earlier in his career before shifting to wide receiver, wingback and tight end as a sophomore. He is best when playing in motion, as he has some of the quickest feet among collegiate tight ends.

Daniels was a Prep Football Report and Prep Stars All-America selection at Central High School and rated one of the nation's top 100 prep players. He was a two-time team captain who also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honors as a senior. He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with a 3.93 grade point average.

Daniels was limited to two games during his senior year due to a knee injury. He completed 30 of 35 passes for 562 yards and seven touchdowns, connecting on all 11 passes thrown in the season opener. As a junior, Daniels passed for 1,750 yards on 100-of-168 passing (59.5 percent) with 17 touchdowns and only one interception. He was the starting center on the basketball team and had a personal best 22-foot long jump on the track team.

After redshirting in 2001 at Wisconsin, Daniels saw action in seven games during 2002, appearing mostly on special teams. He also appeared at quarterback in three games, hitting 2 of 6 passes for 9 yards and two interceptions while gaining 18 yards on four carries. He shifted to the receiving unit in 2003, playing flanker, wingback and tight end. For the year, Daniels ranked fourth on the team with 15 receptions for 193 yards (12.9 avg) and a pair of touchdowns.

Daniels started at flanker vs. Arizona and as the second tight end vs. Minnesota while appearing in 12 games in 2004. He was second on the squad with 25 catches for 391 yards (15.6 avg) and two touchdowns. Daniels also recorded five tackles (3 solos) on special teams. He started eight games in 2005 while sharing tight end duties with Jason Pociask. In 12 games, he caught 22 passes for 268 yards (12.2 avg) and four touchdowns, adding 21 yards on two kickoff returns and five solo tackles.

In 44 games, Daniels started 10 times. He caught 62 passes for 852 yards (13.7 avg) and eight touchdowns. He completed 2 of 6 passes for 9 yards, rushed four times for 18 yards, returned two kickoffs for 21 yards and registered 11 tackles (9 solos).

ANALYSIS

Positives: Team-oriented player who is compliant and shows very good work habits, putting in the extra hours after practice to learn tight end techniques...Aggressive short area pass catcher who works through traffic with good urgency...Very smart and instinctive, making quick reads...Shows the loose hips and change of direction agility to maneuver through a crowd and quickly spots the seam when attacking the zone...Does not have an explosive initial step, but builds to top acceleration quickly and is effective at using his hands to defeat the press...Short area receiver who does a nice job of turning back on the ball when the quarterback is pressured...Maintains concentration going up for the jump balls and will extend, turn and look the ball in over his shoulders with good efficiency...Will not hesitate to leave his feet and go vertical to get to off-target throws and does a decent job of keeping his feet in bounds when working along the sidelines...Best when used in motion, as he has a knack for slipping through traffic and settling into the soft spot of the Cover-two defense.

Negatives: Has adequate size, but looks a bit on the lean side (could use more bulk, but has struggled to maintain weight in the past)...Lacks the sudden burst needed to beat cornerbacks when split out...Secures the ball well after the catch, but unless he is given a free lane, he will generally be taken down from the initial hit due to marginal leg drive to break tackles...Limited as an in-line blocker due to size and strength issues...Quick to locate the linebackers in the second level, but does not explode behind his blocks, preferring to finesse rather than maul.

Daniels has an adequate frame that looks almost lean, but has the growth potential to add 10-15 pounds with no loss in quickness. He has the shoulder, arm and leg definition to carry that additional bulk. Daniels shows very good body control, flexibility and change of direction skills to be effective while in motion. Despite his timed speed, he lacks the sudden burst or explosiveness out of his breaks to line up wide on deep routes.

He runs with a normal stride and has good hand extension to catch away from the frame. Daniels is a competitive pass catcher who uses his body adequately to shield the ball from the defenders. He maintains concentration on the ball in flight when working his way through a crowd and shows good weight room strength, but because of a lack of ideal bulk and size, he might be better suited for H-Back at the pro level.

He gets off the line with a clean release, alert to coverages and movement to slip past the jam and get into his patterns. He does not flash snap quickness to gain initial advantage, but uses his hands well to keep from being pressed and rerouted. He does not have the second gear needed to explode past defenders when lining wide, but gets back into his route with good urgency.

Daniels is a good route-runner who knows when to come out of his breaks. He shows the body control and timing to consistently get open when working underneath. He can run the option route well, but is more effective when asked to find the seam in the Cover-2 defense. He can get open quickly in the short area, but despite his timed speed, he does not have the burst to separate when going deep. Daniels knows when to adjust in attempts to uncover and has very good ball reaction, getting his body into good position to make the catch.

Daniels is a good hands catcher with the reach to get to the high throws and shows good ball security before heading upfield. He shows good courage when asserting himself in traffic and will not hesitate to compete for jump balls. His smooth stride after the catch helps him reach top acceleration, but he lacks the bulk and lower body strength to break tackles when attacked by linemen and linebackers.

Daniels has good weight room figures, but that strength does not translate to the field when asked to block in-line. He does not show explosion coming off the snap and needs to refine his technique when sliding his feet and using his hands in attempts to sustain. He has the second level quickness to locate defenders and make the cut block, though. He just seems more comfortable in the open, where he can change direction and sustain.

For teams using a West Coast or spread offense, he could bring good value as a change-of-pace back, but I doubt if his frame will ever develop into tight end proportions. If he can generate more bulk and strength, he could be a nice late second day draft find.

INJURY REPORT

2000: Only played in two games during his high school senior year after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

2002: Suffered left knee torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in a December scrimmage.

2005: Suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play of the Indiana game, sitting out the rest of that game and the following week vs. Northwestern.

CAREER NOTES

Few players in the era of head coach Barry Alvarez have had to play the variety of positions that Daniels has during a career...Began his Badgers career on special teams and at quarterback...Moved to flanker and then tight end as a sophomore and also saw action at split end and as a wingback...Played in 43 games during his career, 36 of them as a receiver...Caught 62 passes for 852 yards (13.7 avg) and eight touchdowns.

AGILITY TESTS

Campus: 4.69 in the 40-yard dash...380-pound bench press...500-pound squat...315-pound power clean...30.5-inch vertical jump...32 1/8-inch arm length...9 1/2-inch hands...Right-handed... 32/43 Wonderlic score.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Naperville (Ill.) Central High School, playing football for head coach Joe Bunge... Prep Football Report and Prep Stars All-American selection...Rated one of the nation's top 100 prep players...Two-time team captain who also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honors as a senior...Member of the National Honor Society and graduated with a 3.93 grade point average...Limited to two games during his senior year due to a knee injury...Completed 30 of 35 passes for 562 yards and seven touchdowns, connecting on all 11 passes thrown in the season opener...As a junior, Daniels passed for 1,750 yards on 100-of-168 passing (59.5 percent) with 17 touchdowns and only one interception...Starting center on the basketball team and had a personal best 22-foot long jump on the track team.

PERSONAL

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences major, earning Academic All-Big 10 Conference honors in 2002...Son of Bridget and Jerry Daniels...Born 11/09/82...Resides in Naperville, Illinois.