- Joined
- Jun 20, 2010
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- The Dude
First, some direct quotes from Daniels that I thought were pretty cool.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijEHxnSPmkg[/youtube]
Now, some notes from his former HC and some commentary....
“He’s extremely aware, alert and bright,” said [Duke head coach David] Cutcliffe. “He has great speed and size. Everybody we play knows where he is, because of the way he will hit you.”
“I want to contact the NCAA and see if I can get him for a sixth, seventh and eighth year,” said Cutcliffe.
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As the Tar Heels killed the clock in the fourth quarter, one Duke player wasn’t ready for everything to end—the game, the promise of the 2011 season, and his college career. Safety Matt Daniels tackled Bernard on a late run, wrestling him to the ground and tearing off Bernard’s helmet in the process. Daniels and Bernard exchanged words until officials stepped between them.
Afterward, Bernard blamed the incident on a helmet strap that needed tightening, then paused and added, “Number 40 was definitely going at it.”
Opponents and teammates alike often refer to Daniels by number—40—instead of his name. Perhaps it’s because of the way he jumps off the game film they all watch endlessly. “Everyone knows where number 40 is all the time,” said teammate Ross Cockrell, “and they know that when he comes, he’s bringing wood.”
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“Matt is our best football player,” head coach David Cutcliffe said. “(Georgia Tech coach) Paul Johnson said he’s the best player in the ACC. He does it every single week, with no off days. He’s a vicious tackler, a great leader, and the epitome of a captain.”
“It would be an injustice if he doesn’t end up on someone’s All America team,” Cutcliffe finished.
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“He brought such intensity and effort on the last Tuesday he practiced for us, you’d have thought he was a freshman trying to make the squad,” Cutcliffe said.
As the losses mounted and Duke’s goals for the season slipped off the table, one-by-one, Daniels never let down. He went out on his shield, leaving an example for the younger players to emulate as they continue to build the program.
“It helps me to realize I left Duke a better place than I found it,” Daniels said.
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"Matt Daniels is everything a professional football team, a college football team, a high school football team, a junior college football team would be looking for," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. "He's the total package, a great person, great student, great football player. The reason pro football people have liked him all along is he's a great tackler, gets his hands on the ball a lot on the secondary and rarely misses a tackle. He tackles the way you wanted people to tackle 50 years ago. He's a great contact player and a guy that they're gonna be able to count on."
Daniels, who served as a team captain in 2011, played in 46 career games and compiled totals of 324 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 27 pass breakups. On Duke's all-time records charts, he ranks 13th in tackles, third in caused fumbles and tied for sixth in pass breakups.
"I'm extremely proud of Matt, extremely happy for him," Cutcliffe said. "Stay injury-free and play a lot of years, young man. He could be a great football coach. I would love to see Matt pursue that career because he is a very, very special young man."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 17 - Rams undrafted rookie S Matt Daniels underwent arthroscopic knee surgery just prior to the draft. This may have contributed to his UDFA status. The surgery was performed just over seven weeks ago, and Daniels is sitting out OTAs. A fourth- or fifth-round prospect pre-injury, Daniels will battle for a roster spot when he heals up.
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For his career, Daniels posted 324 tackles, 13 for loss, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 27 pass breakups.
“Jeff Fisher is a hard hitting kind of guy and he loves hard hitting safeties,” Daniels said. “I believe I am that so I think I will be a great fit here with a great coach and so I am looking forward to the opportunity.”
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EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2QECMRZbn0[/youtube]
.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijEHxnSPmkg[/youtube]
Now, some notes from his former HC and some commentary....
“He’s extremely aware, alert and bright,” said [Duke head coach David] Cutcliffe. “He has great speed and size. Everybody we play knows where he is, because of the way he will hit you.”
“I want to contact the NCAA and see if I can get him for a sixth, seventh and eighth year,” said Cutcliffe.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the Tar Heels killed the clock in the fourth quarter, one Duke player wasn’t ready for everything to end—the game, the promise of the 2011 season, and his college career. Safety Matt Daniels tackled Bernard on a late run, wrestling him to the ground and tearing off Bernard’s helmet in the process. Daniels and Bernard exchanged words until officials stepped between them.
Afterward, Bernard blamed the incident on a helmet strap that needed tightening, then paused and added, “Number 40 was definitely going at it.”
Opponents and teammates alike often refer to Daniels by number—40—instead of his name. Perhaps it’s because of the way he jumps off the game film they all watch endlessly. “Everyone knows where number 40 is all the time,” said teammate Ross Cockrell, “and they know that when he comes, he’s bringing wood.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Matt is our best football player,” head coach David Cutcliffe said. “(Georgia Tech coach) Paul Johnson said he’s the best player in the ACC. He does it every single week, with no off days. He’s a vicious tackler, a great leader, and the epitome of a captain.”
“It would be an injustice if he doesn’t end up on someone’s All America team,” Cutcliffe finished.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“He brought such intensity and effort on the last Tuesday he practiced for us, you’d have thought he was a freshman trying to make the squad,” Cutcliffe said.
As the losses mounted and Duke’s goals for the season slipped off the table, one-by-one, Daniels never let down. He went out on his shield, leaving an example for the younger players to emulate as they continue to build the program.
“It helps me to realize I left Duke a better place than I found it,” Daniels said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Matt Daniels is everything a professional football team, a college football team, a high school football team, a junior college football team would be looking for," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. "He's the total package, a great person, great student, great football player. The reason pro football people have liked him all along is he's a great tackler, gets his hands on the ball a lot on the secondary and rarely misses a tackle. He tackles the way you wanted people to tackle 50 years ago. He's a great contact player and a guy that they're gonna be able to count on."
Daniels, who served as a team captain in 2011, played in 46 career games and compiled totals of 324 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, seven caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 27 pass breakups. On Duke's all-time records charts, he ranks 13th in tackles, third in caused fumbles and tied for sixth in pass breakups.
"I'm extremely proud of Matt, extremely happy for him," Cutcliffe said. "Stay injury-free and play a lot of years, young man. He could be a great football coach. I would love to see Matt pursue that career because he is a very, very special young man."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 17 - Rams undrafted rookie S Matt Daniels underwent arthroscopic knee surgery just prior to the draft. This may have contributed to his UDFA status. The surgery was performed just over seven weeks ago, and Daniels is sitting out OTAs. A fourth- or fifth-round prospect pre-injury, Daniels will battle for a roster spot when he heals up.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For his career, Daniels posted 324 tackles, 13 for loss, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 27 pass breakups.
“Jeff Fisher is a hard hitting kind of guy and he loves hard hitting safeties,” Daniels said. “I believe I am that so I think I will be a great fit here with a great coach and so I am looking forward to the opportunity.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2QECMRZbn0[/youtube]
.