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Came across this on Rivals. Wonder why we werent in on this big guy. Maybe too much of a grade risk for us, but if Tulsa can do it...


After taking a semester off to increase his SAT score, big Tommy Daniels, a 6-foot-2 and 310-pound defensive lineman from Ennis (TX) High School, expects to soon move to Tulsa and enroll at TU for the second semester, joining the Golden Hurricane football squad in time to begin working out with his teammates and preparing for spring drills. And for Daniels, it couldn’t happen soon enough.

“I'm moving and starting school there for the second semester,” Daniels exclaimed. “I will be working out with the team then, and I can't wait!”

While sitting out this last semester, Daniels had time to improve his physical conditioning and follow his former high school teammates.

“I've been running more than lifting weights,” he stated. “I’ve also been cheering on my teammates from last year on their way to a state championship.”

Starting both his junior and senior seasons at defensive tackle, Daniels was a two-year letterwinner and starter at Ennis under head coach Sam Harrell.

“(Tommy) runs very well and is definitely a defensive tackle or nose guard,” said Coach Harrell. “We don't play much nose guard, but I think he could be great at that position.”

The nose guard position is where Daniels feels he will likely play in the University of Tulsa’s defensive scheme.

“I was recruited to play nose tackle, and I believe that is where I'm going to play,” he said.

Daniels tallied 64 tackles as a senior and 54 tackles as a junior, earning second-team all-district accolades both his junior and senior seasons. He was also rated as the 51st best prospect in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by the Dallas Morning News.

The big lineman, who runs a 4.9-second forty-yard-dash, led his team to a 12-1 record as a senior, losing in the third round of the state Class 4A playoffs. With Daniels anchoring the defensive line, the Ennis defense pitched five shutouts, giving up an average of only 10.2 points and less than 174 yards rushing per game.

When asked why he chose the University of Tulsa to continue his education and football career, he stated, “It reminded me of Ennis. When I was there (to visit), the players and coaches were really cool, and the education part of the school is almost next to none. So, it wasn’t really a hard decision.”

Daniels, who was recruited by TU defensive line coach Danny Phillips, chose Tulsa over offers from Wisconsin, Kansas State, Baylor and Toledo.

Daniels paid close attention to the Golden Hurricane’s football season and believes he and his teammates have a bright future.

“I ordered a couple of games from my Direct TV to watch them, and I think they played pretty good football,” he described. “They lost a couple close ones, but at the end of the season, when they beat UTEP, I think it showed a lot of potential.”

With Daniels enrolling in January, he will still have four years of eligibility remaining with an available redshirt season. However, he hopes to contribute right away for Tulsa.

“My goal next year would be to do anything I can do to help my team,” he concluded. “I really would like to contribute as a freshman, but if not, then I can wait until the time is right and take it from there.”

“It reminded me of Ennis. When I was there (to visit), the players and coaches were really cool, and the education part of the school is almost next to none. So, it wasn’t really a hard decision.”

Maybe I'm just a little slow on the uptake, but is he implying that he won't have to do much to make the grade at Tulsa?