Killeen DE considering SMU, others

[Lotus]

Texas DE emerging early

Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker's defensive line duo in Brandon Joiner and Eugene Daniels are popping up on college radars left and right. Joiner has picked up his first offer, but defensive end Daniels doesn't look too far behind.

Daniels, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound end, has had to adjust to more than just football. With his father in the Army, the young man has had to move around quite frequently. Spending time in North Carolina, Arizona, Alabama, and other states along with Texas has given him a bigger look at the world than many prospects his age.

Obviously, distance from home won't be a factor. Daniels' recruiting list is also quite spread out.

"There are a lot of schools sending me stuff right now like Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas, UCLA, SMU, Iowa, and some others," Daniels said. "We've moved a lot. There was one point in five years we moved six times. It doesn't matter about distance – my parents are thinking about what's best for me."

Daniels says his focus is checking out the academics of all the schools pursuing him. Right now there are no leaders, but he'll have quite at travel schedule this summer to check out numerous programs.

"My dad and I talked and we've thought about three or four three-day camps and then some one-day camps that are close by," Daniels said. "UT, A&M, and some others are the close ones I'm thinking about."

Daniles was an honorable mention for his district in athletics and an academic all-district selection as well for his junior year. Right now, he has to watch his father go overseas once more which puts recruiting and on-the-field success in the backseat.

"He has to go overseas on May 1 so it's bad an all, but you just try to e-mail everyday and you just keep in touch," he said. "There is nothing you can do about it. He made the choice and he knows what comes with it. We're a supporting family and we just do what we can."

[RedRiverPony]

It is so nice to see us going after some DEs who already have some size. With all due respect (and a lot of it) to Justin Rogers, I remember all too clearly being told how a 190-pound DE would "grow into" a player of this guy's size. Of course we'll still project some guys, but this is what players should look like when we go after them.